DESCRIPTION

Using the wisdom of the past to address the challenges of the present, Christopher Beeley's Leading God's People presents key principles of church leadership as they were taught by great pastor-theologians of the early church, including Gregory of Nazianzus, Ambrose, Augustine, Chrysostom, and Gregory the Great.

Table of Contents

Preface vii

I The Leadership of the Church 1

The Origins and Importance of Church Leadership 2

Service with Authority 8

All for Others 13

In Christ 20

Difficulty and Delight 24

II Spirituality for Leadership 28

The Order of the Spirit 30

Pastoral Virtue 33

Character and Office 43

The Tragic Alternative 46

All from God 51

III The Cure of Souls 54

The Art of Arts 56

The Cure of Souls 61

The Healing of Christ 74

IV Scripture and Theology 77

The Resource of Scripture 80

Interpretation according to the Spirit 82

Pastoral Theology 97

Contemplation in Action 101

V The Ministry of the Word 105

Word and Sacrament 105

Christian Doctrine 108

Teach 113

Delight 116

Sway 118

Study and Prayer 122

The Leader 125

Notes 129

Acknowledgments 142

Suggestions for Further Reading 143

Index of Names and Subjects 145

Index of Scripture References 147