Learning Resources

Effective Pastoring by Dr. Bill Lawrence, Word, 1999 This book is written to assist pastors on both the functional and the foundational level. The opening chapters emphasize the pastor's spiritual pilgrimage, while the rest of the work instructs pastors in their practice of such core leadership skills as planning, developing and implementing vision, leading boards, keeping meeting on target, and a number of other practical disciplines.
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Master-Planning by Bobb Biehl, Broadman and Holman, 1997 Written from a Christian perspecitve, this work provides the most comprehensive and easily understood guidelines for strategic planning the administratively limited leader can find. Highly recommended for all who know they need to do strategic planning, but find the process difficult to implement.
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Leaders: Strategies for Taking Charge by Warren Bennis and Burt Nanus, Harper & Row, 1985 One of the classics in the field and a must read for all who want to understand the core leadership practices.
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The Making of a Leader by Dr. Robert J. Clinton, Navpress, 1988 A study in how God develops leaders based on 1,000 interviews with emerging leaders from all over the world as well as the study of several biblical characters. Dr. Clinton uses a vocabulary all his own, so it is essential to consult with his helpful glossary found in the back of the book.

The Leadership Challenge by Kouzes and Posner, Jossey-Bass, 1997 Perhaps the most helpful work on the practices of effective leaders, this very practical work is built on scores of interviews with real life leaders who tell what they did to accomplish their leadership bests. Do not be held back by the size of this work (300 pages +). Much of it is story, all of it is easy to understand, and every bit of it will help you be a more effective leader.
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