The Whole Church: Congregational Leadership Guided by Systems Theory

by Kenneth Reeves

Overview

The Whole Church offers congregational leaders an understanding of a church system as a whole community composed of interacting members in which change in one influences all. This understanding helps church leaders navigate change and conflict, while also supporting the congregation's wholeness and safety. This book addresses how effective leadership coincides with personal and spiritual development, and ultimately emphasizes the significance of one's own spirituality and faith in supporting and fulfilling the congregation's mission.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538127339
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	07/12/2019
Pages:	280
Product dimensions:	6.23(w) x 9.40(h) x 0.89(d)

About the Author

The Rev. Ken Reeves, PhD, is an ordained minister, clinical psychologist, therapist, and teacher. He has served congregations as pastor and created and taught courses on systems theory and congregational conflict as an adjunct professor at Andover Newton Theological School. He provides psychological assessment for clergy, and presents workshops and trainings in pastoral leadership.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1: Systems Theory Chapter 2: Diagnosis Chapter 3: The Healthy Church Chapter 4: Working on Yourself Chapter 5: Church Structure Chapter 6: Calming Them Chapter 7: Change Chapter 8: Conflict Chapter 9: Difficult Behavior Chapter 10: The Unconscious Chapter 11: Preaching Chapter 12: The Spirit Conclusion Appendix A: Situations Appendix B: Self-Definition Exercises Appendix C: History of Systems Theory Bibliography Index Author the Author

Editorial Reviews

Many find it difficult to grasp the idea that we are not just individuals operating out of free will, but we are all part of emotional systems that shape who we are. Lacking this subtle and nuanced understanding of how people interact, we find ourselves at a disadvantage in reading and functioning in the enmeshed systems in which we are called to lead. This book provides guidance for self-examination and leadership development in equal measure on the topic of emotional systems, rendering understandable some counterintuitive ways of thinking about individuals and communities.

Sarah B. Drummond

[R]eaders interested in learning more about systems thinking will find in this book a helpful primer by which they can begin to play with systems ideas in their work and, if interested, start to explore them in more depth by reading the works of Bowen or Rabbi Edwin Friedman. The practical tips, real-life examples and ability of Reeves to get outside of his own systems enough to provide clear thinking about them can be a very useful tool in helping any reader of his book to do the same.

The Presbyterian Outlook

Reeves’s book The Whole Church leads to wise and healthy leadership. It matters what lens a leader uses to understand their setting, since what we see and understand determines our actions. This health-oriented systems approach is not only reason based—it supports a courageous leadership deeply needed in our congregations at this critical time.

Gil Rendle

Lots of clergy and lay leaders find systems theory attractive; too few understand it in their bones. In his gentle, storytelling style, Ken Reeves unpacks key concepts like multiple causality, triangles, homeostasis, anxiety, reactivity, resistance, and systemic health. Wise leaders will look to The Whole Church for help as they wade through the troubled waters of congregational life.

Dan Hotchkiss

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