Transforming Pastoral Leadership: Reimagining Congregational Relationships for Changing Contexts

For many congregations change creates discomfort. Pastoral leaders are often expected to be experts who manage and control realities beyond their expertise experience and ability. That expectation a product of modern approaches to leadership views the pastor as responsible for maintaining the status quo. Transforming Pastoral Leadership responds to this context by challenging readers to rediscover key biblical themes around the shepherding metaphor as well as key theological themes steeped in our historical faith narratives. Readers are challenged to consider the origins of our dominant leadership practices and to reconsider how Christs preeminence as the leader of his church requires us to reconstruct leadership practices that are faithful to his preeminence. To assist congregations Transforming Pastoral Leadership suggests two processes that might help congregations discern Gods missional promptings as they move forward into Gods future and experience conflict as opportunities for transformation. Transforming Pastoral Leadership is a prescient critique of pastoral leadership styled in the manner of executive professionalism. Kinnisons alternative embeds leadership in the mutuality of Triune relationship. As a full participant in the community of faith the pastor models leadership given to interpretation relationship and implementation. This book will challenge the church to rethink its most basic assumptions about what it means to lead follow and participate in the unfolding reign of God. Highly recommended. --Kevin S. Reimer School of Education University of California Irvine In this thoughtful and provocative book Quentin Kinnison argues that if the local church is to regain its prophetic voice it must restore the biblical bell-sheep under-shepherd leader and eject the Western expert-driven pastor-centric ruler. This book is Henri Nouwens In the Name of Jesus meets Patrick Lencionis The Five Dysfunctions of a Team and is a must-read for pastors seminary professors and lay people preferably together. --Maxie B. Burch Chair and Professor Division of Biblical Studies John Brown University Kinnison invites to use the biblical metaphor of pastor to help us envision a new way of thinking about pastoral ministry in this postmodern world. This book is an excellent tool for those who want to think about pastoral leadership in a way that is biblically framed and geared toward our rapidly changing world. --Juan Francisco Martinez Vice President for Diversity and International Ministries Fuller Theological Seminary Transforming Pastoral Leadership offers a penetrating assessment of the leadership situation facing congregations today. The vision advanced within its pages is hopeful insightful and accessible. As a pastor I am invigorated by the challenge I have received in reading this book. As a professor I am eager to see a generation of emerging leaders grapple with its contents. As a practical theologian I celebrate it as a noteworthy contribution to our field of study. --Cory L. Seibel Point Pastor Central Baptist Church Edmonton AB; Affiliate Professor Sioux Falls Seminary Quentin P. Kinnison PhD is Associate Professor of Christian Ministry & Leadership at Fresno Pacific University at Fresno CA. He is coauthor of Welcoming Children with Special Needs: Empowering Christian Special Education through Purpose Policies and Procedures (2014).