Book Reviews: Pastor, Staff and Congregational Relationships

Pastor, Staff and Congregational Relationships Through Servant Leadership and Quality Administration edited by Bernie Spooner (Christian Leadership Publishing)

I wish this book had been available several years ago. It would have enabled me to be a much more effective deacon chair and spared me plenty of on-the-job, trial-and-error training as a personnel committee chair.

Don’t judge this book by its cover—or its “what-a-mouthful” title. It may look like the textbook for a university or seminary church administration class. No doubt, teachers of those courses should consider it. But if you are a pastor, serve on a church staff in any capacity or fill any lay leadership role in a church, think of this book as required reading.

Bernie Spooner, former director of the Sunday School/Discipleship Division of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and first dean of the Cook School of Leadership at Dallas Baptist University, has assembled an all-star lineup of writers. Pastors Howard Batson from First Baptist Church in Amarillo, Randel Everett from First Baptist Church in Midland and Phil Lineberger from Sugar Land Baptist Church near Houston offer wisdom based on personal experience. Other contributors include several professors in varied disciplines, a minister of education and a couple of attorneys.

Think of the book as a good hardware store. Part of it is filled with nuts and bolts—sample job descriptions and personnel policies, for instance. Part of it is packed with power tools—honest appraisals of leadership styles and frank discussions about how pastors relate to staff, how staff members relate to each other, how pastors and staff relate to congregations, and how congregations relate to pastors and staff. Granted, it may not always read like a gripping murder mystery, but it could keep conflict in a church from turning into one.

Read it. Heed it. Refer to it often. You will be glad you did, and so will your church.

Ken Camp, managing editor

Baptist Standard

Plano

Bound to a Promise by Bonnie Floyd (Creative Enterprises Studio)

Love. Rejection. Fear. Murder. In the autobiographical work, Bound to a Promise, Bonnie Floyd brings the thrilling entertainment of a fictional drama into real life as readers experience the emotional storms and waves that rock the author’s life. Floyd retells the story of her journey with Jesus Christ amidst personal turbulence.

Floyd describes how her parents’ divorce left her scarred and in need of a lifebuoy. Through divine providence, she finds her Savior, who leads her on her path of healing. She quickly discovers life with Jesus does not eliminate her troubles, but it gives her a source to rely on when storms occur. When murder strikes like lightning, Floyd is faced with the choice to act as Christ would in forgiveness or build up hatred for those guilty of the heinous crime.

Each page of this book leaves readers wanting more as Floyd builds suspense. By the end, readers will recognize and respect Jesus Christ’s overwhelming presence in Floyd’s life. Christ not only sought out a relationship with her; he sought to provide for her during her most difficult hour. This theme leaves readers feeling the glorious power and grace given through Christ to all who call on his name.

Justin Kinsley, student

Dallas Theological Seminary