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Describing a high percentage of pastors as losers, the presenter at a recent church leadership seminar declared,

“If your church is not growing, you are sinful.”

As I listened, I reviewed my own pastoral journey - a journey spanning more than thirty years, involving congregations in three countries. Was I one of the “losers?” Had the presenter been able to read my thoughts, I’m quite certain what he would have concluded.

The challenge to be perceived as successful is huge for today’s pastor. The prevailing view is that successful leadership produces an ever-expanding holy trinity of bodies, buildings and budgets. Surely this gives struggling pastors more than a few sleepless nights. However, despite current fascination with various business models, baptized with a handful of Scriptural texts, there are still proponents of a pastoral leadership model truly immersed in Biblical principles.

One such proponent is Eugene Peterson. Whenever I think about pastoral leadership I invariably turn to Peterson’s Working the Angles: The Shape of Pastoral Integrity (Eerdmans, 1987). Though published twenty years ago, it is available from the publisher or through outlets such as ChristianBook Distributors. It is one of the best books I have read on the subject.

Peterson masterfully cuts through the veneer of popular leadership theory, revealing it to be little more than sheer ambition masquerading as divinely-given vision. Twenty years ago, Peterson observed:

“Pastors … have metamorphosed into a company of shopkeepers, and the shops they keep are churches. They are preoccupied with shopkeeper’s concerns - how to keep the customers happy, how to lure customers away from competitors down the street, how to package the goods so that the customers will lay out more money. Some of them are very good shopkeepers. They attract a lot of customers, pull in great sums of money, develop splendid reputations. Yet it is still shopkeeping; religious shopkeeping, to be sure, but shopkeeping all the same.”

Little has changed in two decades. However, Peterson’s book is no rant, but rather a carefully crafted presentation of biblically-rooted pastoral leadership. Biblical pastoral leadership is built on three principles: prayer, Scripture, and providing spiritual direction. Speaking with God, listening to Him in Scripture, and guiding parishioners in their spiritual sojourn is what true pastoral leadership is all about.

Visionary thinking, prophetic action, courageous decision-making - these are the ingredients most likely topping the list of desirable traits in contemporary pastoral leadership. “The prayerful pastor leading people in worship draws, at best, a yawn,” Peterson muses.

When discussing the place of the Bible in pastoral work, Peterson clarifies the distinction between reading the Scriptures and listening to them. He contends for contemplation - for meditating on the text, not simply reading it in order to prepare the next sermon. He devotes an entire chapter to contemplative exegesis.

Whether or not they practice these things, most evangelical pastors will acknowledge the importance of prayer and Scripture in pastoral work. When it comes to spiritual direction, however, do not be surprised if the crowd thins.

Spiritual direction takes place, Peterson says, when “two people agree to give their full attention to what God is doing in one (or both) of their lives and seek to respond in faith.” It involves such things as teaching people to pray, helping them discern God’s gracious presence in life’s events, sharing in the search to understand the dark times. All pastors do this from time-to-time, but Peterson believes it has been “pushed to the periphery of ministry.” Spiritual direction involves the kind of work that my seminar presenter summarily dismissed as “being a chaplain.”

Peterson grabs the attention of colleagues in pastoral ministry, hoping to convince them that

“pastoral work has no integrity unconnected with the angles of prayer, Scripture and Spiritual direction.”

He effectively makes his case, and because he writes from the context of personal experience in pastoral work, we should pay attention.

Peterson continues to write excellent books on spiritual theology, but on the theme of pastoral leadership Working the Angles remains my favorite. Other Peterson titles addressing pastoral work include: Under the Unpredictable Plant: An Exploration in Vocational Holiness (1992); The Contemplative Pastor: Returning to the Art of Spiritual Direction (1993); and Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work (1992). All are published by Eerdmans and available for purchase.
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This article first appeared in ChristianWeek (September 15, 2007).<

Click on the titles to purchase these books now from Christianbook.com. (Book descriptions are taken from the Christianbook.com web site.)

Working the Angles: The Shape of Pastoral Integrity
By Eugene Peterson
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

With characteristic insight and wit Peterson reminds us that the success of our ministry does not rest on either cutting edge methodology or the ability to administer programs, but on our ability to listen. Thus, he encourages us to return to the regular practice of listening to God in prayer, listening to the revelation of Scripture and listening to the stories of our neighbors. Working the Angles does not reveal an unknown secret of pastoral ministry, but encourages us to return to a basic practice and rhythm of pastoral life.

Under the Unpredictable Plant
By Eugene Peterson
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

Is your pastoral work becoming more like a job than a calling? In this engaging book, Peterson draws from his own pastoral experiences and the story of Jonah to help you recover your “vocational holiness.” You’ll learn how to become a spiritual director instead of a program director, to be more creative in your ministry, and to recapture the joy of serving the Lord. 197 pages, softcover from Eerdmans.

The Contemplative Pastor
By Eugene Peterson
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

Are you caught in the business of preaching, teaching, and ”running the church”? Then Peterson, a ”pastor’s pastor,” will speak words of refreshment and wisdom to your heart! His chapters begin with poetic reflections on the Beatitudes and then address themes such as curing souls, praying with eyes open, the language of prayer, the ministry of small talk, and sabbatical—all illustrated with engaging personal anecdotes. Several poems on the incarnation finish the work. A timely book for pastors who want and need to get back to the basics. 192 pages, softcover from Eerdmans.

Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work
By Eugene H. Peterson
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

How can you improve your effectiveness as a pastor? Most current literature stresses up-to-date training and new techniques stemming from the behavioral sciences. But Peterson instead calls for a return to an “old” resource—the Bible! This treasury of practical theological insights shows how five Old Testament books provide a solid foundation for pastoral ministry. 241 pages, softcover from Eerdmans.

Eat This Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading
By Eugene H. Peterson
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

A provocative challenge to read the Scriptures on their own terms—as God’s revelation—and to live them as we read. Countering the trend toward subjective personal interpretation, Peterson suggests an alternative approach, offering fascinating insights on the nature of language, the ancient practice of lectio divina, and the role of translations, including The Message.

The Jesus Way, Volume 3
By Eugene H. Peterson
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

Continuing his spiritual theology series, Peterson considers the path Jesus preached compared to the road the American church has practiced. His extensive study of Old Testament characters reveals how the focus of current Christianity—consumerism, celebrity, and charisma—obliterates what’s unique in New Testament faith. A stunning analysis of a personal Christ vs. an impersonal church. 288 pages, hardcover from Eerdmans.

Being Leaders: The Nature of Authentic Christian Leadership
Aubrey Malphurs
BakerBooks, 2003
ISBN: 0801091438
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Political maneuvering and manipulation masquerades as visionary Christian leadership in far too many churches and parachurch groups. This blind acceptance of unadulterated secular leadership principles and strategies among Christian leaders concerns Audrey Malphurs, professor of pastoral ministries at Dallas Theological Seminary and president of the training and consulting organization, the Malphurs Group.

Based on Biblical principles and on extensive research in significant leadership material from the last two centuries, Malphurs provides a biblically-rooted definition of a Christian leader and leadership, challenging readers to apply his findings in their own leadership context. Genuine Christian leaders are “servants with the credibility and capabilities to influence people in a particular context to pursue their God-given direction.” Working from that definition, Malphurs concludes that authentic Christian leadership is the “process whereby servants use their credibility and capability to influence people in a particular context to pursue their God-given direction.” The entire book unpacks and applies this definition of leaders and leadership.

The author argues for servant leaders, providing convincing evidence from Scripture that this is indeed a core quality in Christian leaders. Servant leadership is “the humble service of others based on our love for them.” Sounds a lot like Jesus, doesn’t it? Servant leadership is not passively ignoring one’s own legitimate needs; it is not wallowing in one’s own weakness, doing for others what they ought to do for themselves.

A major issue for leaders today, according to Malphurs, is “having credibility that births trust.” How many leaders have you seen self-destruct because they demanded trust before they built credibility with their followers? “Character,” says Malphurs, “is the most crucial factor in all relationships,” and credibility is granted to men and women of good character. Other ingredients of credibility include competence, clarity of direction, communication, conviction, courage, care and composure.

Responding to the question as to whether leaders are born or made, Malphurs - while acknowledging both views have strong proponents - says, “No one knows for sure.” To be sure, some individuals have innate leadership skills, but the author contends that those with less than stellar gifts can also learn to be competent leaders. It all hinges on character - a theme recurring throughout this book. He says, “Each [leadership] capability is only as effective as the character that undergirds it.”

How are leaders to use their credibility and capability? Malphurs says they should influence people in their particular context to pursue what God wants them to do. Good leaders influence people, but in a Christian context, that influence should always lead toward transformation - a change in thinking leading to a change in behaviour. Effective influence, in a Christian context demands that the leader be a transformed person also.

An entire chapter is devoted to the followers of the leader, pointing out the characteristics of good followers. Here Malphurs confronts the reality of opposition - all leaders experience it eventually. Rather than merely throwing out detractors, as often happens, the author encourages leaders to listen to that opposition, seeking to discover if there are good reasons for opposition. However, there are times when opposition must be confronted, and Malphurs provides good counsel in useful, biblical ways to deal with detractors.

Particularly helpful is a chapter on understanding one’s leadership context. Four steps to increased effectiveness in leadership are presented: “know yourself as a leader, know your leadership context, compare yourself as a leader with the ministry context and make necessary adjustments.”

An added feature to this well-developed leadership discussion is a plethora of resources and tools - nineteen in all - guiding leaders in discovering their strengths, weaknesses, spiritual gifting, leadership style, ministry context, and passion, along with a host of other important issues.

In a world glutted with books, journals, schools, websites and opinions on leadership, Malphurs provides an accessible, eminently useable resource for current and prospective Christian leaders.