Rowan Williams in conversation

Rowan Williams in conversation

Author Greg Garrett 
& Rowan Williams
Publisher SPCK £9.99
Format pbk
ISBN 9780281083718

So much touched on so wisely but, of immediate relevance to Readers, are gems like the description of the sermon as a space for human engagement/flourishing – no pressure. Then, there is the burning question, ‘How do we rebuild world and church after a time of crisis?’ Answer: ‘When we find out what God is doing and join in’. This necessitates a listening to God (contemplation) that takes no more effort than sunbathing, but only happens if you turn up faithfully. There are penetrating exchanges on faith and politics and on the limits of utopian thinking. A conversation on poetry and the power of redemption in Shakespeare speaks not of happy endings but of ‘grace left dangling’. How can you engage with modern culture if you haven’t considered the theological implications of Doctor Who, vampire literature, Harry Potter? The exchanges close with the question, ‘What is saving your life today?’ These conversations are a rich
buffet of tasters leaving you to choose what
to engage with more deeply later.

ROSIE BUDD

 

Theology, Contemporary society

 

Leadership to the Limits

Leadership to the Limits

Author Peter Shaw
Publisher Canterbury Press £12.99
Format pbk
ISBN 9781786221742

Leaders come in all walks and sizes, but have they been trained? Are they self-aware? Do they empower, disappoint or delight? Shaw offers us sound, trusted and tried coaching advice which will help both appointed leaders and informal, part-time ones. As Readers we all lead in some ways. For instance Shaw invites leaders to balance freedom and responsibility by accepting limitations to their own freedom and enabling others to grow in exercising theirs. His refreshingly clear, jargon-free, ‘to the limits’ emphasis takes us beyond job descriptions and tasks expected of us: to saying ‘no’ with a smile; to sitting both lightly and seriously to responsibilities; and to avoiding the blame game. He introduces six leaders in contrasting jobs in brief case studies, sprinkled across his text. Only one of these is a church leader but this has advantages: we can breathe more freely and explore within a richer field of theory and experience. Follow-on ideas have resonated such that I have decided to clarify what is expected of me and carefully check my ways 
of communicating.
JEREMY HARVEY

Leadership

 

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