Faith as a Way of Life : A Vision for Pastoral Leadership

Christian ministry is deeply concerned with proclaiming the transforming power of God's gift of faith in the daily lives of disciples. How is it, then, that Christian faith so often fails to be an orienting force that impacts every aspect of our lives? In Faith as a Way of Life Christian Scharen articulates a vision of pastoral leadership grounded in substantive faith language. He examines other powerful languages in our culture - emotion-driven therapeutic and results-driven managerial models of leadership - and shows how their domination leads to faith becoming a weak sibling. Highlighting concrete examples of excellent pastoral leadership in action, Scharen offers creative practical theological reflection on how faith can truly inform our family life, our work, our politics, our leisure - literally all of life - and how pastoral leaders of all kinds can foster faith as a way of life.

Christian Scharen is director of the Faith as a Way of Life Program at the Yale Centre for Faith & Culture and assistant professor of practical theology at Yale Divinity School.