Anxious Church, Anxious People

How to Lead Change in an Age of Anxiety

By: Jack Shitama

Narrated by: Jack Shitama

The key to effective church leadership is the ability to be a nonanxious presence. This is not a technique; it is a way of being. It is deceptively simple, but tremendously difficult. Yet, if you are willing to take the journey, you can lead change in even the most challenging contexts.

Listen to this audiobook and you will understand:

• The process that keeps churches anxious and stuck.
• How leadership through self-differentiation gets churches unstuck.
• How to develop as a nonanxious presence so you can lead change anywhere, but especially in an anxious church.

Anxious Church, Anxious People is based on a family systems approach to congregational leadership. It is for church leaders who are willing to learn more about themselves and their family of origin so they can be a nonanxious presence. It will resonate with those who have tried everything else and realize they cannot change others but can only change themselves. It makes family systems concepts accessible and practical through the use of examples from personal experience.

The author has used this approach to leadership in his 26 years of ministry as a pastor, board chair, and ministry executive. It has enabled him to lead significant change in the local church, a regional ministry, and a denominational professional association. He has been teaching, mentoring, and coaching congregational leaders for the last 15 years to help them to do the same.

Reviews of Anxious Church, Anxious People:

"Anxious Church, Anxious People is a marvelously insightful guide for how to use a systems approach in church leadership situations. It guides leaders in practical ways through difficult situations, and it helps the reader understand the dynamics behind interpersonal challenges in the parish. I have seen the change Rev. Shitama has led. The experience he shares can help any leader." (Bishop Peggy A. Johnson, Philadelphia Episcopal Area - The United Methodist Church)

"This is an excellent resource for pastors and others who aspire to leadership in the church. In fact, this is the book I wish I'd written and will use it when I teach leadership. 'Anxiety' is the issue for us, and the angel said, 'Fear not.'" (David McAllister-Wilson, president, Wesley Theological Seminary)

"Through Jack's self-revealing, modest way and his accessible language, you can get a clearer picture as to how to integrate Family Systems thinking into your life. If you have heard about Family Systems and want to get in touch with this powerful language of leadership, I suggest you consider this book to start the "process.'" (Rev. William Selby, president/mentor, Center for Pastoral Effectiveness of the Rockies, Highlands Ranch, CO)

©2018 Charis Works Inc (P)2018 Charis Works Inc

Middling

It’s a great introduction to systems theory applied to church. Excellent for the uninitiated. But if you have fluency around systems and groups this will be in-nuanced.

Lots of important and repeated terms. Self differentiation. Triangles. Process vs content (which isn’t a systems concept), really important. But again lose clarity when stated without explanation.