[rating:4.0]
(Downer’s Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2010)
197 pgs
Scott Rodin offers a fresh approach to understanding leadership. There are, of course, numerous books that attempt to introduce a new perspective. Often they simply look much like other, older versions. However, Rodin does a great job of identifying a new approach to understanding leadership from a Christian perspective. He labels his view: Steward Leadership.
Rodin is the managing principal of OneAccord NFP, and senior fellow of the Engstom Institute. Previously he was the president of the Christian Stewardship Association as well as president of Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
He begins the book with a confession: “Here is my confession. In my roles as a leader I have been mostly wrong” (11). He concludes: “The problem lay solely with my understanding of the nature of Christian leadership” (12). Rodin proceeds to describe what he terms, the “steward leader.” But he notes that servants of God have God’s anointing upon them. He states: “Without this anointing, we are continually thrown back on ourselves to make things work” (14). Rodin argues that it is when leaders assume responsibility, or ownership, of their organization that they tend to lead in their strength rather than in God’s. He warns: “By overestimating our worth, we help our people depend on us for everything” (16). He quotes Ralph Waldo Emerson who said, “Some leaders worry themselves into nameless graves, while here and there some forget themselves into immortality” (27).
Rodin lays out three “foundations” for a steward leader (29). He also identifies four relationships that are the sphere in which a steward works. These are: relationship to God, self, neighbor, and creation (34-36). He notes that sin distorts these relationships and makes them destructive and exploitative.
Rodin notes that steward leaders are free, because they do not bear the ultimate responsibility for the organization’s success. That is because they do not own the organization, or its people. Rodin argues throughout the book that there are no easy steps to becoming a steward leader. He tries to avoid making this book simply another “how to” manual. And indeed, this book, for the most part, focuses on principles rather than on how people can begin leading their organizations as a steward leader. He argues that, rather than trying to be the mastermind behind their organizations, “the one calling of the steward leader is joyful obedience” (62).
In entering the “born” or “made” debate on leadership, Rodin suggests: “I, therefore, contend that a steward leader is neither born nor made, but freed” (62). Rodin offers a helpful survey of secular leadership theory (70ff). This helps put steward leader theory into context.
Rodin also offers some correctives to the leadership teaching and methodology that has hampered the Church. He notes that, “the church of Jesus Christ is overwhelmed with men and women in leadership positions who have been called but who remain in bondage to an ownership approach” (87). Rodin observes: “Jesus came to be the Lord of our life, not our example of good leadership” (89).
Rodin offers a helpful analogy to going “deeper” with Christ that comes from his experience at the beach (95ff). People can experience the beach at a surface level, or an extremely deep level. It depends on us, and how much we want to experience it. He adds: “The rewards for going deeper are immeasurable and God wants that for every one of us . . . Jesus does not promise us safety. In fact he warns that going deeper will cost us everything” (97).
Rodin has some good quotes, such as: “Self reliance is the subtle dethroning of God fro the center of our lives” (99). He also states: “This is real freedom, to have confidence in the depths into which God has called you, to winsomely urge others to go deeper with you and to rejoice when some find even deeper waters than your own” (104).
Rodin does address the role of culture in organizations. He points out that “Systems and cultures will ultimately prevail, and so they must be changed to support the goals of the steward leader” (105). He also notes: “A strong, controlling personality may be able to shape culture initially, but it cannot be maintained by one person for long. Culture, by its very definition, involves a community” (107).
He also makes the interesting comment that “There may be no more dangerous person to an organization’s health than the leader who needs the job” (117). I also appreciated his comment that “One of the greatest bondages we can experience is the need to scurry around frantically and manage our reputation” (127). He also suggests: “We cannot sat that we value balance and then set goals and expectations that require our people to live unbalanced lives to achieve those goals” (128).
Rodin clearly has rethought the traditional view of Christian leadership and he obviously knows it dangers. He claims: “When you add the temptation to see the size of our kingdom as the source of our self-worth, you have the perfect storm” (141). He also asks: “When Christ returns, do you want to be held accountable for an abundant ministry or an abundant endowment?” (163). Finally, he suggests: “When plan are made as a result of listening to our own voices, they are accompanied by a certain anxiety about time.” (167).
I enjoyed this book. It is fresh and it truly does offer a different perspective on leadership for those who claim that Christ is the Lord of their life as well as their organization. The book is generally more philosophical and theological, than “practical,” yet it is brimming with relevant reflections and questions. For those looking for a fresh angle from which to view leadership, I recommend this book. It is one of the most God-oriented books I have read on leadership for some time.
by Richard Blackaby