Missio Dei by its very nature requires the church to come to terms with the exercise of power, both internally and externally, as it confronts the world. Tune in to any newscast or glance at the daily newspaper and it immediately becomes clear that the use and abuse of power is a live issue. The more we focus on the twists and turns of current events, the more it appears that uncorrupted exercise of power eludes the human race. All too often we become uneasily aware that there are powers lying behind the power that any of us wields, whether it is in the family, the classroom, on the shop floor, in the boardroom, or in churches. Effective missional leadership involves creative engagement with the powers at work in the world without being debased by them. This book sets out to address the issue of the use and misuse of power from biblical, theological, and practical perspectives. The authors bring their theological, pastoral, missionary, and personal experience to their task in order to inform, challenge, and invite readers into a responsible use of the powers that God has put into the hands of each one of us to achieve his purposes in the world.
"This book's scope surprises, in its rich array of cited
literature (from ancient to postmodern) under a missional canopy.
What and how does the power of Jesus Christ's gospel confront the
powers in their sociopolitical systemic forms and in their personal
and/or territorial demonic manifestations? Culture, context, and
worldview are essential in assessment and understanding. The work
of these scholars has a solid biblical foundation with a
constructive, critical edge. Gratis!"
--Willard M. Swartley, Professor Emeritus of New Testament,
Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary
"A cross-disciplinary study that effectively interweaves biblical,
historical, theological, and cultural perspectives, this
well-researched and carefully nuanced exploration of various
dimensions of power offers helpful pastoral counsel and important
missional challenges."
--Stuart Murray Williams, Urban Expression
"This book raises key issues for anyone who leads or has authority
in a religious context. Attacking the religious abuse of power is
easy for outsiders looking in. What makes this book especially
valuable is that it comes from people inside the field of missional
leadership who are trying to face the problems with honesty and
integrity, and who offer solutions that are meaningful and useful
to those whose business is spreading the gospel."
--Andrew Village, Professor of Practical and Empirical Theology,
York St. John University
"The issue of power, its uses and abuses, concern about trust and
the complex relationship between power, the powers, and a Christian
view of evil, are all troubling and disturbing issues. Those in
ministry and leadership grapple with these issues but with few maps
to guide them. This helpful volume bridges the gap between helpful
but inaccessible academic works and the accessible but sometimes
superficial popular books on these areas. Thoughtful leaders will
find this book an invaluable guide to their reflection on these key
leadership issues."
--Martin Robinson, Principal of ForMission College; author of
Metavista: Bible, Church and Mission in an Age of
Imagination
"This book's scope surprises, in its rich array of cited
literature (from ancient to postmodern) under a missional canopy.
What and how does the power of Jesus Christ's gospel confront the
powers in their sociopolitical systemic forms and in their personal
and/or territorial demonic manifestations? Culture, context, and
worldview are essential in assessment and understanding. The work
of these scholars has a solid biblical foundation with a
constructive, critical edge. Gratis!"
--Willard M. Swartley, Professor Emeritus of New Testament,
Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary
"A cross-disciplinary study that effectively interweaves biblical,
historical, theological, and cultural perspectives, this
well-researched and carefully nuanced exploration of various
dimensions of power offers helpful pastoral counsel and important
missional challenges."
--Stuart Murray Williams, Urban Expression
"This book raises key issues for anyone who leads or has authority
in a religious context. Attacking the religious abuse of power is
easy for outsiders looking in. What makes this book especially
valuable is that it comes from people inside the field of missional
leadership who are trying to face the problems with honesty and
integrity, and who offer solutions that are meaningful and useful
to those whose business is spreading the gospel."
--Andrew Village, Professor of Practical and Empirical Theology,
York St. John University
"The issue of power, its uses and abuses, concern about trust and
the complex relationship between power, the powers, and a Christian
view of evil, are all troubling and disturbing issues. Those in
ministry and leadership grapple with these issues but with few maps
to guide them. This helpful volume bridges the gap between helpful
but inaccessible academic works and the accessible but sometimes
superficial popular books on these areas. Thoughtful leaders will
find this book an invaluable guide to their reflection on these key
leadership issues."
--Martin Robinson, Principal of ForMission College; author of
Metavista: Bible, Church and Mission in an Age of
Imagination
Andrew Hardy is undergraduate course director at ForMission
College (UK) and has authored several academic books.
Richard Whitehouse is regional network tutor at ForMission College
(UK). He is a former church planter and staff member with YWAM,
Montana.
Dan Yarnell is an undergraduate lecturer at ForMission College. He
is National Co-ordinator of the Fellowship of Churches of Christ in
Great Britain and Ireland and has coauthored several academic and
popular books.