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Rating: 
Summary: Hard to Categorize Except as "Good"
Review: In "Living with Paradox," H. Newton Malony seeks to take religious leaders from "the tyranny of the OR to the genius of the AND." He explores eight paradoxes of religious organizations and religious leadership. The table of contents gives a sense of the book's scope:1. Religious leadership and paradox
Part One: Paradoxes in the Religious Leader's Role
2. Person and position: being true to oneself and to congregational expectations
3. Prophet, priest, and king: playing three roles that become confounded
Part Two: Paradoxes of Perspective
4. Inclusivity and exclusivity: appreciating both uniqueness and universality in faith convictions
5. Timely and timeless: applying the Bible's eternal truths to present circumstances
Part Three: Paradoxes Built into the Structure of Religious Congregations
6. For-profit and not-for-profit: balancing the books while serving a larger purpose
7. Person and organization: running an efficient organization in which people feel deeply recognized
Part Four: Paradoxes of Congregational Mission
8. Product and process: valuing ends and means equally
9. Mission and maintenance: moving the congregation toward achieving its goals while fostering goodwill and group cohesion
10 Conclusion: Leading others to double vision True to its paradoxical theme, this book defies easy categorization. Part one focuses on the nature of ministry and ministers. The chapter on "timely and timeless" takes up the subject of preaching, while the next chapter, "for-profit and not-for-profit," moves on to financial issues. Many of the book's subjects tend to be issues for church conflict, and chapter seven is partly about the process of church conflict. You will not find a comprehensive treatment of any single subject in Living with Paradox, but I'm certain the book will spark some new ideas for reflection. As someone who is preparing for ministry, I found the book very helpful. I would easily recommend it to any minister or ministry student. I also think Living with Paradox would be of interest to board members, committee chairs, or other lay leaders in a church.
Rating:
Summary: Hard to Categorize Except as "Good"
Review: In "Living with Paradox," H. Newton Malony seeks to take religious leaders from "the tyranny of the OR to the genius of the AND." He explores eight paradoxes of religious organizations and religious leadership. The table of contents gives a sense of the book's scope: 1. Religious leadership and paradox
Part One: Paradoxes in the Religious Leader's Role
2. Person and position: being true to oneself and to congregational expectations
3. Prophet, priest, and king: playing three roles that become confounded
Part Two: Paradoxes of Perspective
4. Inclusivity and exclusivity: appreciating both uniqueness and universality in faith convictions
5. Timely and timeless: applying the Bible's eternal truths to present circumstances
Part Three: Paradoxes Built into the Structure of Religious Congregations
6. For-profit and not-for-profit: balancing the books while serving a larger purpose
7. Person and organization: running an efficient organization in which people feel deeply recognized
Part Four: Paradoxes of Congregational Mission
8. Product and process: valuing ends and means equally
9. Mission and maintenance: moving the congregation toward achieving its goals while fostering goodwill and group cohesion
10 Conclusion: Leading others to double vision True to its paradoxical theme, this book defies easy categorization. Part one focuses on the nature of ministry and ministers. The chapter on "timely and timeless" takes up the subject of preaching, while the next chapter, "for-profit and not-for-profit," moves on to financial issues. Many of the book's subjects tend to be issues for church conflict, and chapter seven is partly about the process of church conflict. You will not find a comprehensive treatment of any single subject in Living with Paradox, but I'm certain the book will spark some new ideas for reflection. As someone who is preparing for ministry, I found the book very helpful. I would easily recommend it to any minister or ministry student. I also think Living with Paradox would be of interest to board members, committee chairs, or other lay leaders in a church.
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