Peter L. Steinke, Congregational Leadership in Anxious Times: Being Calm and Courageous No Matter What. Alban Institute, 2006.
Referenced in:
- Church Conflict – Leadership, Preaching, and Worship in Times of Conflict
- Leadership and Emotional Systems, Self-Differentiation
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
Probably no other work presents a more succinct and understandable guide for congregational leadership during conflict than this volume by Peter Steinke.
Part 1, The Leader’s Presence, stresses the importance of nonanxious leadership presence amidst the repressive, infectious, and reactive effects of anxiety on religious communities. It presents the path leaders should take to achieve such self-management.
Part 2, The Leader’s Functioning, describes how leaders “influence the emotional field” by calm amid crisis, focus amid bewilderment, challenge amid stagnancy, and capacity for change amid the current culture’s “failure of nerve.”
Part 3, The Leader’s Challenges discusses the well-meant but self-sabotaging conflict habits of average churches, the new aggressiveness characteristic of our contentious culture, and the concept of the “turning point” when a conflict either creates positive responses or degenerates into a negative affair.
Steinke utilizes Ron Heifetz and Martin Linsky’s distinction between technical and adaptive problems, the latter calling for brave leaders that are willing to “rock the emotional boat,” emphasize risk over security, issue challenges instead of support survival instincts, and deal effectively with resistance. A five-star book on leadership. See the excerpt, “Twenty Observations About Troubled Congregations” (used by permission).
From the Publisher
Anxious times call for steady leadership. When tensions emerge in a congregation, its leaders cannot be as anxious as the people they serve. To remain effective, congregational leaders must control their own uneasiness. This takes self-awareness and confidence to manage relationships and influence behaviors. Knowing how to deal with anxiety and how to work through complex challenges can lead a congregation to new insights, growth, and vitality. Anxious times hold not only the potential for loss but also for creation, important learnings, and changes that will strengthen the congregation. With this new book, internationally respected consultant Peter Steinke goes deeper into the requirements of effective congregational leadership. Born from the wisdom of Steinke’s distinguished career, this new volume will both enlighten and embolden leaders. Steinke inspires courage in leaders to maintain the course, unearth secrets, resist sabotage, withstand fury, and overcome timidity or doubts. His insights, illustrations, and provocations will carry leaders through rough times, provide clarity during confusing times, and uplift them in joyous times.
About the Author
Peter L. Steinke is an internationally respected congregational systems consultant who has also served as a parish pastor, an educator, and a therapist for clergy. He is the author of the best-selling books How Your Church Family Works and Healthy Congregations.
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