Customer Reviews

Leaders Who Last: Sustaining Yourself and Your Ministry

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If you want to do ministry and still have a life - this book is for you. Also, if you care about your effectiveness and not wasting the time and energy you're spending, spend some time and energy getting this book and reading it. This is one of those rare times when you can read, reflect, and find yourself breathing easier.

Margaret has a real gift for taking a life-sustaining "theory" of healthy practice and applying it to real ministry in congregations and organizations. You won't be wondering what this has to do with your actual situation - she's been there and makes the connections.

If church leaders had only one practical book to apply for creating and sustaining a healthy ministry, this is the one to read. I didn't want to put it down! Since I serve in a Judicatory capacity, I can see where Margaret Marcuson has addressed the real issues. The chapters include: Know Your Church's Story; Know Your Own Story; Know Your Purpose; Understand Money; Lead and Do Not Panic; Stay Connected. If you serve in a church leadership role, I would highly recommend that you put this book on the top of your reading list.
Rev. Susan EngPoole
Unity of Louisville Church
Louisville, KY
[...]

Margaret Marcuson has provided pastors with a practical, powerful guide to living out their ministry as leaders in such a way that their leadership itself becomes a ministry. In each chapter she highlights ways to think and act as a leader that result in greater health, clearer direction and deeper satisfaction in ministry. In "Taking Responsibility for Self" Marcuson illuminates the balancing act between over and under functioning while suggesting leaders challenge members as a way of leading. In my favorite chapter, "Know Your Purpose" Marcuson spells out leadership by self differentiation in practical, clear terms. This difficult concept comes to life in her examples, personal references and guidelines. Overall Marcuson has done a superb job of adding her voice to those who have demonstrated the usefulness of Bowen theory for the adventure of pastoral ministry.

This is a really honest book for those in pastoral ministry. It is not fluffy or filled with tools and techniques, but is a realistic portrayal of the challenges in ministry and some of the ways to meet those challenges with authenticity and health. The chapter about money offers much wisdom for those of us working in congregations, thinking lofty theological thoughts about generosity and stewardship which don't seem to always work practically. It is also filled with wise thoughts from those working as pastors, who have found creative ways to fulfill their call to be faithful and faith-filled teachers and preachers of the gospel.

I have been a student of Family Systems for more than twenty-five years. I have read Murray Bowen's book, books by Edwin Friedman, Peter Steinke, and others. Margaret J. Marcuson has summarized, expanded, and simplified this approach to life and ministry.

Two of my favorite "mustard seeds" in this book:

"When we unconsciously act from our family script, our choices are limited. It tells us how to be angry, or how to hide, or how to protect others. We learned our lines as soon as we learned to talk" (page 34).

"When you are more motivated for people to change than they are, then you have a problem--and they have all the power. The more they resist, the more you get sucked in. The more energy you spend trying to change them, the more things stay the same" (page 54).

Those two concepts can give me food for thought for months to consider and apply.

And there are many more! I will recommend this book to my colleagues and friends.

If you only read the questions at the end of the each chapter and spend time working with them, it is worth the price of the book! While it will be worth the price, you will benefit equally from each chapter that thoughtfully develops content so the questions can provide the reader with direct application in his/her unique position. The chapters powerfully develop practical application to the challenges of ministry. Marcuson has taken a comprehensive and complex theory--Bowen Family Systems Theory--and made it applicable to everyday people. --Robert I. Mathis, PhD

Wow, I loved this book. It was short and packed full of information. The book comes from a systems perspective, and helps the minister to deal with the congregational anxiety within a church. The chapters are excellent with the topics ranging from knowing the story of the congregation to knowing your own story. It deals with the issues of money, triangles, leadership, and purpose. This is one of the books that I truly recommend to preachers. It is really a must read for me. I highlighted a ton of stuff on the Kindle. The ideas are all deep, such as "can you continue to move forward with criticism?, can you allow other people to hurt without rescuing them?, and can you give people space?" There was an excellent chapter on how anxiety effects giving in the congregation. There is so much that is excellent in this book, you really need to read this preachers. It will save your ministry and your life from all the problems that arise in a church. This is true spiritual food.

This volume is an excellent practical exposition of Edwin H. Friedman's application of systems theory to congregational leadership. Marcuson offers a clear prescription for remaining healthy in ministry and practicing healthy ministry. Step by step, the reader is challenged to self-definition, to become intimate with one's own life narrative and the life narrative of the congregational family, to remain clear about one's God-given purpose, and to live as a true non-anxious presence in congregational ministry. For those not familiar with systems theory and congregational leadership, this volume offers a good introduction; however prior reading of Friedman makes it an even richer resource. For those with some experience in the application of systems theory to ministry, this is the applied knowledge course par excellence.

"A borrowed purpose is not a purpose that will last." M. Marcuson

In my opinion, the 6th chapter of this book ("Know Your Purpose") is worth the purchase price. Marcuson explores the importance of finding, maintaining, and voicing one's life purpose in regards to ministerial leadership. This three step process for authentic leadership is extremely helpful for limiting burn out!

I served local congregations for over 15 years before I burned out and moved on to a new vocation. However, I'm convinced that if I had resources like this book to guide me I might still be practicing ministry today. Well written and thought provoking, this book should be required reading for every seminarian. It will save your ministry and your life.

Sean P. Harry, D. Min.
author, Career Crossroads
Career Management Solutions, Portland, Oregon

Bowen Family Systems Theory can be quite complex to explain. Through stories, charm and wit, Marcuson makes the complex understandable.