Karen A. McClintock, Shame-Less Lives, Grace-Full Congregations. The Alban Institute, 2011. Referenced in: Minister Self-Care Burnout in Church Leaders Leadership Development Through Spiritual Formation Church Leadership Strategies, Integrated Spiritual-Strategic I’ve read a lot of books on shame, both to help myself and others. Most are written from the perspective of helping individuals address the shame-based
Hal West, The Pickled Priest and the Perishing Parish: Boomer Pastors Bouncing Back. CrossBooks, 2011. Referenced in: Strengthening and Renewing the Ministry call LifeandLeadership.com Summary West offers encouragement from Isaiah’s vision of God, alongside his own seasoned insight, for boomer ministers (i.e. old enough to be “pickled”) to renew their call in a time when
David N. Mosser, Editor, Transitions: Leading Churches Through Change. Westminster/John Knox, 2011. Referenced in: Change, Leading Change and Transition Change, Receptiveness and Resistance LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is a rich anthology of seasoned wisdom on how preachers may help their congregations during times of confusing change, conflict, and life crises. It also addresses how congregational issues
Henri J. M. Nouwen, The Wounded Healer: Ministry in Contemporary Society. Image Publishers, 1979. Referenced in: Pastoral Theology Strengthening and Renewing the Ministry Call LifeandLeadership.com Summary This classic from the late Nenri Nouwen presents a hopeful model of ministry that compassionately identifies with the woundedness of human nature. This refers not only to the fallenness
Philip Yancey, Soul Survivor: How Thirteen Unlikely Mentors Helped My Faith Survive the Church. Waterbrook Press, 2003. Companion volume: Yancey, The Church – Why Bother? Referenced in: Strengthening and Renewing the Ministry Call LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is a helpful volume for church leaders who need to reaffirm their calling, perhaps because of a period of
Philip Yancey, The Church, Why Bother? Zondervan, 2001. Companion volume: Yancey, Soul Survivor Referenced in: Strengthening and Renewing the Ministry Call LifeandLeadership.com Summary Philip Yancey journals his personal pilgrimage from skepticism and disillusionment about the church back to enthusiastic participation. He is painfully honest about the church’s imperfections, but is equally vindicating regarding her strengths
Lynn Anderson, If I Really Do Believe, Why Do I Have All These Doubts? Simon and Schuster, 2000. Referenced in: Strengthening and Renewing the Ministry Call LifeandLeadership.com Summary I have recommended this book to no less than 100 people personally, and have mentioned it frequently in my teaching and speaking. Lee Strobel also highly recommends
Blaine Allen, Before You Quit – When Ministry is Not What You Thought. Kregel Academic and Professional, 2001. Referenced in: Ministry Transitions and Interim Ministry Strengthening and Renewing the Ministry Call LifeandLeadership.com Summary This volume emerged out of Allen’s experience of wanting to quit but feeling compelled to stick it out. He is both sensitive
John Ortberg, Overcoming Your Shadow Mission. Zondervan, 2008. Referenced in: Strengthening and Renewing the Ministry Call LifeandLeadership.com Summary I naturally think of this book as helpful during a time of discouragement and burnout, but probably not the first read at such times. It hits a little too hard. Perhaps the best value is as a
Wayne Coidero, Leading on Empty: Refilling Your Tank and Renewing Your Passion. Bethany House, 2010. Referenced in: Strengthening and Renewing the Ministry Call LifeandLeadership.com Summary Coidero writes out of his own three-year experience of ministerial burnout and his recalibration that radically changed his lifestyle, values, goals, and calling. He offers many of the same insights
