The Missional Leader

What am I reading? I am posting short synopsis of what I am reading. I will not be critiquing, for that is for you to do after you engage the material for yourself.

The Missional Leader: Equipping Your Church to Reach a Changing World

Bibliographic Citation
Roxburgh, Alan J. and Fred Romanuk. The Missional Leader: Equipping Your Church to Reach a Changing World. San Francisco: Josey-Bass, 2006.

“Missional leadership is the key—but how do we do it?” Roxburgh and Romanuk begin by identifying six critical issues for helping churches transition into a missional mindset. The other five are: most models repackage old paradigms, discontinuous change is the new norm, congregations still matter, leaders need new capacities and frameworks, and that a congregation is a unique organization. They go on to address organizational behavior and characteristics, helping the leader/pastor embrace the instability of change and the uncertainty that comes with a cultural shift. With the explanation of “The Missional Change Model” the authors explore the “how tos” of the transition. The steps are: awareness, understanding, evaluate, experiment, commitment. Each step builds upon the previous to systematically and skillfully effect change within a congregation. Not only focusing upon the congregation, Roxburgh and Romanuk are careful to also focus upon the internal fortitude and characteristics of the leader who will implement missional change. They discuss personal maturity which includes “being present to oneself and others,” “being authentic,” and “being self-aware.” Additionally they take on the issue of “personal courage” as a determining factor since change always involves stress, conflict and difficulty. Lastly they answer the question that began the conversation, “how do we do it?” With a careful exposition of how to embrace and become a missional leader they provide tools and methodology for personal growth and development.