Organizational Leadership - by Jack Burns & John R Shoup & Donald C Simmons Jr (Paperback)

About the Book

This comprehensive text for Christians on organizational leadership provides theological foundations while tracing the historic roots of management, organization and leadership theories. All of this leads to five essential challenges and practices--communication, negotiation, decision-making, financial stewardship and personal development.

Book Synopsis

Kingdom leadership does not begin and end at the church door. Christians are called to conduct leadership in government, commerce, schools, neighborhoods, families, para-church ministries and a myriad other contexts. God has given us many gifts, and our responsibility is to be stewards of those gifts, and use them to do the King's work. In that context, this comprehensive text explores key facets of leadership from a Christian worldview so as to equip people to conduct leadership more authentically than would be possible under alternative paradigms. The book begins with the seldom considered theological foundations of leadership while also tracing the historic roots of management, organization and leadership theories. All of this leads to a robust discussion of five essential challenges and practices--communication, negotiation, decision-making, financial stewardship and personal development.The combined efforts of these experts in the field provide a practical theology of leadership from a Christian worldview for emerging and established leaders. Here is the foundation needed for those who want to conduct leadership in a manner consistent with their faith in both religious and nonreligious organizational contexts.

Review Quotes

"Organizational Leadership is the outcome of godly writers whose commitment to biblical authority provides a refreshing, theologically sound perspective to the vast field of leadership literature. It is a brilliant confluence of practical advise, moral boundaries for decision makers and fascinating examples of good and bad practices of leadership. I heartily recommend Organizational Leadership to all those aspiring to be Christ-honoring leaders."

--Paul A. Kienel, founder and president emeritus, Association of Christian Schools International

"Organizational Leadershipis a well-researched and well-written anthology on leadership by eight contributing authors. Filled with practical anecdotes, the authors address leadership issues, including calling, theological and theoretical foundations, communication, conflict, negotiation, decision-making, financial integrity and sustaining leadership. . . . The first and last chapters by Tim Dolan are worth the price of the book."

--Larry Lindquist, Preaching, May 2014

"[Organizational Leadership's] topical comprehension and biblical grounding provide considerable food for thought for Christians at the helm of organizations, whether secular or Christian."

--Gerald Wisz, CBA Retailers + Resources, June 2014

"Does Christian faith have anything to contribute to understanding the theory and practice of leadership? Most assuredly, yes! This book offers a much-needed practical theology on organizational leadership, providing perspectives and principles for readers to be 'salt and light' and 'as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves' in their formal and informal leadership roles."

--J. Stanley Mattson, founder and president of the C. S. Lewis Foundation and director of the C. S. Lewis Study Centre at the Kilns, Oxford, England

"God has inspired scientists, theologians and theorists to offer tools for leading in profound and Christ-like ways. By introducing substantial theory, theology and best practices, Organizational Leadership shows the depth of knowledge, wisdom, discernment and strategy available to Christian leaders."

--Damon M. Seacott, CCCU Advance, Fall 2014

"Overall, the authors offer sound wisdom for conducting leadership effectively. Because of its dual emphasis on leadership constructs and leading from a Christian perspective, the book is an ideal text for undergraduate or graduate level courses on leadership. It could also serve leaders of religious and non-religious organization who want to develop themselves and their team members to be more effective leaders."

--Michelle Vondey, Religious Studies Review, March 2015

About the Author

Donald C. Simmons Jr. is an internationally recognized leadership consultant, pastor for Christ Lutheran Church in Cullman, Alabama, and Director of Pastoral Care for one of the largest rural hospital systems in the US. He teaches graduate courses in leadership for the University of Nebraska-Omaha and was the founding dean of the College of Leadership and Public Service at Dakota Wesleyan University. He is the editor of Organizational Leadership and the coauthor of the textbook Leadership and Service: An Introduction with Senator George McGovern and Dan Gaken. He is most recognized in academic circles as producer of the public television documentary Hungry for Green: Feeding the World Sustainably, which premiered at Harvard University Medical School's Center for Health and the Global Environment in 2009 and aired nationally. Dr. Simmons holds a certificate of ministry from Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University, and a Ph.D. in history and international studies from The University of Denver. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in ministry at Christ School of Theology in Brookings South Dakota.

John S. (Jack) Burns (PhD, Washington State) is professor of leadership at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington.

John R. Shoup (PhD, University of California, Riverside) serves as the dean of the School of Education at California Baptist University in Riverside, California.