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Societal Emotional Process, Emotional Reactivity, And Their Increasing Challenge For Ministry Leadership, Douglas U. Schonberg

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

The increasing anxiety and reactivity across society witnessed in elections, responses to COVID-19, and even within personal posts on social media platforms is a phenomenon that is growing invasively and pervasively present in ministry leadership. Murray Bowen’s family systems theory (1978) seminal concepts of societal emotional process and emotional reactivity describe the phenomenon with acumen. This article outlines these two concepts and provides current examples of how they are being experienced by ministry leaders. Biblical examples demonstrate that the phenomenon has always been present in ministry leadership. Practical guidance is provided for ministry leaders to address this growing challenge by …

Leadership Development And Succession: A Review Of Best Practices With Insights For Mission Leadership, Boubakar Sanou

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

Leadership development and succession planning are of critical importance to any organization’s performance and long-term sustenance. Unfortunately, the need to plan for leadership succession remains a challenge to most organizations, both secular and faith-based. This article explores the risks of not having a succession plan in organizations, the inhibitors of successful leadership transition management, and best practices for leadership development and transition. The last section explores ways to prepare the next generations for missions. The emphasis is on how intentional mentoring can help address the challenge of leadership development and succession at all levels of an organization.

Prolegomena To A Theology Of Eschatological Leadership: 13 Leadership Principles For The End Time Gleaned From The Book Of Revelation, Gregory Pierce Whitsett

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

Jesus entrusted his disciples with leadership. That leadership was to be exercised on behalf of his mission to seek and save the lost in all the world before his return. This mission work will reach a climax during the time of the end before Christ’s promised return. This article explores the book of Revelation for clues concerning leadership qualities required for this task. The article will support the discussion of these leadership qualities with contributions from contemporary authors on the topic.

Developing a theology of eschatological leadership is a daunting task and will require a broader discussion than what one …

A Call To Relational Leadership Arising From A Shared Eschatalogical Vision, Skip Bell, Gyeongchun Choi, Stanley E. Patterson, David K. Penno

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

The book of Revelation contrasts two distinct approaches to leadership. This article describes these approaches and concludes how Christians should practice leadership today. The two approaches are traced from the rebellion in heaven, through creation, and the life of Jesus, with a focus on Scripture’s apocalyptic messages. This study is needed because leadership in the church profoundly affects the church’s witness and accomplishment of mission. Faithfulness among God’s people in the last days can only be experienced when leadership is practiced according to God-honoring principles. This article concludes that the loving, non-coercive, relational dynamic—demonstrated by the Lamb’s leading during the …

A Tale Of Two Books: The Relationship Between John Harvey Kellogg’S Living Temple And Ellen G. White’S Ministry Of Healing, Thomas Rasmussen

Andrews University Seminary Student Journal

In contemporary society John H. Kellogg is more known for his medical inventions, than he is for the book The Living Temple, which was published in 1903. However, within Adventism the name Kellogg denotes crisis and controversy. The thesis of this paper is that Ellen White responded to the Kellogg’s publication in three ways: personally—to John Kellogg; prophetically—to the Seventh-day Adventist Church; and publicly—with the book The Ministry of Healing, which was published two years later in 1905. It is the public response that is of primary interest to this paper. Ellen White wrote many personal letters to Kellogg leading …

Crucibles Of Christian Leadership: An Exploration Of Bennis's And Thomas's "Crucible" Concept As It Relates To Christian Leaders, Alan Wilson

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

Among terms used to describe the events and experiences that contribute to the shaping of leaders is Warren Bennis’s and Robert Thomas’s “crucibles.” Their use of the term emerged from a series of interviews with leaders who referred to a transformative experience that had contributed to their leadership. This paper describes a research project whose aim was to explore the significance of such experiences in the development of Christian leaders. The experiences of fourteen leaders were examined, and analysis of the experiences demonstrated how they had a part to play in shaping both the character and calling of a leader; …

Leadership In The Creation Narrative, Jacques R. Doukhan

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

In the very first verses of the Bible, we see God set an example of leadership through his creation of the world. In this article, the author examines different elements of leadership exemplified in the Genesis account of creation; he maintains that this account demonstrates that to lead is to initiate, relate, serve, communicate, share, and create. While divinely exemplified in the story of creation, each of these traits has application to human leadership— namely the servant leadership style.

Servants And Friends: A Biblical Theology Of Leadership, Erich Baumgartner

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"In this groundbreaking volume published by andrews University Press, some 20 scholars examine the sacred text of the Old and New testaments, as well as a selection of six biblical leadership narratives, to lay the foundation for a biblical theology of leadership. Each of the first three sections is composed of six chapters, providing an array of fascinating studies of leadership in the Bible. the fourth section attempts to integrate the multiple facets of leadership insight unearthed throughout the various contributions into what the editor, Skip Bell, claims to be “the most complete biblical theology of leadership available.”

Beyond The Barriers Of Discipline And Culture, Erich Baumgartner

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"culture sometimes prevents us from appreciating the very gifts offered to us, at least at first. in one place i learned a dimension of friendship that my culture does not allow me to experience easily. it happened when i was teaching Leadership Development to teachers and administrators of religious organizations in India. the first thing i noticed was their eagerness to learn in the classroom and their desire to share the beauty of their city and cultural sites with me. i enjoyed both, the classroom and the time outside the classroom. But i was unprepared for a gesture of friendship …

The Need For Spiritual Leadership, Morris Thompson

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"Leadership comes in different shapes and sizes within our society. Some leadership practices are characterized as good, and other forms are toxic. however, within the 21st century, spiritual leadership is necessary as christian leaders focus on growing the next generation of leaders. this article focuses on the importance of the spiritual leader within today’s society, and will first discuss the need for dedicated spiritual leaders. it will then discuss how spiritual leaders affect the spiritual growth of others. Finally, it will discuss the need for spiritual accountability."

The Intersection Of Leadership And Spirituality: A Qualitative Study Exploring The Thinking And Behavioral Attributes Of Leaders Who Identify As Spiritual, D. S. Goldberg

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"the primary question was does spirituality influence leaders’ thinking and behaviors. the secondary questions included an exploration around ways spirituality influences thinking and behaviors. it also explored the questions as to spirituality informing the ways leaders can be challenging within their organizations, and if acknowledging one’s spirituality publically helps or hinders building effective teams. the highlights of the research include the finding that spirituality does indeed influence everything a leader does and is, whether thinking or behavior attributes, and the process of a leader’s questioning."

The Role Of Spirituality In The Leadership Style Of Organizational Leaders, A. S. Koko

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"the transcendental phenomenology research design was used to investigate the essence or meaning of these leaders’ experiences regarding their spirituality and leadership style as they were currently experiencing it. the knowledge obtained from this study explained spirituality, consciousness, and cognition’s role in leadership style, which can be applied to the fields of sports, politics, organizational management, coaching, mentoring, leadership, employee recruitment, and other areas of society or within any organization where leadership performance is important. the conclusion from this study was that organizational leaders who self-identified as being spiritual demonstrated compassion when relating with their employees and others. these organizational …

On Growing Leaders And Leaders Growing, Petr Cincala

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"Reading through this issue you will encounter and reflect on a number of leaders from the biblical times such as Nehemiah, Barnabas, Paul, timothy. Our goal is to connect theory and practice in life and ministry in the hope that they will open new insights towards more effective leadership development. as Bob Logan says in his article, “Just like you cannot learn to swim in a classroom, so you cannot learn to do ministry in a classroom.” So how then does it work? are some people born leaders and some not? What makes a good leader? how can one obtain …

The God Dimension In Leadership, Erich Baumgartner

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

One of the most challenging insights of the servant leadership approach for christian leaders is the fact that god himself chose to approach humanity that way. Christian theology has long maintained that who god is determines how he acts. Jesus dying on the cross for humanity reminds us of the inexhaustible mystery that by his very nature god is a servant. the nature of god—more specifically his Trinitarian nature—is the central paradigm of thought in this issue of JACL. Does God’s Trinitarian nature have anything to say to Christian leaders about leadership? Get ready for some meaty reading.

Boundaries For Leaders. By Henry Cloud, Osei Daniels

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

BOUNDARIES FOR LEADERS. By Henry Cloud. New York, NY: HarperCollins (2013). Kindle Version, 272 pages

This book has solidified for me the almost terrifying but freeing truths of leadership, that i am “ridiculously in charge,” and it’s up to me to get the team going where it needs to go. I’m still learning how to shift my mind from the worker-bee to that of the leader, putting first things first in establishing the goal of what we’re trying to accomplish, and developing a road map for each step of how we’ll be getting to our destination. I’ve learned that my …

Biblical Foundations Of Christian Leadership: Part 1, Stanley E. Patterson Phd

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

The Biblical foundations of leadership begin to be laid in the first chapter of Genesis and conclude with the declaration of a kingly leadership position (Rev. 1:5, 6) for God’s people in Revelation. These books and those in between reveal the deeds and misdeeds of leaders throughout. We see the massive deterioration of leadership behavior in the rebellion of Lucifer against God, but we also observe the incredible demonstration of leadership in the descent of the Messiah into the greatness of transformational service. The model demonstrated by Christ is a model of service. The followers of Jesus are called to …

Developing Leaders For Effective Cross-Cultural Christian Leadership In East Asian Ccontext, Scott Seong-Cheon Bang

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

Dissertation Notice

Full Text of the Thesis available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global

Will the increased understanding of effective Christian leadership practices in the East Asian context increase the confidence of leaders who intend to lead within that culture? In order to discover the answer, leaders of Los Angeles United Church were invited to participate in a training seminar which focused on strengthening theological understanding of Christian leadership and raising anthropological awareness of culture in a leadership situation.

A Theology Of Missional Leadership In The Book Of Revelation, Gyeongchun Choi

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

Dissertation Notice:

Full Text of Dissertation

This study aims to establish a theology of missional leadership through motifs inherent in the cosmic conflict between God and Satan in the Book of Revelation, examining the Apocalypse and comparing it with relevant leadership theories. The Book of Revelation is a valid source of understanding pastoral and missional leadership because it contains leadership terminologies and concepts and reveals the Lamb’s leadership behavior and exposes the counterfeit leadership of the Dragon.

For The Flock: Impetus For Shepherd Leadership In John 10, Nathan H. Gunter

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

Following the prophets’ declarations concerning the need for right-hearted shepherds, the four Gospels portray Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promise to send a Shepherd to save Israel (Ezek. 34:23). John’s Gospel extends the pastoral imagery of the Old testament, most notably in the Good Shepherd discourse (John 10:1-21). John’s development of the shepherd motif presents Jesus both as the Good Shepherd who will lay down his life for his sheep and as the model after whom other shepherds ought to pattern their leadership. contrary to contemporary conversations concerning christian leadership, though, John’s gospel places greater emphasis on the shepherd’s …

Reflections On Mentoring And Multi-Generational Ministry, Gordon Macdonald

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

" I would challenge the multi-generational leaders. I would ask the young people to engage the older people and say, “tell me your story.” I would say to the older people, “You need to listen to the young people because they will build enthusiasm into you. they will give you fresh ideas. and tell them your story. Let them ask you questions. Don’t give them advice unless they ask for it, so we can bring this all together.'”

Consumerism: A Challenge For Christian Leadership?, José A. Aleby, Hugo Ernesto Quiroga

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

This article is motivated by an academic work and a field research project developed by Hugo E. Quiroga (2012; personal communication, 2015) on oneomania as a challenge for christian leadership. Our intention is more to raise questions than to provide easy-sounding answers. The term oneomania may not be well known in theory, but its practical effects are recognized around the world. Oneomania, from the Greek onéo = to buy + mania = insanity, mental disorder (Taylor, 1950), is the scientific and technical term for the disease of consumerism, for the compulsive desire to shop, which is a progressive addiction to …

Rebuild: Reset Your Life, Renew Your Church, Reshape Your World. By Tommy “Urban D.” Kyllonen, Shawna Henry

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

REBUILD: RESET YOUR LIFE. RENEW YOUR CHURCH. RESHAPE YOUR WORLD. By Tommy “Urban D.” Kyllonen. Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press (2015). Paperback, 176 pages.

ReBuild offers not only guidance but encouragement for leaders who feel impressed to step out and be a change catalyst for God. Though the vision God sets before us often can seem overwhelming, We are reminded that if we persist, resist opposition and distraction, and persevere, God will see us through to the completion of the “wall.”

The Pastor As Leader: Assessment, Change, And Growth In Pastoral Leadership Style And Ability, David C. Crawford

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

D.Min. dissertation, Asbury Theological Seminary, 2014.

Full Text of the Dissertation

This study explored the leadership perceptions of a sampling of Nazarene pastors who were predominantly newer in ministry in terms of years of service in the Southwest Ohio District. This qualitative analysis sought to measure their self-reported leadership style and self-described leadership ability both prior to and following a leadership seminar devoted to the development of pastoral leaders.

Spirituality And Leadership: Integrating Spirituality As A Developmental Approach Of Improving Overall Leader Effectiveness, George Gregory Houston

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

Dissertation Notice:

Ph.D. dissertation, Antioch University, 2014

Full Text of Dissertation

This study explored the relationship between spirituality and leadership effectiveness, particularly seeking to identify whether spirituality as an additional factor may contribute to the effectiveness of leaders. Findings led to a proposed definition of spirituality: Spirituality is accessing a universal understanding that life can be greatly enhanced in all relationships by developing our inner wholeness and other connectedness.

Leading With Integrity: The 28 Essential Leadership Strategies Of Solomon, By Pat Williams, Daniel Hoover

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

LEADING WITH INTEGRITY: THE 28 ESSENTIAL LEADERSHIP STRATEGIES OF SOLOMON. By Pat Williams. Uhrichsville, OH: Barbour (2005) Hardcover, 256 pages

"Written by prolific author, motivational speaker, and basketball manager Pat Williams, Leading With Integrity begins with a brief biography of Solomon and establishes a context for his leadership scenario. Following the biographical background chapters are 28 dense chapters highlighting leadership insights from Proverbs and Ecclesiastes—one key principle per chapter. Questions following each chapter encourage personal reflection and application of the principles discussed and suggest practical steps to implement them. Particularly nice is a summary chapter that lists each of the …

Factors And Qualities Of Lay Leadership Influencing Church Growth : A Multiple Case Study

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"Extant literature regarding church growth mentions lay leaders as important partners in the operation and administration of a church. While discussions of their participation acknowledge their importance, no studies on church growth focused on the way they specifically influence growth. this qualitative multiple case study took a holistic approach by examining three churches within the Wesleyan churches in the American Midwest."

Leo The Great On The Supremacy Of The Bishop Of Rome, Denis Kaiser

Andrews University Seminary Student Journal

Pope Leo the Great built his rationale for the supreme authority of the bishop of Rome on an existing tradition, yet with his additions he developed a theoretical rationale for later papal claims to absolute and supreme power in the ecclesiastical and secular realms. Previous bishops and church leaders had laid increasing stress on the unique role of the Apostle Peter as the founder of the Roman churches and episcopacy, the significance of the Roman bishop as Peter’s successor, and the apostolic significance of the city and episcopacy of Rome. Yet Leo’s rationale for the absolute control and power of …

Transitioning To Local Conference President: A Study In North America, David Weigley

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"this study probes the preparation of individuals who transition into a senior executive role within a governance unit of the Seventh-day adventist church organization. It describes their transition experience, probing what effect it had on their personal identity, relationships, spiritual life and family. Results of the research indicated a need for intentional leader preparation and support in the form of mentors, assessments, and cohort groupings. this research could be applicable to organizations formulating leadership development and individuals transitioning to a new role."

Wolcott Hackley Littlejohn: Defender Of The Faith, Kevin M. Burton

Andrews University Seminary Student Journal

Wolcott Hackley Littlejohn was an influential writer, speaker and leader within the early years of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Before he became an active member, he lost his sight and was no longer able to read or write. Nevertheless, he read continuously and wrote copiously through the eyes and hands of another. Littlejohn was also a profound speaker who drew the attention of people from different faiths. He made numerous lasting contributions to Adventism, but his life was at times wrapped up in controversy. In the 1870’s he challenged George Ide Butler and his philosophy of leadership and in the …

The Importance Of Integrity In Christian Leadership : Giftedness + Integrity(3) = Productivity, Jasmin O. Brown

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"One of the christian world’s greatest leadership challenges today is integrity. the church is facing an integrity crisis that will compromise its influence within society. this integrity crisis within the church serves as the impetus for exploring the importance of integrity among christian leaders. this study examines three dimensions of integrity: personal integrity, vocational integrity,"