Leading on Purpose: Intentionality and Teaming in Congregational Life (Lutheran Voices) [Paperback]

Eric Burtness (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2004 | Series: Lutheran Voices

Exploring the Purpose-Driven Church phenomenon, Eric Burtness provides pastors and church leaders with a Lutheran view of what it means to lead on purpose and integrates the Purpose-Driven philosophy into the context of Lutheran congregational life. He tells the stories of numerous Lutheran congregations, large and small, rural and urban, that have used this structure and ministry emphasis for health, growth, and revitalization.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Lutheran Voices answers the call for Lutheran-specific materials for pastors and lay leaders that they can share with their congregations about Lutheran theology, what it means to be Lutheran, and how the Lutheran faith can enrich and guide their congregational and personal lives.

Lutheran Voices provides quality accessible books by Lutheran authors that inform, teach, inspire, and renew. Grounded in Lutheran theology and practice, the books cover a wide range of subjects and themes of interest to ELCA members and the wider Christian community.

About the Author

Eric Burtness is Senior Pastor at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Beaverton, Oregon, which participated in the ''40 Days of Purpose'' campaign in 2003. He will teach Purpose Driven® Lutherans at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota, in February 2005 for the fifth year.

Product Details

• Paperback: 100 pages
• Publisher: Augsburg Fortress Publishers (October 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806651741
• ISBN-13: 978-0806651743
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,043,846 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical and Inspirational, August 20, 2010

By 

Writers Block "JP" (NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Leading on Purpose: Intentionality and Teaming in Congregational Life (Lutheran Voices) (Paperback)

When I led a series of discipleship classes in my congregation I gave each participant a gift book as the 12 sessions drew to a close. This book from Eric Burtness was one of those books.

Inspirationally, Burtness captured my own imagination when he explained that the church's purpose was defined by Christ in his final instructions to the first 12 disciples. Jesus identified the greatest commandments for them (Matt 22:37-39) and gave them the great commission (Matt 28:19-20). Burtness connects Christ's instructions to the 5 purposes of the church: worship (love the Lord your God), ministry (love your neighbor as yourself), witness (go and make disciples), fellowship (baptising them), and discipleship (and teaching them all that I have commanded you).

(My brain lit up: stewardship is NOT a purpose of the church; it's a faith practice, like prayer, that helps us to draw closer to God.)

Practially, Eric Burtness is one of one of the few who gets congregational "team ministry" right-side-up. Congregational ministry is organic; it will grow and change, so let it. Most importantly, it percolates up from those in the pew (how very Lutheran!). At the risk of oversimplifying: if 2 or 3 feel called to a new ministry - let them team up to lead it! One, or all, might be called to a different ministry later on, but don't try to fill their places with warm bodies just to perpetuate a ministry that no longer has any (passionate) proponents.

Burtness's web site provides free downloads of the worksheet he gives to those who want to lead a new ministry in his congregation. Completing it helps them think through who will lead, how much office support, budget, and other resources will be required, and in what way the new ministry furthers the mission (mission statement) of the congregation.

It's a small book, but it contains big ideas, useful tools, and moving examples: an easy and enjoyable read.