Who is Your Covering?: A Fresh Look at Leadership, Authority, and Accountability [Paperback]

Frank A. Viola (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2001

This book is out of print. It has been revised, expanded, and combined with another out-of-print book called "Rethinking the Wineskin" and is available on Amazon.com under the title "Reimagining Church."

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Most believers probably suspect that all is not well in Zion, but they are slow to question the status quo...the appalling truth of the matter is that most systems of church polity are utterly without Scriptural clothing!" -- -From the foreword by Steve Atkerson

This book is out of print. It has been revised, expanded, and combined with another out-of-print book called "Rethinking the Wineskin" and is available on Amazon.com under the title REIMAGINING CHURCH. --Publisher Review

From the Publisher

See the new expanded and revised version, "Reimagining Church."

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 132 pages
• Publisher: Present Testimony Ministry (January 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966665716
• ISBN-13: 978-0966665710
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #676,741 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Covering Collapses, August 22, 2002

By 

KEVIN LUCAS (STEVENSON, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Who is Your Covering?: A Fresh Look at Leadership, Authority, and Accountability (Paperback)

As one who has encountered the covering teaching in action I found this book to be a breath of fresh air into the stifling atmosphere that this teaching promotes. The adherents to this teaching may be sincere and well meaning. However, I agree with the author, the covering teaching promotes a ". . . system that is bereft of Biblical support and driven by a spirit of control."
Viola advocates an alternative understanding of Christian leadership. This alternative does not emulate a military style chain of command but instead is modeled on the more scriptural example of the human body. Viola clearly and thoroughly outlines the Biblical basis for this alternative but also provides Biblical answers for those who would question that alternative.
For those of you have had concerns and doubts about the biblical basis for the covering teaching, this book is for you. For those of you who are actively promoting the covering teaching and are not afraid to honestly examine your position in light of the scripture, this book is also for you.

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The emporer has no clothes, March 19, 2002

By 

ken naccari (new orleans LA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Who is Your Covering?: A Fresh Look at Leadership, Authority, and Accountability (Paperback)

If implemented, the ideas in this book could radically reduce problems in churches such as deception, molestation of children by clergy, unhealthy sectarian barriers, unhealthy dependence on leaders to think for others, unhealthy loading of responsibilities on pastors that should be distributed to ordinary believers.

If you are looking for a book that just bashes "spiritual abuse" or the traditional institutional church, this book is not for you.

If you want to get a balanced view of what biblical leadership should be, this book is excellent food for thought...

44 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books on NT leadership ever written!, July 24, 2002

By 

Dave Y. "nobody777" (Kennewick, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Who is Your Covering?: A Fresh Look at Leadership, Authority, and Accountability (Paperback)

Frank Viola has done a spectacular service to the body of Christ here with his book, "Who Is Your Covering," by cutting the cords of traditional misunderstanding that have affected how people percieve that leadership in the church is intended to operate... The greatest misunderstanding of course being that the concept of "church covering" is not taught anywhere in the Bible!

No biblical stone is left unturned in this discussion of how the New Testament defines "leadership." The reader is taken through a study of virtually every passage in the New Testament that pertains to "oversight" in the church. It becomes clear that many of us have fallen prey to devices of human wisdom when it comes to our perceptions about authority and submission and its connection with those who are "official ministers" in our churches.

It would be well, in my opinion, if every pastor, prophet, deacon, elder, evangelist and every lay person read this book! It is most certainly an eye opener. But the grand thing is that Frank only expounds from the original writings what the Bible teaches. There is no "new revelation" here, no "proof texting" and no mis-handling of the context of Scripture. Just an honest examination of the New Testament story and a closer look into the meanings of the Greek words in select passages that deal with the subject of leadership in the church. I personally found myself encouraged and desiring to see the expression of servant ministry that Frank describes so beautifully in this book.

Some readers will be amazed to find that "official" and "positional" or "hierarchical" forms of leadership are NEVER expressed in the New Testament with respect to the Lord's Church. In fact, these are largely a product of romanistic influence on the text and church tradition over the centuries, but were largely unheard of, not to mention unpopular, during the first few centuries of the Church. No doubt this will be a difficult pill for some to swallow, but the medicine is much needed, and as yo momma used to say, "it's good for you!" (grin)

This book is not anti-leadership, but it puts the term "leadership" in its proper, biblical context.

Highly recommended! Especially if you have been subjected to "covering theology" or have been asked by leadership to read other books on the subject (like John Bevere's book called "Under Cover"). I also recommend Watchman Nee's book, "The Normal Christian Church Life."