Congregational Leadership in Anxious Times: Being Calm and Courageous No Matter What [Paperback]

Peter L. Steinke (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 20, 2006

Anxious times call for steady leadership. When tensions emerge in a congregation, its leaders cannot be as anxious as the people they serve. To remain effective, congregational leaders must control their own uneasiness. This takes self-awareness and confidence to manage relationships and influence behaviors. Knowing how to deal with anxiety and how to work throug complex challenges can lead a congregation to new insights, growth, and vitality. Anxious times hold not only the potential for loss but also for creation, important lernings, and changes that will strengthen the congregation. With this new book, internationally respected consultant Peter Steinke goes deeper into the requirements of effective congregational leadership. Born from the wisdom of Steinke's distinguished career, this new volume will both enlighten and embolden leaders. Steinke inspires courage in leaders to maintain the course, unearth secrets, resist sabotage, withstand fury, and overcome timidity or doubts. His insights, illustrations, and provocations will carry leaders through rough times, porvide clarity during confusing times, and uplift them in joyous times.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A faithful book, full of insight and illustration. --Bishop Rick Foss, Eastern North Dakota Synod, ELCA

In his first two books, Peter Steinke effectively offered the lens of family systems through which to see congregational life. In this new book, he continues that tradition of wit, clarity, and insight while moving to a new level of depth and artistry. --W. Craig Gilliam, Director, The Center for Pastoral Effectiveness, The Louisiana Annual Conference of the UMC

Dr. Steinke once again illuminates the path towards healthier, more effective church leadership. He consistently provides deep wisdom that is both relevant and transformative. --James Boyer, Pastoral Psychotherapist and Organizational Consultant

About the Author

Peter L. Steinke is an internationally respected congregational systems consultant who has also served as a parish pastor, an eduator, and a therapist for clergy. He is the author of the best-selling books How Your Church Family Works and Healthy Congregations.

Product Details

• Paperback: 183 pages
• Publisher: The Alban Institute (November 20, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566993288
• ISBN-13: 978-1566993289
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,407 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #11 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Evangelism > Sermons

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Introduction to Leadership in Anxious Congregations, August 23, 2008

By 

Matthew Gunia (Justice, Illinois) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Congregational Leadership in Anxious Times: Being Calm and Courageous No Matter What (Paperback)

Peter Steinke, ELCA pastor, author, scholar, and church consultant is currently the leading researcher in Bowen Family Systems theory. This latest book, "Congregational Leadership in Anxious Times," is written for pastors and other congregational leaders with the hope that the information contained with both enlighten and embolden them (xi). The brief book (175 pages) is divided into three sections: "The Leader's Presence," "The Leader's Functioning," and "The Leader's Challenges."

While this present book provides little new information per se on applying the Bowen Theory to religious leadership, the information is presented in an interesting, enlightening way. Steinke's style of writing is simple without being simplistic. He breaks information down into small, easily-digestible parts...yet never comes across as "talking down" to the reader.

Bowen Theory places a great deal of emphasis on strong, independent-minded-yet-connected leaders. The trick (according to Rev. Rick Foss in the foreword) is to practice excellent leadership consistently. Steinke draws upon his vast experience as a church consultant and researcher to provide examples of a leader's effect on a congregation (positive and negative), pitfalls, and the complex emotional process that can help or hinder leadership.

This book would be ideal for congregational leaders (ordained, contracted, or elected) as both a work of inspiration and a launching point for more research in the leadership genre. Indeed, this book's main contribution is that it provides and easy entry-point into the Family Systems Theory.

While it is recommended for those without much experience in Bowen Theory, those who have digested the works of Ed Friedman may not find much new...even through they might find much to inspire.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's about integrity and courage., May 9, 2008

By 

Mary E. Tallawa "Miami Rev." (Miami Gardens, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Congregational Leadership in Anxious Times: Being Calm and Courageous No Matter What (Paperback)

Steinke's book saved my life and probably that of the church I pastor. His analysis of leading through crisis was invaluable to me as I found the need to confront a wayward but dynamic staff member and eventually persuade the personnel committee to be the leaders they really want to be. After 3 1/2 years of ignoring others' attempts to hold her accountable, change is finally accomplished. I knew what had to be done, but Steinke's wonderful analysis of such situations made it clearer and more defensible. It's not over yet, but the anxiety has been removed for the most part, and now we have a chance to be the Church of Jesus Christ, a church of honesty and integrity.

Will also be helpful to leaders in all kinds of organizations.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just what I needed to make sense of it all...., May 6, 2007

By 

BJC (Brooklyn, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Congregational Leadership in Anxious Times: Being Calm and Courageous No Matter What (Paperback)

Sometimes we "know" intuitively which path to take but we just need a gentle reminder to have faith in ourselves. This is a very commonsense guide to help re-discover essential truths about leadership in congregational life. It helps to re-gain perspective during difficult times and gives a framework for recovering equilibrium and good will.