Wow! eBook
Leading God's People: Wisdom from the Early Church for Today
Author(s): Christopher A. Beeley (Author)
- Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
- Publication Date: 3 April 2012
- Language: English
- Print length: 161 pages
- ISBN-10: 9780802867001
- ISBN-13: 9780802867001
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
-- Archbishop of Canterbury
"In a religious climate where language about leadership is often regarded as basically a matter of secular managerial intrusion into theology, it is wonderful to have a book like this that roots our thinking about the calling of the Christian leader in the wisdom of the early church. This learned, readable, and very timely book deserves a very warm welcome."
Daniel Cardinal DiNardo
-- Archbishop of Galveston-Houston
"A foundational and systematic description of the model of leadership in the early Christian community. The author weaves throughout his book excerpts from the epistles of St. Paul and the writings of the church fathers to illustrate that these early theologians understood the essential need for pastoral virtue, humility, holiness, and inspired preaching for effective church leadership. In particular, St. Augustine's insights are very compelling. Leading God's People serves as an instructional and meditative companion for clergy members, seminarians, and lay ministers who desire to faithfully exercise their church authority in the most representational manner of Christ's pastoral shepherding of his flock."
John Behr
-- Dean, St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary
"This is a wonderful book, based upon Christopher Beeley's deep love and knowledge of the great fathers of the church, East and West, as well as the practice of ministry within the church. . . . Provides solid guidance to all who are interested in the practice of Christian leadership, both lay and ordained."
Cistercian Studies Quarterly
"An immensely satisfying and enjoyable walk through the wisdom of the Church Fathers. . . . The book is intelligently written, enjoyable to read, and spiritually illuminating."
Christian Century
"In these days of high-stress, low-status pastoring, clergy need reminders from leaders of the early church about the core purpose of their work, and about its importance and its essential dignity and meaning. Beeley draws on the works of early leaders to deliver just such a reminder. . . . Refreshingly difference from many current books on leadership."
Leadership Journal
"Beeley presents in a fresh and accessible way the fundamentals of church leadership as they were taught by some of the great theologians of the church. . . . He presents a systematic philosophy of pastoral leadership as retrieved from the church fathers. And it is packed with extraordinary quotes. If for nothing else, buy the book for the quotes. Nowhere else will you find such an arrangement of ancient wisdom on church leadership."
Expository Times
"A folksy introduction to a pastoral model that draws on the works of several key patristic thinkers and melds them with advice for today's religious leaders. . . . The strongest aspect of Beeley's work: the ability to inspire. While never making it easy, he always makes it sound possible. . . . Such hopeful advice is always welcome."
Reviews in Religion and Theology
"This delightful little volume . . . is a welcome primer on the vision of pastoral leadership of the early church. . . . A readable and helpful introduction."
Presbyterian Outlook
"Beckons clergy to attend to the theology and practice of early church pastors. . . . Here is food for every pastor and church leader."
About the Author
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Leading God's People
Wisdom from the Early Church for TodayBy Christopher A. Beeley
William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
Copyright © 2012 Christopher A. Beeley
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-8028-6700-1
Contents
Preface.............................................................viiI. The Leadership of the Church.....................................1The Origins and Importance of Church Leadership.....................2Service with Authority..............................................8All for Others......................................................13In Christ...........................................................20Difficulty and Delight..............................................24II. Spirituality for Leadership.....................................28The Order of the Spirit.............................................30Pastoral Virtue.....................................................33Character and Office................................................43The Tragic Alternative..............................................46All from God........................................................51III. The Cure of Souls..............................................54The Art of Arts.....................................................56The Cure of Souls...................................................61The Healing of Christ...............................................74IV. Scripture and Theology..........................................77The Resource of Scripture...........................................80Interpretation according to the Spirit..............................82Pastoral Theology...................................................97Contemplation in Action.............................................101V. The Ministry of the Word.........................................105Word and Sacrament..................................................105Christian Doctrine..................................................108Teach...............................................................113Delight.............................................................116Sway................................................................118Study and Prayer....................................................122The Leader..........................................................125Notes...............................................................129Acknowledgments.....................................................142Suggestions for Further Reading.....................................143Index of Names and Subjects.........................................145Index of Scripture References.......................................147
Chapter One
The Leadership of the Church
* * *
Keep watch over yourselves and over the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the Church of God that he has obtained with the blood of his own Son. Acts 20:28
Anyone who has attended Sunday services knows how crucial church leadership is. When strong leadership is present, we appreciate it palpably, and the entire community benefits in tangible ways. When it is lacking, we know that something of central importance is missing, and we rightly lament its absence. In every period of history Christians have had cause to reflect on what may seem an obvious fact: the effectiveness of the church's leadership is crucial to its vitality and faithfulness, its spiritual health, and its fulfillment of God's mission in the world.
Scripture, tradition, and the experience of countless believers show that God has designed the church in such a way that someone needs to be in charge of each Christian community. Particular people — most often a senior pastor together with assistant clergy and laypeople — are officially entrusted with the authority of leadership for the sake of the entire body. But this is not an automatic thing, as if having appointed leaders were enough in itself. The way in which leadership is exercised is of the utmost importance for the church's life and well-being. While we may regret those instances in which solid leadership was absent or severely impaired, we can also be grateful that there have been so many outstanding church leaders throughout history, beginning with the apostles themselves. Since the first generation of the church there have been distinct leaders, and the basic character and rationale of this leadership is surprisingly well-defined across a variety of cultural, geographical, and historical differences.
The Origins and Importance of Church Leadership
Before we look at the basic identity and work of church leaders, it may be helpful to consider the earliest beginnings of leadership office. The New Testament gives little explicit description of the roles and functions of church leaders, just as it also lacks a formal order of worship. Yet the apostolic writings clearly indicate that leadership was both necessary and centrally important. Jesus himself appointed a distinct group of twelve disciples, with an inner circle of three (Peter, James, and John) and a predominant leader among them (Peter). The gospels record that Jesus spent most of his time and attention with these twelve, and it was to them that he entrusted the furtherance of his mission after his death, resurrection, and ascension. The apostles, who soon included Paul and others, carried on the authority and the work of leadership, including the spread of the gospel and the planting of new churches among peoples and territories beyond Palestine and the Jewish Diaspora. As a result of this spread, it eventually became necessary to appoint new local leaders in each community. In the Pastoral Epistles (1-2 Timothy and Titus) — so named in the modern period because they give unprecedented attention to the office and duties of pastoral leadership — we see the further stabilization of distinct leadership offices in second- or third-generation communities. In recognition of Paul's apostolic authority, many later writers looked to him as the premier example of pastoral or episcopal leadership.
In the New Testament church leaders are commonly, though not exclusively, referred to as overseers or bishops (episkopoi) as well as elders or presbyters (presbyteroi). These two terms are often used interchangeably; and while there may have been a distinct supervisor (bishop) among the group of overseer-elders, they are not clearly demarcated as a radically distinct office. In addition to these primary leaders, all of whom are considered servants or ministers (diakonoi), we occasionally find another group called "deacons" in a more particular sense (also diakonoi). It appears that by the time of the Pastoral Epistles, these functions developed into three distinct offices which were either instituted or supported by the laying on of hands. Yet even here we have relatively little indication of the degree of formality or of all the functions associated with each office.
The simplest and most telling description of early pastoral leadership comes in Paul's address to the leaders from Ephesus in the Acts of the Apostles. According to Luke the evangelist (who wrote Acts), Paul tells the Ephesian elders (presbyteroi) that the Holy Spirit has appointed them to be overseers (episkopoi) as shepherds of God's church (Acts 20:28). Paul calls the same group both presbyters and bishops; he regards their authority as having come from the Holy Spirit; and he characterizes their ministry as that of pastoring, or shepherding sheep. Also illuminating is the...
