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Servanthood: Leadership for the Third Millennium

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Book Review: "SERVANTHOOD: Leadership for the Third Millennium" by Bennett J. Sims. Review by Dean William Rankin, President of Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, MA. A few years ago an eminent panel of scholars gathered in Washington, D. C., to evaluate applications for grants in the area of "leadership." They discovered what some church people have known, which is that everyone is in favor of leadership yet few know how to define it in practical terms. Bishop Bennett Sims is not thus confounded; he gives Christian theological substance to the leadership notion. If he had done no more we would be in his debt. But he goes on to show how mercy, generosity, gentleness, strength and the willingness truly to connect deeply with the other will inspirit all our lives and enable us to offer hope to a sometimes bleak world. Indeed, we can by God's grace convert our competitive instincts, our fears and our coercive control needs into a sincere desire to "honor the personal dignity and worth" of others, says Sims, and so "evoke as much as possible their own innate creative power for leadership." Feminist liberation theologians will recognize the construction of a theological launch pad here for connecting the empowerment of others to a rigorous analysis of who, precisely, the disempowered are. But the class, race and gender analysis necessary to do this is not undertaken in this writing, since Sims has another purpose, which he carries off admirably. He aims to ground his endeavor squarely in the Bible and theology, which he skillfully does with the help of our best contemporary theologians, who include Jurgen Moltmann, Marcus Borg and Douglas Meeks. He draws also upon writers, management theorists and others, such as Annie Dillard, Max DuPree and Margaret Wheatley; these add sizzle to this impressive work. The book's middle section is devoted to an analysis of Jesus as servant leader. It evaluates the church's chronic problems with both conflict and authority. Sims forthrightly tackles the rawest of today's issues in the church: the status and standing of lesbians and gay men. The author's honest, sometimes repentant, reflections are thoroughly grounded in the Christian heritage. Sensitive readers will also find them civilized, enlightened and gracious. Selected applications of the servant-leadership notion comprise the book's final section. Here the social issues of work and business are considered. Chapters on the "new science," environmental challenge and on the classic ethical problem of violence in warfare close out the body of writings. The author makes theological connections to these in rich and illuminating ways. Sims' writing is smooth, his ideas engaging. His intelligence shines, but not self-consciously. Several of his stories take us deep. When he refers to his own experiences in the church we attend carefully, not least because of his humility. A major reason why this book is so readable is that its author is so likable. Bennett Sims, a Renaissance Christian, shows us the elegance of competent theological scholarship combined with articulate knowledge of the science and arts. This book will be required reading in my classes, and I hope it receives the wide readership in the church that it deserves.

Servant Leadership by Bennett Simms is an excellent book. It was very challenging- thought provking. I purchased book for a book discussion and found even prior to discussion myself thinking in new patterns. Somehow I found the author was writing to answr my "What If's" as regarding leadership. While written fro a religious viewpoint it comtains much vanualbe thought provoking ideas for the business community. If the world is ever to find peace and harmony and a solid working together to produce vivbrant communities working together on common projects in the business; political and religious areas this is the book not does not answer or tell how but more importantly provokes thought and reflection to break one from "the box" into new thought patterns.

You don't have to be ordained or a scripturist to comprehend the many important themes this excellent book has to offer. At only 177 pp., this "little" book packs "big" evidence toward getting your life right as a Christian...or as any other human being of faith. It's hard to imagine a more readable, intelligent and thoughtful book on leadership in the church, in society and in business.

Bishop Sims begins by describing the meaning of servanthood and reflects on the example of Jesus.Once you have read the first chapter you gain an appreciation of the concept and the biblical examples. However, Sims then strays from the subject not to mention biblical text and uses the rest of the book to promote gay ordination and complete acceptance of homosexuality in the church.I found this book really feel apart after the first chapter and completely ran out of gas.