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God's Potters: Pastoral Leadership and the Shaping of Congregations
Additional Info:
Pastoral ministry is an occupation in flux. In this comprehensive study Jackson Carroll considers the many factors — changing roles among clergy and laypeople, the opening of ordination to women, an increasing shortage of clergy, and more — that are shaping congregations and ministers today. Building on Paul’s image of Christians as “clay jars,” Carroll paints a portrait of “God’s potters” — pastors whose calling is to form their congregational jars so that they reveal rather than hide God’s treasure.
A veteran clergy watcher, Carroll uses data from what is likely the most representative survey of Protestant and Catholic clergy ever undertaken, as well as focus group interviews and congregational responses, to take a hard look at who is doing ministry today, what it involves, and how pastors are faring in leading their congregations. Significantly, his study covers clergy from a broad range of traditions — Catholic, mainline Protestant, conservative Protestant, and historic black churches.
Replete with pertinent tables and figures, God’s Potters culminates with specific strategies for strengthening pastoral leadership and nurturing excellence in ministry. (From the Publisher)
Table Of Content:
ch. 1 Pastoral leadership at the beginning of the 21st century
ch. 2 The social and cultural context in which clergy work
ch. 3 Who are God's potters today?
ch. 4 What do clergy do? : the work of ordained ministry
ch. 5 How do pastors lead? : leadership and cultural production
ch. 6 Potters' problems : commitment, satisfaction, and health
ch. 7 "A manner of life worthy of the gospel" : exploring the meaning of excellence in ministry and pastoral leadership
ch. 8 Strengthening pastoral leadership and nurturing excellence : some strategies
Appendix A: research methods
Appendix B: interview protocol and response frequencies
Pastoral ministry is an occupation in flux. In this comprehensive study Jackson Carroll considers the many factors — changing roles among clergy and laypeople, the opening of ordination to women, an increasing shortage of clergy, and more — that are shaping congregations and ministers today. Building on Paul’s image of Christians as “clay jars,” Carroll paints a portrait of “God’s potters” — pastors whose calling is to form their congregational jars so that they reveal rather than hide God’s treasure.
A veteran clergy watcher, Carroll uses data from what is likely the most representative survey of Protestant and Catholic clergy ever undertaken, as well as focus group interviews and congregational responses, to take a hard look at who is doing ministry today, what it involves, and how pastors are faring in leading their congregations. Significantly, his study covers clergy from a broad range of traditions — Catholic, mainline Protestant, conservative Protestant, and historic black churches.
Replete with pertinent tables and figures, God’s Potters culminates with specific strategies for strengthening pastoral leadership and nurturing excellence in ministry. (From the Publisher)
Table Of Content:
ch. 1 Pastoral leadership at the beginning of the 21st century
ch. 2 The social and cultural context in which clergy work
ch. 3 Who are God's potters today?
ch. 4 What do clergy do? : the work of ordained ministry
ch. 5 How do pastors lead? : leadership and cultural production
ch. 6 Potters' problems : commitment, satisfaction, and health
ch. 7 "A manner of life worthy of the gospel" : exploring the meaning of excellence in ministry and pastoral leadership
ch. 8 Strengthening pastoral leadership and nurturing excellence : some strategies
Appendix A: research methods
Appendix B: interview protocol and response frequencies