Spirituality and Leadership.

Book Review.

Nelson, Alan, E. Spirituality & Leadership. Harnessing the wisdom, guidance, and power of the soul. NavPress, 2002.
A.N.- founder and senior pastor of Scotsdale Family Church.

Comment. Henry
A specific definition of ‘spiritual leadership’ is the focus of this resource. That being said that puts a limitation on the information shared. It does not (in my opinion) allow for varying ‘levels of spiritual leadership’. Also, the topic is addressed primarily within the church culture. It discusses leadership within a relatively narrow venue.

Postmodernity demands spiritual leadership. It is one thing to call for change but it is something else to implement change.

“Leadership is influence, but not all influence is leadership.” (23) The conferring of that influence is called leadership. “The true power-holders in leadership are actually the followers and collaborators.” (24) The terms leadership and management are not interchangeable.

Spirituality is defined. The merging of leadership and spirituality happens when there is a balance between strength and love, a weaving together of power and grace. (It seems that we are into some very subjective and hence not that easily identifiable.) A number of questions are posed to explore a spiritual leader’s inner life, the source of spiritual leadership.

That spiritual leadership is examined further by considering the role of the leader, and the skills of such a leader. There seems to be the implication that spiritual leadership becomes the responsibility and domain of one (and sometimes several) person in a church and/or organization.