Organic Leadership: Leading Naturally Right Where You Are (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: leading leaders, leadership success, relational authority, New Testament, God's Word, Holy Spirit (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Is it possible that the division between the clergy and the laity is unnecessary and, in fact, harmful to the church? In Organic Leadership, Neil Cole fervently says yes. But rather than doing away with the clergy, Cole argues that the answer is to raise up organically grown leaders from ordinary Christians and make everyone "clergy." Using examples from modern cinema, personal experience, and the Bible, Cole sets out to change our view of what a leader is and how one is formed. This fresh and revolutionary alternative will transform readers and equip them to challenge themselves and others to find the vision God has for them.

From the Inside Flap

Neil Cole is one of the founders of today's organic church movement, which has given rise to thousands of churches around the world. Here he builds on his previous work, offering insight on church leadership today. In Organic Leadership Cole •addresses how the church has carried on for far too long with faulty leadership ideas, without questioning them •shows how healthy and growing disciples can emerge naturally as leaders in God's kingdom •presents simple leadership development practices to raise up homegrown leaders from the harvest for the harvest •introduces us to real-life leaders who exemplify the ideas he presents

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Baker Books (February 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801013100
• ISBN-13: 978-0801013102
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #411,010 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tomorrow's church today, February 17, 2009

By	Dr. Larry Richards (North Carolina) - See all my reviews

A Theology of Church Leadership
Organic Leadership is an important book. The renewal movement of the 70's identified the flaws in the institutional church and called for a return to more a biblical and authentic shared life for the Christian community. That was a good initial step, and many biblical essentials were identified then. And hesitant steps toward renewal were taken in many churches. But the weight of institutional forms and expectations shaped by decade upon decade of "doing church" the wrong way was too great. Today however is a new day. The yearning for reality is causing many to question and to leave our churches. And the churches, having lost their way, like the ordained leadership and the schools which purport to prepare it, flail blindly.
That's why this book, and others explaining the growing "organic church movement" are so significant. True Christian leadership emerges only from a rightly functioning church. And this book places the development of leaders in the context, and for leadership of, rightly functioning churches! I highly commend the book, and others are produced by those in the organic church movement. They are sharing with us how to recover the dynamic that swept through the world with the Gospel, and are modeling for us all what the church can be once again.
Lawrence O (Larry) Richards

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Honest and gritty, July 15, 2009

By	William E. Berger - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I read Organic Church and really enjoyed the no non sense style of Neil Cole, it helped form and foster some philosophy of church that was missing for me. I have now read Organic Leadership and I have worn out 5 yellow high-liters! This book was more like a manuel on being a leader that is committed to the teaching and releasing of people to do effective, long term ministry. I enjoy Neil's "pull no punches" style. This is not a book trying to create rock star pastors, this is a book for those who really see the call of a pastor as more of a cheer leader and resource provider for congregants to do ministry for themselves. One of my favorite quotes, "The goal should always be to get congregants to think for themselves by simply teaching the truth and letting them draw conclusions with the help of the Holy Spirit." Yahtzee! That is what we need from pastors today, the ability to empower, encourage and release! I strongly encourage anyone who wants a church to become a movement in their community to get this book and do what it says.
Hey Neil, when is the next book coming out!

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "must read" for those in organic churches, March 7, 2009

By	Felicity Dale (Texas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I found myself saying a resounding "Yes!" on almost every page of this book. Neil Cole has written a classic on the subject of church leadership. This is not the typical book on the CEO model of church leadership, but is about a return to the New Testament style of servant leadership where the leader has died to his own agendas and programs, and instead is helping others to fulfil God's vision for their lives. Neil has raised more leaders for the harvest than anyone else I know. I thoroughly recommend his book.