Strategic Leadership for a Change: Facing our Losses, Finding Our Future [Paperback]

Kenneth J. McFayden (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 17, 2009

Many congregations are experiencing significant change both within and beyond their walls, and both members and leaders feel a sense of loss in the midst of these changes. In the midst of change, loss, and grief, congregations yearn for leadership--typically with differing expectations of what constitutes effective leadership in response to their needs, hopes, and priorities. At the same time, congregations resist leadership. After all, leadership assumes those who follow will be open to more change.

Strategic Leadership for a Change provides congregational leaders with new insights and tools for understanding the relationships among change, attachment, loss, and grief. It also helps to facilitate the process of grieving, comprehend the centrality of vision, and demonstrate theological reflection in the midst of change, loss, grief, and attaching anew. All this occurs as the congregation aligns its vision with God's and understands processes of change as processes of fulfillment.

Drawing on attachment theory, leadership studies, and biblical and theological resources, McFayden's work is invaluable for leaders whose congregations face change, experience loss, wonder about their future, and yearn for leadership.

Editorial Reviews

Review

If you've ever wondered why your great new plans meet resistance and fail, you should read this book. Grounded in the author's real experience with congregations and their leaders, it offers significant insight into the implementation of change and how, as leaders, we can help congregational members and church systems accept and even embrace change. --Diana J. Barber, Associate Synod Executive for Leadership Development, Synod of Lakes and Prairies, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Ken McFayden explores what it means to lead congregations through change and conflict in a manner consistent with Christian discipleship. This is a book I have waited for years to share with students, pastors, and lay leaders. The author reminds us that while we live in anxious times, and anxious people seldom make good decisions, the most powerful antidote to anxiety is good leadership. --Michael Jinkins, Dean and Professor of Pastoral Theology, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and author of Transformational Ministry and The Character of Leadership

Ken knows that leadership is costly, even courageous. Leadership is a form of discipleship. Fear, resistance, and weariness are part of a leader's life; so are creativity, imagination, and a "bag of tricks" to strengthen congregations that yearn for, yet resist, change, transformational change that makes more effective witnesses. --Art Ross, Pastor, White Memorial Presbyterian Church, Raleigh, North Carolina

About the Author

Kenneth J. McFayden is Professor of Ministry and Leadership Development and Dean of The Center for Ministry and Leadership Development at Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education. He is an ordained Presbyterian minister and has served as a director of a ministry development center, a hospital chaplain, and an associate pastor.

Product Details

• Paperback: 111 pages
• Publisher: The Alban Institute (August 17, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156699392X
• ISBN-13: 978-1566993920
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.2 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: #161,997 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars every pastor must read, October 16, 2011

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Meg (Chicago) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Strategic Leadership for a Change: Facing our Losses, Finding Our Future (Paperback)

After I read this book I felt like a huge, "why didn't I ever think of that?" light ball went off in my head. As a pastor of a congregation in the process of revitalization I new that people in my congregation were confronting loss and grieving - but it actually never really dawned on me that if the loss is never really dealt with and confronted them there is not moving forward to something new. I ended up buying a copy for every family in my congregation and leading a book club small group discussion on this topic. This book actually helped people in my congregation realize that they do not really want to turn the congregation around and we are in the process of discerning to close the doors of the congregation. But, we got there through honest conversation that was brought about by topics raised in this book - and they are being honest. Change is hard.

I also think this book can be helpful for congregations that seem stuck or are calling a new pastor or are remodeling or going through a vision process. Really, any congregation.