Ronald Richardson, Creating a Healthier Church: Family Systems Theory, Leadership, and Congregational Life. Augsburg Fortress Press, 1996.
Sequel: Richardson, Becoming a Healthier Pastor
Referenced in: Leadership and Emotional Systems, Self-Differentiation
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
Richardson’s chief contribution to books on this subject is his emphasis on how the emotional wiring we gain in our families of origin affect congregations and their leaders. This book from the Creative Pastoral Care and Counseling Series is one of the most understandable sources on family systems in congregational life. It is helpful in describing the kind of leadership that is necessary for congregations to be healthy emotional systems. Also of special value is Richardson’s discussion of birth order and leadership style, which demonstrates that one’s position in his/her family of origin influences leadership styles in the church. There is also a list of questions that help a church leader to assess the emotional strength of a congregation and suggestions on how to move toward a less anxious leadership posture.
From the Publisher
Ronald W. Richardson helps us to understand how congregations function emotionally. Without being simplistic, he gives clear directions on how to improve the quality of life together in the church for the purpose of achieving mission goals.
About the Author
Ronald W. Richardson is former Clinical Director of the North Shore Counseling Center, pastoral counselor, author of many books on family systems theory and is currently a retired pastor living in West Vancouver, BC, Canada. He is a member of various groups including North Puget Sound Presbytery, a Diplomat for American Association of Pastoral Counselors, and Clinical Member and Approved Supervisor for American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. He also held many workshops for his work in many different organizations.
Ronald is author of Family Ties That Bind: A Self-Help Guide to Change through Family of Origin Therapy (Self Counsel Press 1984), Birth Order and You: How Your Sex and Position in the Family Affect Your Personality and Relationships (Self Counsel Press 1990), and Creating a Healthier Church: Family Systems Theory, Leadership, and Congregational Life (Fortress Press 1996).
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