The changing dynamics of contemporary church life are well-known, but what’s less well-known is how leaders can work most effectively in this new context. In Quietly Courageous, esteemed minister and congregational consultant Gil Rendle offers practical guidance to leaders—both lay and ordained—on leading churches today. Rendle encourages leaders to stop focusing on the past and instead focus relentlessly on their mission and purpose—what is ultimately motivating their work. He also urges a shift in perspectives on resources, discusses models of change, and offers suggestions for avoiding common pitfalls and working creatively today.
ISBN-13: 9781538112908
Media Type: Paperback
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers - Inc.
Publication Date: 11-21-2018
Pages: 304
Product Dimensions: 6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.00(d)
Gil Rendle is former senior vice president for the Texas Methodist Foundation as well as former senior consultant and director of consulting for the Alban Institute. As an ordained minister with a PhD in organizational and group dynamics, he has worked with congregations across denominations for more than thirty years. He is the author of a number of books, including Holy Conversations: Strategic Planning as Spiritual Practice for Congregations.
Table of Contents
Contents PART I: GOOD LEADERSHIP IS NOT ENOUGH 1 Nashon’s Quiet Courage 2 The Change That Demands Quiet Courage PART II: THE ASSUMPTIONS 3 A Word about How: Assumptions about Change 4 A Word about Enough: Assumptions about Resources 5 A Word about Structure and Process: Assumptions about Fear, Organization, and Democracy 6 A Word about Learning: Assumptions about How Leadership Is Formed PART III: THE TEMPTATIONS 7 The Temptation of Playing It Safe: Nostalgia 8 The Temptation of Christian Empathy 9 The Temptation of Tiredness PART IV: WHERE DO WE START? 10 Telling the Story That Will Get Us through the Wilderness 11 Lessons in Style Notes Bibliography About the Author
