Customer Reviews

The Leadership Jump: Building Partnerships Between Existing and Emerging Christian Leaders

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Long's book is an invaluable resource for any church or church organization (not to mention non-profits or other organizations) facing generational clashes among leadership. While this might be a difficult read for existing leaders (the author is clearly biased toward emerging leaders) this is because he senses a need for a change in approach light of changes in the surrounding culture.

His argument is that while modern, top-down, guarded, and plan-centered models of leadership that rest on positional authority are still taught in many places and are the framework out of which many existing leaders operate, these models actually end up undermining effective leadership and driving away the very youth and emerging leadership many churches and organizations so need and claim so loudly to be seeking.

"A paradox of leadership in this emerging culture is that the more power is hoarded, the less power one actually has," to quote from the book. "We actually gain power by giving it away. It is a different kind of power. Instead of being the power of control, it is the power of relationship, the power of shared decision making, the power of blessing."

Rather than simply opting for an "out with the old" approach, though, Long takes the refreshing position that for either form of leadership to be successful, it will require the other to bridge past and future.

Sobering, informative, introspective, comprehensive, visionary and real -- all words that describe the leadership clash and crash and what can emerge because of it. Exciting to look ahead, informative to take a realistic look backward and recognize how and why things have changed. In many places it is a "light bulb" coming on experience. We see, feel and worry about the culture and change going on around us. It is refreshing and energizing to think in terms of how the energy of what was, what is, and what might be could and should come together. Energy, hope and vision -- all a part of the reality encompassed and embraced by the author. Easy to read and relate to -- both past and future. Made me choose a spot on the horizon to which I want to move towards, knowing that the journey will be an adventure with unknowns, some failures, and lots of possibilities.