[rating:1.0]
(Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic Publishers 2004)
171 pgs
Reviewing Leadership is an interesting concept, surveying current approaches from a Christian perspective. The two authors, Robert Banks (Ph.D., Cambridge, director a d dean of Macquarie Christian Studies Institute) and Bernice Ledbetter (Ed.D, Pepperdine, former director of the De Pree Leadership Center at Fuller Seminary), present a reasoned and thoughtful approach to their understanding of leadership.
Chapters include:
1. The Growing Interest in Leadership Today: Definitions, Causes, and Issues
2. Biblical, Historical, and Contemporary Perspectives on Leadership
3. The Emerging Spiritual and Religious Dimensions of Leadership
4. Popular and More Substantial Faith-based Approaches to Leadership
5. Practicing Leadership Through Integrity, Faithfulness, and Service
6. Christian Leadership in Action: Some Exemplary Case Studies
This book takes a very traditional approach in discussing the differences between managers and leaders, various definitions and characteristics of leadership, role of women in leadership, role of faith in business, distinctions between denominational leadership models, and offers a few historical examples of various types of leadership in the Christian arena. Sadly, most of the examples are seriously dated, and much of the discussion about leadership comes from the past rather than the present or even what the future may require of leaders. Many of the leadership models cited are from denominations in serious decline who are in search of better models than they are currently using.
Not being a particularly academic person (yes I will admit it), I found the book reading like a dissertation, or an anthology of leadership issues rather than an engaging discussion of current leadership styles and issues that we face today (just look at the chapter titles). This book may be appealing to those who enjoy research and traditional approaches to discussions on leadership, but I found reading it to be not much different from trying to get a car to run with a bad starter: the key was turned, the gas pedal pressed and engine kept trying to turn over, but it just never got going.
Much deference was given to their mentor Max Du Pree throughout the book (who also wrote a fairly non-committal forward). I have no doubt of the author’s credentials, nor of their intentions for writing the book. However, in a fast-paced, technologically advanced, and ever—changing world, tired illustrations (geese flying in a V formation) and a discussion about the Apostle Pau’s various leadership styles in the newly developing church just does not seem very helpful to the contemporary mind. I certainly welcome looking at biblical models, but these principles need clear and present application to our culture and current challenges face. It would be far more helpful to read the leadership books the authors cite rather than this summary book, and to look at contemporary leadership books that demonstrate actual real life events and situations than to read this review. I feel like a good editor could have done much to help this book relate to people and issues of this decade, but that step was not taken. I feel bad to give this book a less than stellar review, and I am sure that there are many people who would enjoy reading this, but in terms of helpfulness to current leadership issues, and to holding my attention, I rate this book 1 out of 5 stars.
by Tom Blackaby