With Making Disciples, Making Leaders, Steve Eason, pastor of Myers Park Church in Charlotte, N.C., has offered the church a valuable resource—not only for that time of preparation for office, but for the nominating process, and for ongoing strengthening of church leaders after their installation. His work demonstrates his conviction that “A church can only be as strong as its leadership, and clergy cannot bear that burden alone” (p. 2). Attendant to that reality is that “we need to spend more time and effort in strengthening the leadership of the church” (p. 3).
Eason’s model is Team Leadership, based on Moses’ 70 elders, and Jesus’ 12 disciples. He notes that these biblical leaders are empowered by God for their tasks of leadership. Neither Moses’ elders nor Jesus’ disciples can do the job by themselves. They simply provide whatever resources they have; and God gives them the ability to lead. Eason’s challenge to the church is to put leaders in a place where God can empower them—not just for management, but for leadership.
An early chapter challenges nominating committees to spend significant time (several months) in Bible study, reflection on common reading, prayer, and study of the membership and practices of the session and diaconate, prior to seeking suggestions for nomination and the assembling of nominees. The question for them to ask is, “Who are those best qualified for God to empower?”
With lesson plans contributed by E. Von Clemans, Eason provides material for four units of training (which could easily be adapted to more sessions if needed). Each of the four units provides for a review of theology (Christology, Scripture, Reformed emphases, and the Confessions) and polity (overview of Presbyterian principles, sacraments/ Directory for Worship, constitutional questions/duties of office, and local church customs and practices). An appendix provides helpful handouts for these reviews. Those who lead officer training are encouraged to begin each training session with worship (for which outlines are provided), end each session with personal faith sharing, and share a meal together.
Once these elders and deacons have been examined (not surprisingly, sample tests and models for the sharing of personal faith are provided) and installed, Eason encourages the church to keep it up. The final chapters challenge the church to continue nurturing leaders after they have been trained and installed.
Chapter 9, “Moving Away from ‘Bored’ Meetings,” is alone worth the price of the book. Eason shares his experience with Ed White of the Alban Institute, who challenged the way most Presbyterian sessions and diaconates go about their work. The typical pattern involves committees bringing recommendations, to which the session/diaconate then responds. Leaders are thus in a position of passively responding, not leading. Following White’s advice, Eason proposes a new model of meetings in which each ministry division takes center stage on the agenda once a year. They receive the diaconate/session’s full attention for that meeting, as the church’s leaders reflect deeply on that particular aspect of the church’s life. Rather than simply responding to reports, the session or diaconate as a whole is then able to lead, suggesting directions for ministry, and praying for those who lead that part of the church’s ministry.
My vision is that each meeting becomes something like a mini planning retreat, in which church leaders are encouraged to evaluate and envision each part of church life. (Other committee/ ministry team routine business is handled with one-page reports of items for information, and items for action, which can be discussed as needed.) For those looking to strengthen their officer training, Making Disciples, Making Leaders has much to offer. It can be used as is, or tailored to local needs.
For those who are satisfied with their current practices, there are nonetheless resources here to challenge the leaders of the church to grow in their calling. Smaller congregations may find it difficult to sustain this full program; however, there are resources here through which God can work to empower the leadership of congregations of every size in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)!
RANDY HARRIS is a South Carolina pastor, and the new book review editor of THE PRESBYTERIAN OUTLOOK.
