Spiritual Maturity: Preserving Congregational Health and Balance

by Frank A. Thomas

Book Overview

Like all human bodies, the body of Christ that we call "church" needs to attend to its health or it may become ill. Renowned pastor, preacher, and teacher Frank Thomas believes that many congregations exhibit a number of dysfunctional habits in conducting business that lead to rifts, divides, and even congregational splits. Often they are caused by leadership styles that are ineffective and controlling. Thomas examines how poor congregational leadership...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0800630866
• ISBN13: 9780800630867
• Release Date: April 2002
• Publisher: Fortress Press
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 0.38 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.5" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

A Healing Modality

Thomas' book is an insightful look at the path to spiritual growth and development. He clearly articulates the nature of conflict within congregations (although his model is applicable to any organization) and provides critical thinking about how to address such conflicts in a way that is meaningful and courageous. I found his discussion about people who function as victims and saviors by doing a dance of immaturity to be very provocative. His call for principle-based leadership, while not new, is very refreshing in a congregational context and challenges those of us who have congregations centered around charismatic leadership to abandon our cults of personality.This book will be most helpful to congregations that have not fully understood or articulated their mission, vision and values. It will provide a very capable framework and guidelines to begin those discussions so that ministry can go forth as a "healing modality" in our broken society.