The Pastor As Spiritual Guide

Rating:
Summary: Good effort to find a new pastoral model
Review: Commendations to Howard Rice and his editors for The Pastor as Spiritual Guide. Rice taught spiritual formation for a number of years and attempts to put his thought into a systems approach to congregational ministry. In many ways he succeeds, particularly as he deals with the everyday actions of pastors and the normal problems of churches. Where Rice slips is in the biblical foundation for his approach. I wanted Rice to use the Bible, to show a biblical basis for his work, to develop especially that biblical foundation for pastoral authority. That is not there, though any pastor should be able to read this book and grow from its insights. And any pastor can provide the biblical texts he or she most often quotes concerning call to ministry. I am not aware of any other contemporary attempts to relate spiritual guidance to the totality of ministry. Do read the book. Maybe the sequel is in you and awaits birth.

Rating:
Summary: A Call to Spiritual Guidance
Review: Howard Rice invites pastors to step away from the task-driven agenda of pastoral ministry to think about the larger need for spiritual guidance. I find his work very encouraging as he deals realistically with the demands pastors face. Particularly helpful is the chapter on worship and spiritual guidance for in this chapter Rice reminds readers that all aspects of worship should invite participants to listen for God. Rice notes that all of worship is an invitation. Rice also writes about spiritual guidance and the administration of the church.

Very helpful book. It opens up new ways to think about ministry and the church.