When Leadership and Spiritual Direction Meet

Stories and Reflections for Congregational Life

Gil W. Stafford and Tex Sample Ph.D

Modern church leaders need to cultivate innovative and creative leadership skills, as they navigate today’s post-Christian world, and as their congregations look to them for insight and guidance. Gil Stafford takes a fresh look at this vital need, drawing upon his experience as a college coach, university president, and parish priest, and interweaving them with ancient spiritual practices found within the discipline of spiritual direction. Personal anecdotes help the reader envision their own life-transforming pilgrimage, as they develop into the type of adaptive leader that churches need in today’s rapidly changing world.

This book challenges church leaders to foster sacred safe space, holy listening, silence, and wisdom storytelling, in order to create a discerning church community. These techniques of spiritual direction can be applied to every aspect of the church, from small group studies to conducting parish business. Gradually the leader will be able to delegate some of his responsibilities to the congregation, liberating them to be leaders, and rescuing him from trying to be all things to all people.

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers / Alban Books

Pages: 232 • Trim: 6½ x 9¼

978-1-56699-756-0 • Hardback • June 2014 • $77.00 • (£59.00)

978-1-56699-441-5 • Paperback • June 2014 • $34.00 • (£25.00)

978-1-56699-448-4 • eBook • June 2014 • $32.00 • (£25.00)

Subjects: Religion / Christian Living / Leadership & Mentoring, Religion / Christian Ministry / Pastoral Resources, Religion / Institutions & Organizations

When Leadership and Spiritual Direction Meet

Stories and Reflections for Congregational Life

Hardback

Paperback

eBook

Summary

Modern church leaders need to cultivate innovative and creative leadership skills, as they navigate today’s post-Christian world, and as their congregations look to them for insight and guidance. Gil Stafford takes a fresh look at this vital need, drawing upon his experience as a college coach, university president, and parish priest, and interweaving them with ancient spiritual practices found within the discipline of spiritual direction. Personal anecdotes help the reader envision their own life-transforming pilgrimage, as they develop into the type of adaptive leader that churches need in today’s rapidly changing world.

This book challenges church leaders to foster sacred safe space, holy listening, silence, and wisdom storytelling, in order to create a discerning church community. These techniques of spiritual direction can be applied to every aspect of the church, from small group studies to conducting parish business. Gradually the leader will be able to delegate some of his responsibilities to the congregation, liberating them to be leaders, and rescuing him from trying to be all things to all people.

Details

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers / Alban Books

Pages: 232 • Trim: 6½ x 9¼

978-1-56699-756-0 • Hardback • June 2014 • $77.00 • (£59.00)

978-1-56699-441-5 • Paperback • June 2014 • $34.00 • (£25.00)

978-1-56699-448-4 • eBook • June 2014 • $32.00 • (£25.00)

Subjects: Religion / Christian Living / Leadership & Mentoring, Religion / Christian Ministry / Pastoral Resources, Religion / Institutions & Organizations

Author

Gil Stafford is the vicar at St. Augustine's Episcopal Parish, the chaplain for Episcopal Campus Ministries at Arizona State University, Tempe, and a writer for Forward Movement. He once played professional baseball, coached college baseball, and was a university president. Life is a pilgrimage and he has taken many, including walking Ireland coast-to-coast. Gil and his wife Cathy are co-founders of 2Wisdom’s Way.

Tex Sample is Robert B. and Kathleen Rogers Professor Emeritus of Church and Society at St. Paul School of Theology. He is the author of several books, including Earthly Mysticism.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Tex Sample
Acknowledgments
Introduction: A Life of Leadership
1. The Integration of Leadership and Spiritual Direction
2. The Leader as Steward of Sacred Safety
3. The Leader as Holy Listener
4. The Leader as Advocate of Silence
5. The Leader as Wisdom Teacher
6. Leadership in the Discerning Community
Notes