Strategic Leadership for a Change: Facing Our Losses, Finding Our Future
Kenneth J. McFayden
Many congregations are experiencing significant change both within and beyond their walls, and both members and leaders feel a sense of loss in the midst of these changes. In the midst of change, loss, and grief, congregations yearn for leadership—typically with differing expectations of what constitutes effective leadership in response to their needs, hopes, and priorities. At the same time, congregations resist leadership. After all, leadership assumes those who follow will be open to more change.
Strategic Leadership for a Change provides congregational leaders with new insights and tools for understanding the relationships among change, attachment, loss, and grief. It also helps to facilitate the process of grieving, comprehend the centrality of vision, and demonstrate theological reflection in the midst of change, loss, grief, and attaching anew. All this occurs as the congregation aligns its vision with God’s and understands processes of change as processes of fulfillment.
Drawing on attachment theory, leadership studies, and biblical and theological resources, McFayden’s work is invaluable for leaders whose congregations face change, experience loss, wonder about their future, and yearn for leadership.
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Praise for the Book
“If you’ve ever wondered why your great new plans meet resistance and fail, you should read this book. Grounded in the author’s real experience with congregations and their leaders, it offers significant insight into the implementation of change and how, as leaders, we can help congregational members and church systems accept and even embrace change.” —Diana J. Barber, Associate Synod Executive for Leadership Development, Synod of Lakes and Prairies, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
“Ken knows that leadership is costly, even courageous. Leadership is a form of discipleship. Fear, resistance, and weariness are part of a leader’s life; so are creativity, imagination, and a “bag of tricks” to strengthen congregations that yearn for, yet resist, change, transformational change that makes more effective witnesses.” —Art Ross, Pastor, White Memorial Presbyterian Church, Raleigh, North Carolina
“Ken McFayden explores what it means to lead congregations through change and conflict in a manner consistent with Christian discipleship. This is a book I have waited for years to share with students, pastors, and lay leaders. The author reminds us that while we live in anxious times, and anxious people seldom make good decisions, the most powerful antidote to anxiety is good leadership.” —Michael Jinkins, Dean and Professor of Pastoral Theology, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and author of Transformational Ministry and The Character of Leadership
About the Author
Kenneth J. McFayden is Professor of Ministry and Leadership Development and Dean of The Center for Ministry and Leadership Development at Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education. He is an ordained Presbyterian minister and has served as a director of a ministry development center, a hospital chaplain, and an associate pastor.
ISBN# 978-1-56699-392-0
Alban No. AL392
paper
2009
In stock
$17.00
($13.60 for members)
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