In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership

by Henri J.M. Nouwen

In this treasure of a book, Henri Nouwen presents a powerful vision of leadership for now and for the future. As he looks back at his own life, the author reflects upon the challenges and the solutions that are faced by today's Christian leaders. Nouwen questions many of the current perceptions of how to lead, and takes the reader back to the lessons of scripture and the lived example of Jesus.

Genres: Leadership, Christian, Theology, Nonfiction, Christianity, Spirituality, Faith

72 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Henri Jozef Machiel Nouwen was a Dutch Catholic priest, theologian, psychologist, professor, and spiritual writer whose work profoundly shaped contemporary Christian spirituality. Born in Nijkerk, the Netherlands, in 1932, Nouwen pursued religious studies and was ordained a priest in 1957. His intellectual curiosity led him to study psychology at the Catholic University of Nijmegen and later at the Menninger Clinic in Kansas, where he explored the connection between faith and mental health. Throughout his life, Nouwen remained committed to integrating pastoral care, psychology, and spiritual theology in a way that addressed the emotional and existential needs of believers.
Nouwen held teaching positions at prestigious institutions including the University of Notre Dame, Yale Divinity School, and Harvard Divinity School. He authored over three dozen books and hundreds of articles, with notable works such as The Wounded Healer, The Return of the Prodigal Son, Life of the Beloved, and The Inner Voice of Love. His writing, often rooted in personal vulnerability and spiritual struggle, resonated with readers across denominations. Nouwen openly explored themes of loneliness, identity, intimacy, and the human desire for love and belonging, making his voice especially relatable and influential.
Though he was a gifted academic and popular speaker, Nouwen found his deepest calling later in life through his involvement with L’Arche, a network of communities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. After a transformative stay at the original L’Arche community in France, Nouwen accepted an invitation to become the pastor of L’Arche Daybreak in Richmond Hill, Ontario. There he developed a close bond with Adam Arnett, a core member with severe disabilities, which inspired the book Adam: God’s Beloved. At Daybreak, Nouwen discovered a deep spiritual home and a community that helped him embrace his humanity in profound ways.
Throughout his life, Nouwen wrestled with issues of identity, including his sexuality and his longing for connection, though he remained faithful to his vows. His openness about depression and inner conflict gave depth to his pastoral message, and his ability to turn personal struggle into shared spiritual insight made him one of the most beloved spiritual writers of the 20th century.
Henri Nouwen died in 1996 of a sudden heart attack, but his legacy endures through his writings, the Henri Nouwen Society, and the continued global reach of his message of belovedness, vulnerability, and compassionate community. His books remain bestsellers, widely read in seminaries, churches, and among individuals seeking a more intimate walk with God.

Reviews

[Jay Hawes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nouwen's writing is so powerful! Humility just drips from every word. He desires, more than anything, that Jesus would be more so he could become less. I was so impressed with this little book on leadership.

He challenges the reader:

1. Do you want to be relevant? Pray more.

The Christian leader of the future is called to be completely irrelevant and to stand in this world with nothing to offer but his or her own vulnerable self. That is the way Jesus came to reveal God's love. (30)

2. Do you want to be popular? Minister more.

It is Jesus who heals, not I; Jesus who speaks words of truth, not I; Jesus who is Lord, not I. (60)

3. Do you want to lead? Be led more.

What makes the temptation of power so seemingly irresistible? Maybe it is that power offers an easy substitute for the hard task of love. (77)

This will be a book I come back to year after year to remind myself as a leader that I need to be led.

[Mollie Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glad to return to this foundational book on Christian leadership. It's so simple, but so full of truth bombs.

[Bethany Ritter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely a book I will come back to again and again. I’m so thankful for the reminder to seek to be a humble and vulnerable leader rather than a powerful and popular one. As always, Henri Nouwen’s beautiful words and stories brought me to tears.

[Jaime T · Rating 5 out of 5]

First time reading Nouwen, and it was quite phenomenal! 🤩 Nouwen paints a real and compelling image of "the Christian leader of the future." He identifies 3 common and relatable desires in leaders: the desire to be relevant, the desire for popularity, and the desire for power, which are not ingredients for effective ministry nor are they vocations but temptations.

After coming back from a mission trip in Japan, this was a timely book to help guide me on my spiritual formation towards becoming a leader in the footsteps of Jesus after His calling. It's a short book, and I'd definitely get my team to read this together one day - I'd consider it mandatory reading for any Christian leaders.

[Breanna Wideman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to force myself to not read this in one sitting, but give it a few days to absorb all the goodness in this book. Pretty much every sentence is an excellent quote, but this one stood out to me last night;

"It seems easier to be God than to love God, easier to control people than to love people, easier to own life than to love life"

I need to invest in my own copy because I feel this will be a book I need to re read throughout the years.

[Joe Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still tears in my eyes from this one. More needed than ever in the church today. Very quick read, but savor it. Will return to it again as I am tempted to be relevant, spectacular, and powerful…instead of irrelevant, repentant, and weak for Jesus.

[Aliza Latta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful. Even though it was written in 1989, it feels integral to Christian leadership today. I think this will be a yearly reread for sure

[Marly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this one in an hour and half, gonna be absorbing it and revisiting it’s truths for SURE… Highly highly recommend for anyone in church leadership or who interacts closely with church leadership

[Sophia Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still well worth the regular reread! It’s crazy to revisit this piece as a professional in a field that is so relational. I would be really interested to hear what any fellow mft’s have to say about it!

Becoming a therapist and realizing the extent of my desire to be helpful, useful, and appreciated has been one of the most humbling experiences of my life.

[Isa Gueno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this as the staff read for Bentonville and…. The last two chapters man. These quotes speak for themselves!

“The Christian leader of the future is called to be completely irrelevant and to stand in this world with nothing to offer but his or her own vulnerable self. That is the way Jesus came to reveal God's love. The great message that we have to carry, as ministers of God's Word and followers of Jesus, is that God loves us not because of what we do or accomplish, but because God has created and redeemed us in love and has chosen us to proclaim that love as the true source of all human life.”

“What makes the temptation of power so seemingly irresistible? Maybe it is that power offers an easy substitute for the hard task of love. It seems easier to be God than to love God, easier to control people than to love people, easier to own life than to love life.”

“I leave you with the image of the leader with outstretched hands, who chooses a life of downward mobility. It is the image of the praying leader, the vulnerable leader, and the trusting leader. May that image fill your hearts with hope, courage, and confidence as you anticipate the new century.”

[Tanner Hawk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Update: August 10, 2022

Fourth visit to the well: still refreshing.

"I am convinced that the Christian leader of the future is called to be completely irrelevant and to stand in this world with nothing to offer but his or her own vulnerable self" (29-30).

"The question is not: how many people take you seriously? How much are you going to accomplish? Can you show me some results? But: Are you in love with Jesus?" (37).

"It is not enough for the priests and ministers of the future to be moral people, well trained, eager to help their fellow humans, and able to respond creatively to the burning issues of their time…The central question is, Are the leaders of the future truly men and women of God, people with an ardent desire to dwell in God's presence, to listen to God's voice, to look at God's beauty, to touch God's incarnate Word, and to taste fully God's infinite goodness?" (43).

"Dealing with burning issues without being rooted in a deep personal relationship with God easily leads to divisiveness because, before we know it, our sense of self is caught up in our opinion about a given subject" (45).

"When you look at today's church, it is easy to see the prevalence of individualism among ministers and priests...Stardom and individual heroism, which are such obvious aspects of our competitive society, are not at all alien to the church" (55-6).

"We keep forgetting that we are being sent out two-by-two. We cannot bring good news on our own...whenever we minister together, it is easier for people to recognize that we do not come in our own name, but in the name of the Lord Jesus who sent us" (58-9).

"Ministry is not only a communal experience, it is also a mutual experience... [Jesus] wants Peter to feed his sheep and care for them, not as professionals who know their clients' problems and take care of them, but as vulnerable brothers and sisters who know and are known, who care and are cared for, who forgive and are being forgiven, who love and are being loved" (60-1).

"How can we lay down our life for those with whom we are not even allowed to enter into a deep personal relationship? Laying down your life means making your own faith and doubt, hope and despair, joy and sadness, courage and fear available to others as ways of getting in touch with the Lord of life" (61).

"Confession and forgiveness are the concrete forms in which we sinful people love one another... Often I have the impression that priests and ministers are the least confessing people in the Christian community...How can priests or ministers feel really loved and cared for when they have to hide their own sins and failings from the people to whom they minister and run off to a distant stranger to receive a little comfort and confilation?" (64-5).

"Ministers and priests are also called to be full members of their communities, are accountable to them and need their affection and support, and are called to minister with their whole being, including their wounded selves" (69).

"One of the greatest ironies of the history of Christianity is that its leaders constantly gave in to the temptation of power... Even though they continued to speak in the name of Jesus, who did not cling to his divine power but emptied himself and became as we are. The temptation to consider power an apt instrument for the proclamation of the Gospel is the greatest of all" (76).

"What makes the temptation of power so seemingly irresistible? Maybe it is that power offers an easy substitute for the hard task of love. It seems easier to be God than to love God, easier to control people than to love people, easier to own life than to love life...The long painful history of the church is the history of people ever and again tempted to choose power over love, control over the cross, being a leader over being led" (78-9).

"Jesus has a different vision of maturity [than independence]: It is the ability and willingness to be led where you would rather not go" (81).

"The way of the Christian leader is not the way of upward mobility in which our world has invested so much, but the way of downward mobility ending on the cross... [Not passive or weak leadership] but leadership in which power is constantly abandoned in favor of love" (81-2).

"Most Christian leaders today raise psychological or sociological questions even though they frame them in scriptural terms...it is essential to be able to discern from moment to moment how God acts in human history and how the personal, communal, national, and international events that occur during our lives can make us more and more sensitive to the ways in which we are led to the cross and through the cross to the resurrection" (86-7).

"The task of future Christian leaders is not to make a little contribution to the solution of the pains and tribulations of their time, but to identify and announce the ways in which Jesus is leading God's people out of slavery, through the desert to a new land of freedom. Christian leaders have the arduous task of responding to personal struggles, family conflicts, national calamities, and international tensions with an articulate faith in God's real presence" (87).

"Theological reflection is reflecting on the painful and joyful realities of every day with the mind of Jesus and thereby raising human consciousness to the knowledge of God's gentle guidance" (88).

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Update: April 11, 2019

After reading this book for the third time I had to bump my rating from four stars to five. This book always gets me where I need to be got. Reading it is like a drinking deep from a cup of crisp, cool water.

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August 11, 2018

Nouwen is the man. Super helpful book for anyone in any form of Christian leadership.

[Shawn Enright · Rating 5 out of 5]

1. The Christian leader eagerly enters into mutually transforming relationships of co-suffering love with those she leads. This relational model is distinctly Christian, because it would otherwise be inappropriate for, say, a psychologist and her client to have this sort of mutual vulnerability—even though both the Christian minister and psychologist intend to provide forms of healing.

2. The Christian leader actively resists the temptations of becoming relevant, spectacular, and powerful. She resists these temptations by contemplative prayer, confession and forgiveness, and theological reflection.

3. The Christian leader does not minister alone, though she may hold a distinct, singular office. Jesus always sends us to minister “two by two” (Luke 10:1), which ensures mutual accountability and encouragement. Take Jesus at his word, Nouwen says: if you have a speaking engagement, or your presence is requested in any way — try to invite a friend to accompany you. You may be surprised at the fruit it bears.

——

My two takeaways:

- Jesus asks us to be fruitful, not successful (to borrow from Nouwen)

When my affections are sanctified and properly aligned, I do not desire notoriety or power, though both may come, as was Nouwen’s case. My task is to actively resist the seductions of the world—which are now only exasperated by social media. I have no doubt that Nouwen would not be on Twitter. It is only getting harder to follow Jesus faithfully and to establish Christian credibility.

- Water seeks the lowest place (to borrow from Rohr)

When my affections are sanctified and properly aligned, my life will tend toward the poor in spirit. Poverty, to Nouwen, is a fruit of Christian leadership. The Christian leader carries only a staff — for in Christ she forfeits all of her bread, bags, and money (Mark 6:8). And only after forfeiting the world is she able to open her hands and receive the gifts God wants to give her. What am I holding onto that Jesus is asking me to give up, so that he may give me something better?

[Corbin Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short book. A simple message.

As Nouwen puts it, “What I have said is, obviously, nothing new, but I hope and pray that you have seen that the oldest, most traditional vision of Christian leadership is still a vision that awaits realization in the future. I leave you with the image of the leader with outstretched hands, who chooses a life of downward mobility.”

This book is catered towards “leaders in the church” and while he may be speaking to ministers, it is applicable to anyone because we can all be leaders in the church. Well done Nouwen.

[Molly Heald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great reminder about keeping your eyes out for the temptations found in leadership: relevance, popularity, and power. It provides great action steps to take when facing these temptations, and is a really humbling reminder that most of what Jesus asks of us is simply “do you love me?”

[Anna Moorman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book! It was a quick read that dove into some of the key temptations of Christian leadership and some disciplines that can combat them.

It was written from lessons Nouwen learned as he moved from a “traditional” ministry position to a position of ministering to people with mental and physical disabilities. This was cool because it reminded me of some of the lessons I learned working at Caring Days last summer.

I thought it had some beautiful reminders of dying to self, growing in humility and leading from deep love for the Father!

At times it was fluffy or repetitive but overall a good read!!

[David Hardy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and simple, yet insightful.

Nouwen warns of the temptations inherent in Christian leadership and recommends prayer, confession, and theological reflection as essential disciplines for leaders.

[Shelby Peck · Rating 4 out of 5]

tiny book full of simple truths we so often forget — am I motivated by power, popularity, and relevance, or am I overwhelmingly in love with Jesus?

[Grace Anne Cochrane · Rating 5 out of 5]

brb, crying at the love of Jesus.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been talking about being a mystic wonderer since I first read this book four years ago. Re-reading it now, I am so struck by Nouwen’s exhortation to embrace a life of “insignificance.” The content of this book originally served as a talk given in DC, and living here now, I can only imagine how the call to insignificance must’ve felt to so many of the recipients. When I first moved here, a co-worker told me that the city operates off of power as currency. To that context, Nouwen talks about Jesus releasing divine power to become like us, with nothing to prove, and he says things like, “Dare to claim your irrelevance to enter into deep solidarity with the anguish underlying all the glitter of success.” It’s challenging and convicting.

Nouwen is writing to those in vocational ministry, but I still find his words so compelling. It rubs up against so much of me that is drawn to a culture drowning in ambition and success. And certainly these things are good and right in their place: I’m constantly inspired by how people in DC, specifically, leverage their passions to do great things. But to the weariness, to the parts of me that get tired of striving, this book is like a sweet salve.

In Nouwen’s writing, the role of the Christian is simple. It’s about “power constantly abandoned in favor of love” and falling into a humility that isn’t overly concerned with personal contribution. It stands in stark contrast to a world bent on self, and Nouwen knows this. But he also knows that something in our spirits wants to be small, and release a bit of the striving to just be beloved. The book serves as a challenge and invitation to just be small and loved, and to lead by modeling that release.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through the lens of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness, and his commissioning of Peter at the end of John's gospel, Nouwen sets a trajectory for Christian leadership. He wrote this book after leaving academia for L'Arche and one of the best parts of the book is his description of how Bill, a developmentally disabled man, shared in Nouwen's ministry in presenting this material in Washington, D.C.

Nouwen questions contemporary leadership culture and the chasing of relevance, popularity and power. I wonder how Nouwen would critique social media. This short book is one of my favorites from Nouwen.

[Austin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to read this for a group in my church, There are some biblical truths in this book, however nothing new or unordinary. In this book he makes some cringy/questionable statements like "we have to be mystics" "we have to be the incarnation" and abandons some definitions of words similar to Rob Bell. Like bad definition of what a mystic actually is or what theology is. He also claims theologians find it hard to pray. If you want an excellent book on Christian leadership I would not recommend this book, he seems very confused on what terms mean, different denominations, etc. Perhaps pick up an Albert Mohler book on leadership,

[Bill Russell]

Fr. Nouwen is masterful. He presents a version of Christian faith that is very different than the evangelical American brand I learned. It is rich and true to Jesus. His advice for leaders in this century is profound. The only slight thing that bothered me was the notion that Nouwen was sacrificing much by living among the profoundly disabled. The rewards of such a leading always outweighs the cost.

[Mark Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

The single greatest book on leadership I have ever read!

[Jeff Schroeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I try to read this book at least once a year. Essential for all those in Christian ministry.

[Colby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I reread this every few years. The best book on “Christian Leadership” that I have encountered and I recommend to basically anyone for any reason.

[Allison Wise · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was really good!! It's a super quick read, definitely feel like I will pick this up and read it again in the future.

I picked it up and read it again!! So incredible. highly recommend to all

[Emma Weber · Rating 3 out of 5]

read this for my internship. it articulated a lot of feelings i’ve had but haven’t found words for. what would christianity look like if we were humble to accept the things we don’t know?

[Daniel Amador · Rating 5 out of 5]

My dad and I were browsing through the books on his bookshelf, talking about them, and he found one little book that he called probably the best book on Christian leadership he's read (he's a pastor).

I aspire to be an author. In some ways, authors are leaders and influences. Many authors like to hide away from the limelight, which is something easier for an author than a politician or musician. Some authors do stand in the spotlight, if they're activists or pastors, for example.

Either way, if I'm going to be an author, that would make me in some ways a leader. And I'm a Christian. I may not write "Christian" books, but my prayer is that my leadership and books radiate my faith.

And that basically would make me a Christian leader. Which I had already thought about, so I picked up this book from his bookshelf.

Now to talk about the book. It was _really_ good. Henri Nouwen brought his thoughts from the three temptations the devil presented to Jesus while he fasted and the three times Jesus asked "Do you love me?" and gave Peter a command after he'd resurrected and cooked fish on the beach.

Nouwen goes to the roots, the fundamentals, the base of [the] three great 1) temptations of Christian leaders, 2) challenges Jesus gives to Christian leaders, and 3) disciplines Christian leaders need to develop.

On my dad's bookshelf, there are many non-fiction books on theology, a hundred or more pages in most; and then there's this little almost-booklet among them all. A humble, honest book that doesn't boast many pages but is so powerful. That doesn't say a lot, but does say a lot.

This is not a visually hard read. But for Christian leaders, it should be a very hard spiritual, emotional read.

I'd recommend it to any Christian leader.

[Even Goa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nouwen skriver godt om hvordan hans opphold i et bofellesskap for psykisk-utviklingshemmede endret tankene han hadde om kristent lederskap.

- Behovet for å være betydelig kommer i veien for å se mennesker, møte dem der de er og formidle Guds kjærlighet

- Lederskap handler i stor grad om å lære seg å selv bli ledet!

- Jesus sendte ut disiplene to og to! «Hver gang vi står i tjeneste sammen, blir det enklere for folk å se at vi ikke kommer i vårt eget navn, men i Herren Jesu navn, han som har sendt oss».

[Adrie Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Jesus for prompting me to read this today. Help me to live it.