Mike Bonnem, In Pursuit of Great AND Godly Leadership: Tapping the Wisdom of the World for the Kingdom of God (Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series). Jossey-Bass, 2012.
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LifeandLeadership.com Summary
Most ministers I know welcome the insights of good books on business leadership, but they also affirm the uniqueness of the church context and of their calling which often makes it difficult to integrate principles from the private sector. This book spans the gap.
With experience in both arenas, Bonnem attempts to integrate these two worlds, establishing “common ground by examining biblical and marketplace leadership concepts and asking how best to lead any organization that places Christ at the center of its mission.” He operates with several central convictions:
- The Bible provides the core foundation, but not all the answers, on how to be an effective leader.
- Secular leadership principles are not inherently evil or contrary to Scripture.
- Unwillingness to use solid business principles can limit a church’s potential.
- Overreliance on business principles can also limit a church’s potential.
- We have a tremendous stewardship responsibility and leadership opportunity.
- The space in which we lead offers few easy answers.
Operating from this philosophy, he organizes the book into three parts:
Chapters One and Two – Discuss the biblical foundations, how to properly integrate biblical and business thinking. He also covers the personal issues every spiritual leader must face such as the willingness to risk and learn, face reality courageously, monitor one’s ego, etc.
Part One: Tools for Great and Godly Leadership – Explores practical topics such as planning, stewardship, measuring/evaluating effectiveness, finances, and understanding systems.
Part Two: Beyond the Tools – Looks at deeper, foundational matters such as team dynamics, corporate culture, organizational change. There is also a final chapter that comes full circle to help leaders properly define success, practice continual renewal, and strengthen character.
Helpful appendices include practical tips for managing people (e.g. hiring, performance evalutations, compensation, terminations) and measuring effectiveness (e.g. in evangelism, assimilation, spiritual growth, deployment into ministry, overall ministry effectiveness, and giving). The appendices alone may be worth the price of the book.
From the Publisher
In Pursuit of Great AND Godly Leadership
Is it possible for church leaders to use biblical and secular leadership concepts in a way that keeps Christ — not the marketplace — at the center of their mission? In this important resource, church consultant and pastor Mike Bonem explores the myriad issues involved in bringing marketplace leadership practices into Christian organizations.
Drawing on both biblical material and business wisdom, In Pursuit of Great AND Godly Leadership explores the critical leadership decisions that shape an organization’s future and its effectiveness. These decisions are illustrated in compelling interviews with more than forty leaders of churches, universities, denominational bodies, and international ministries.
Bonem leverages his background as an MBA-trained manager and an experienced church leader to bridge the gap between the analytical and structured world of business and the faith-driven approach that is essential for healthy churches. Covering everything from planning, finance, personnel management, and measurement to deeper, foundational concerns related to self-leadership, team dynamics, culture, and organizational change, the book helps readers discern how to adapt business-related principles in their spiritual organizations.
While Bonem presents an array of corporate concepts, his thinking is rooted in the belief that leadership is shaped by Scripture and should never violate its teachings.
Throughout In Pursuit of Great AND Godly Leadership, Mike Bonem reveals how senior pastors, executive pastors, key laypeople, and leaders of other Christian entities can discern the value of business practices and allow time and space for God to speak to their hearts. In doing so, he points to the “AND” that every spiritual organization should strive to achieve.
About the Author Mike Bonem is an experienced church consultant and speaker. He has served on the pastoral staff of a congregation for over ten years, and previously spent nearly twenty years in the marketplace as a business executive and consultant. He has an MBA from Harvard Business School and is the co-author of Leading from the Second Chair and Leading Congregational Change. He is a trusted advisor and valued resource to the leaders of congregations, denominations, and Christian organizations. www.mikebonem.com
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