Loosing Control [Hardcover]

Leaders of congregations want to foster change but how is rarely obvious. Some pursue top-down approaches while others think bottom-up. Either approach assumes some control by the leader, but effective leadership of change needs more than control; it requires influencing the ongoing change that is naturally occurring. In the organizational literature this matter is understood in terms of systems and more specifically complex adaptive systems or self-organizing systems. This literature has important insights for church leaders when viewed in tandem with biblical principles. These concepts are presented here within the story of a mid-career pastor who is frustrated by his complacent congregation and is seeking a new way forward. Information on complex adaptive systems is presented in the context of the story of his interactions with a church consultant, a seminary professor, some published materials and an ongoing seminar conducted by the consultant. The pastor's engaging issue is whether change in a church is best pursued top-down or bottom-up. Within this context, self-organizing change becomes the central focus of the book and eventually is distinguished from both top-down and bottom-up initiatives. The focus is understanding the connection between such change and biblical principles. Ron Anderson is a gifted academic with the heart of a pastor, a layperson whose job it is to pastor the pastors in Pueblo Presbytery, so it is no surprise he has written a book that is so steeped in solid organizational theory, and yet imminently accessible to anyone with experience dealing with church dynamics. Using a storytelling format, Ron makes organizational theory come alive. --Brad Munroe, Pastor to the Presbytery, Grand Canyon and de Cristo Presbyteries It is difficult to create a book on change management that is not dry as dirt. Ron Anderson has accomplished that feat in Loosing Control. He presents important and substantial information in an engaging and highly accelãf