These resources help church leaders understand the roles and expectations that accompany their positions. (* identifies resources not listed in Books in Print.)
Bailey, Robert W. Coping with Stress in the Minister’s Home. Nashville: Broadman, 1979.* Identifies stresses produced by the pastoral role/image.
Baxter, Richard. The Reformed Pastor. London: Banner of Truth, 1974. Puritan classic on pastoral roles.
Brister, C. W., James L. Cooper, and J. David Fite. Beginning Your Ministry. Nashville: Abingdon, 1981. The expectations, adjustments, and tensions involved in starting out.
Campbell, David. If I’m in Charge Here, Why Is Everybody Laughing? Niles, Ill.: Argus, 1980. Good instruction on negotiation for pastors who feel responsible for church leadership yet powerless to execute authority.
Campolo, Anthony. The Success Fantasy. Wheaton, Ill.: Victor, 1980. Understanding the self-inflicted expectations to be successful by our culture’s definition.
Dayton, Edward R., and Ted W. Engstrom. Strategy for Living. Glendale, Calif.: Regal, 1976. How to define personal goals before they’re defined by others’ expectations.
Dittes, James E. When the People Say No. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1979. How to respond to disappointment and frustration in the ministry without losing self-esteem.
Foster, Richard J. Celebration of Discipline. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1978. A guide to the spiritual disciplines that helps the reader understand the expectations of God.
Getz, Gene. The Measure of a Church. Glendale: Regal, 1975. Defines the pastor’s role according to biblical measures of success for the church.
Glen, J. Stanley. Justification by Success. Atlanta: Knox, 1979.* The effects of business and politics on the way churches define success.
Grider, Edgar M. Can I Make It One More Year? Atlanta: Knox, 1980. Conflicts that drive ministers to change churches or leave the ministry.
Hummel, Charles E. Tyranny of the Urgent. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity, 1967. Defines priorities by what’s important, not urgent.
Kemper, Robert G. Beginning a New Pastorate. Nashville: Abingdon, 1978. Helpful in determining the expectations of a congregation during the interviewing process.
Kittlaus, Paul, and Speed B. Leas. Church Fights. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1973. The role of the pastor amid conflict and opposition.
Larson, Bruce. The One and Only You. Waco, Tex.: Word, 1976. Learning to be at peace with the person God made you to be.
LeFevre, Perry D., ed. Conflict in a Voluntary Association. Chicago: Exploration, 1975. Useful in resolving problems resulting from ill-defined roles or unrealistic demands.
Lewis, Douglass. Resolving Church Conflicts. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1981. A case study approach that can help when church leaders clash over goals or expectations of the pastor.
MacDonald, Gail. High Call, High Privilege. Wheaton: Tyndale: 1981. Helps pastors’ wives stay spiritually healthy in their key role.
Minirth, Frank. The Workaholic and His Family. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker, 1981. The healing process for those with unrealistic expectations.
Navone, John. A Theology of Failure. New York: Paulist, 1974.* Offers the reality of Christ for the person in the midst of personal or church failure.
Oswald, Roy. The Pastor as Newcomer. Washington, D.C.: The Alban Institute, 1977.* Helpful for new pastors sorting out where they fit.
Paul, Cecil R. Passages of a Pastor. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1981. The changes in a pastor’s life.
Ragsdale, Ray W. The Mid-Life Crisis of a Minister. Waco: Word, 1978. Deals with a pastor’s self-concept in the middle years.
Raines, Robert. Success Is a Moving Target. Waco: Word, 1975.* Why no one can live up to the expectations of success.
Rand, William J., Jr. The Probationers Handbook. Burlingame, Calif.: Burlingame, 1981.* Good reading for discerning congregational expectations as you interview.
Schaller, Lyle E. Survival Tactics in the Parish. Nashville: Abingdon, 1977. Handling unreasonable demands.
Seamands, David. Healing for Damaged Emotions. Wheaton: Victor, 1981. Especially helpful for pastors’ families who need personal healing.
Senter, Ruth. So You’re the Pastor’s Wife. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1979. Deals with issues such as failure, guilt, resentment, and the expectations put on the pastor’s wife.
Sinclair, Donna. The Pastor’s Wife Today. Nashville: Abingdon, 1981. One of the few books that speaks to two-career clergy marriages.
Stott, John R. W. The Preacher’s Portrait. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1961. The biblical expectations of the pastoral leader as steward, herald, witness, father, and servant.
Taylor, Alice. How to Be a Minister’s Wife and Love It. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1968. Life in the goldfish bowl-from the inside out.
Tournier, Paul. The Strong and the Weak. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1976. Useful for perception into leadership styles and insight into our responses to tensions.
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