Fred Smith and David L. Goetz, Leading With Integrity: Competence With Christian Character. Bethany House Publishers, 1999.
Referenced in: Leadership Development Through Character Formation
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
This is an older and still very valuable text on character formation for leaders. The chief value is in pointing out the “sectional” nature of character, that we tend to accept strength in a few areas as reason to ignore weaknesses in other areas. He offers very helpful evaluative questions and tools to help leaders to face their true selves honestly and grow in areas that allow God to use them more powerfully.
From the Publisher
Forging Consistent Godly Character in the Lives of Pastors and Church Leaders
“One principle I have learned is that God will not do for me what I can do for myself but he will not let me do for myself what only he can do.” —Fred Smith
The church is not and will never be a business and yet many of the leadership principles pastors depend on today are based in secular teachings rather than on the foundational word of God. In essence, the church may be trying to do God’s work in man’s way. In Leading With Integrity, the latest release in the successful PASTOR’S SOUL series, author Fred Smith examines how the most important aspect of godly leadership is not intelligence or an intimate understanding of business principles but character. Focused on the inner-life, the book sets out principles that allow pastor’s to examine their own character as well as the character of those with whom they lead.
Character is sectional, according to Fred Smith, and just because someone might be strong in some aspects, other aspects cry out for the strengthening work of God. In Leading With Integrity, pastors and leaders will be able to look honestly at themselves and discover both the strengths and the weaknesses they have in their character. Areas of struggle include: Am I ego-driven or responsibility-motivated? Do I want the truth? Does my will control my feelings?
The rest of Leading With Integrity is focused on developing leadership skills for pastors to put to daily use in their ministry, home life, and their daily walk with God. Sections on discernment of co-leaders and congregation, on mentoring the next generation, and on challenging the common virtues of this age are written for today’s pastor coping with a modern church.
Editorial Reviews
“…a book to savor …to allow God to use to sharpen your leadership gifts.” — Enrichment Journal, Fall 2001
“I recommend this book to any Christian or non-Christian leader. Integrity is the missing link in our society. The honesty of this book makes me wish I was starting over. Aside form the Bible, I place Fred Smith’s writing as the most practical book of wisdom and humor.” — Ben Haden, Speaker, “Changed Lives”
“…Helping after helping of common sense, wise and thought-provoking pearls that inspire and convict you to be more so you can do more. I predict Leading With Integrity will become a permanent part of your life. Smithisms will become part of your vocabulary, and more of this book will be underlined.” — Zig Ziglar, Author and Speaker.
About the Author
Fred Smith, Sr. is a Christian business executive living in Dallas, Texas. A recipient of the Lawrence Appley Award of the American Management Association, Smith is a contributing editor to LEADERSHIP and recently retired from the board of directors at Christianity Today, Inc. He is the author of You and Your Network and Learning to Lead.
David L. Goetz is editor of LEADERSHIP Resources, a division of LEADERSHIP (a publication of Christianity Today, Inc.), the most respected journal in America for pastors and church leaders.
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