What They Didn't Teach You in Seminary - by James Emery White (Paperback)

About the Book

An experienced megachurch pastor and award-winning author offers church-smart advice to help newer pastors avoid 25 potential pitfalls to successful ministry.

Book Synopsis

In churches today, there are ever fewer older pastors speaking into the lives of younger leaders, and fewer younger leaders feeling there is much to be learned from the experience of their elders. Street-smart wisdom is gone from training as there are many men and women preparing pastors who have never themselves pastored a church. Intriguingly, even older, more seasoned pastors yearn for insight into their task, as they remain "undiscipled" in the school of leadership.

In What They Didn't Teach You in Seminary, veteran pastor James Emery White provides the kind of mentoring young pastors desperately need but cannot get from academia or leadership books. These "from the trenches" insights will help them transform their relationships with staff and parishoners, develop healthy boundaries, deliver hard truths, avoid spiritual pitfalls, use their time effectively, and much more.

From the Back Cover

Finally--everything you really need to know about surviving and thriving in a life of ministry

You learn a lot of important things in seminary. But what you can't learn in a classroom is what ministry is actually like on a day-to-day basis. There are no classes called Taking a Day Off, Maintaining Sexual Fences, or Emotional Survival 101. In this immensely practical book, veteran pastor James Emery White provides the kind of mentoring pastors desperately need. His insights will help you transform your relationships with staff and church members, develop healthy boundaries, deliver hard truths, avoid spiritually hazardous situations, use your time effectively, and much more.

"Far too many leaders insist on learning from their own mistakes. James Emery White is a seasoned leader who has done the hard work of serving up his most valuable lessons from a practitioner's view. For the sake of God's work in you and those you lead, please read this book!"--Jim Mellado, president, Willow Creek Association

"What makes this book indispensable is the down-to-earth, learned-the-hard-way advice and insight. It has moved to the top of the 'must-read' list for the church planters and young pastors I work with."--Geoff Surratt, director of church planting, Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, California

"An insightful, no-nonsense look into the real trenches of ministry life. A must-read--not simply for those beginning their journey but for those of us who have been in the game for some time."--Mark Batterson, lead pastor, National Community Church, Washington, DC

"Wow. If you want a book to tell you what ministry is really like, then this is your best shot. Read it and treasure it."--Brian Tome, founding and senior pastor, Crossroads Church, Cincinnati, Ohio

"There are some things you can only learn by leading a congregation day after day, week after week. James Emery White gives us all a backstage pass. It's a real education."--Marshall Shelley, editor, Leadership Journal; vice president, Christianity Today International


James Emery White is the founding and senior pastor of Mecklenburg Community Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Former president of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, White is the author of several books, including Rethinking the Church.

About the Author

James Emery White (PhD, Southern Seminary) is the founding and senior pastor of Mecklenburg Community Church, a suburban megachuch in Charlotte, North Carolina, often cited as one of the fastest-growing church starts in the United States. Former president of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, White is the author of several books, including Rethinking the Church. He lives in North Carolina.