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Church Leadership: Vision, Team, Culture, and Integrity
Much has changed since the first edition of Lovett Weems’s seminal work C hurch Leadership appeared in 1993. In that time a substantial literature about leading the congregation has appeared, written from a broad variety of perspectives. But in some ways, little has changed in that time. The need for leadership in the church―defined as discovering the faithful future into which God is calling the congregation, and walking with the congregation into that future―is just as pressing as it ever was. And for that reason, the need for clear, insightful thinking about leadership is just as great as it ever was.
In this revised edition, Weems draws on the best new ideas and research in organizational leadership, yet always with his trademark theological grounding foremost in mind. Anyone who guides the life of a congregation, be they clergy or laity, will find Church Leadership the indispensable tool with which to follow their calling to be a church leader.
In this revised edition, Weems draws on the best new ideas and research in organizational leadership, yet always with his trademark theological grounding foremost in mind. Anyone who guides the life of a congregation, be they clergy or laity, will find Church Leadership the indispensable tool with which to follow their calling to be a church leader.
144 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2010
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February 17, 2021Outstanding Insights into Church Leadership!
Excellent information for new church pastors and teachers who are needing to become more confident in working to make the church more effective!
Excellent information for new church pastors and teachers who are needing to become more confident in working to make the church more effective!
December 28, 2011
I sense a huge disconnect in this book. In the final chapter, Weems waxes theological on the need for a revival of passion in church leadership. He hopes for church leaders to root themselves in the God who called them to ministry. Yet that is also the major problem with this book. It is not sufficiently rooted in God! I see this book as a practical guide to be a leader of the church (especially the UMC) in its present institutional state. In that sense, this book is effective and well-researched. What frustrates me is that it does not seek a deeper vision (Ironically, he spends a good chunk of the book discussing "vision") for what the church is, what the church should do, and how we church leaders gather the gumption to lead people there.
Specifically, I am frustrated with how this book appears like any generic leadership text with a few scripture references and quotes by theologians thrown in. The language of "Vision, Team, Culture, and Integrity" he uses are not really theological or scriptural terms and could be mapped onto any organization. The entire foundational approach of this book is a turn-off to this church leader, who would rather see something that inspires confidence in leading the people of God, not a run-of the-mill volunteer organization.
Again, there is a lot of helpful information and research in here on doing the maintenance of the church and dealing with people. That is all well and good. But I do not see that as the role of "leadership" in the church of God. Instead, we are called to a specific mission with a specific character. Perhaps the fact that we have strayed from that and that a book like this is considered the standard in church leadership is why we are dying.
Specifically, I am frustrated with how this book appears like any generic leadership text with a few scripture references and quotes by theologians thrown in. The language of "Vision, Team, Culture, and Integrity" he uses are not really theological or scriptural terms and could be mapped onto any organization. The entire foundational approach of this book is a turn-off to this church leader, who would rather see something that inspires confidence in leading the people of God, not a run-of the-mill volunteer organization.
Again, there is a lot of helpful information and research in here on doing the maintenance of the church and dealing with people. That is all well and good. But I do not see that as the role of "leadership" in the church of God. Instead, we are called to a specific mission with a specific character. Perhaps the fact that we have strayed from that and that a book like this is considered the standard in church leadership is why we are dying.
March 13, 2015
Lovett Weems was a seminary professor of mine so I can't help but be biased: he was a great professor. While I think his in-person wisdom always comes out better than his written wisdom, what I think doesn't matter. There's not a whole lot to say about this book except that it's really good; a really good summary of basic wisdom that church leaders need to understand and utilize in church ministry.
Not all four of the title leadership traits (vision, team, integrity, culture) are equal in this book. One could argue that this book is about vision and three ways to implement it. One could also argue that Weems should have spent an equal amount of time on team, integrity, and culture because they are important separate and apart from a vision, but that would be silly. The point of this book isn't to talk about vision, team, culture, and integrity as ideas but to engage in leadership in the church. There is no way to do that other than having and implementing a vision by considering team, integrity, and culture.
A very solid work. I'd give it five stars except then I might seem biased.
Not all four of the title leadership traits (vision, team, integrity, culture) are equal in this book. One could argue that this book is about vision and three ways to implement it. One could also argue that Weems should have spent an equal amount of time on team, integrity, and culture because they are important separate and apart from a vision, but that would be silly. The point of this book isn't to talk about vision, team, culture, and integrity as ideas but to engage in leadership in the church. There is no way to do that other than having and implementing a vision by considering team, integrity, and culture.
A very solid work. I'd give it five stars except then I might seem biased.
July 23, 2011
An excellent book that challenges us all to become leaders in our community by using the gifts and talents that God has provided us with. I wish I would have read this in seminary when I was supposed to. It would have prepared me to be a leader in the Church at a much earlier time.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews