Leadership Book Study Group

The conciliar tradition that we inherited from our pioneers and church members from the past one hundred years is under threat of being diluted and replaced by an authoritarian model that violates the basic principles inherent in the Gospels despite its prevalence in many of the national Orthodox Churches.

It is our sense that to ensure an effective sharing of the Gospel of Christ there is a need for the UOCC membership to be informed on this important topic. In order to acquire this understanding we need to systematically study what is an Orthodox understanding of governance and leadership. This is the challenge before us.

How do we address this challenge?

A Zoom Study Group is being initiated by Martin Zip and Yaroslaw Lozowchuk on the topic of Orthodox teaching on church governance – ecclesiology.

It is planned to do a systematic review – discussion of the book Oriented Leadership: Why Every Christian Needs It, written by Benjamin D. Williams and Michael T. McKibben. The work was written and published as a result of the work and support of the Orthodox Leadership Forum – and members of the Saint Barnabas Project. The group focused its attention on developing an Orthodox perspective on the issue of governance and leadership and the practical ways to enhance parish spiritual life and support church growth in the North American context.

It is planned to supplement a study of the book contents with presentations by contemporary Orthodox theologians-historians.

As initiators of the undertaking, we invite anyone interested in the topic of Orthodox teaching on church governance – ecclesiology to join us.

When will the Zoom sessions be held?

It is tentatively being planned to hold bi-weekly ninety-minute sessions Sunday evenings starting July 10 with the following provincial times (Ontario 8:30; Manitoba 7:30; Sask/Alta 6:30; and NC 5:30.

Note: Since the book is out of print, electronic copies of Chapters to be studied will be

e-mailed to those who do not have a book a week in advance.

How do I join?

Send an e-mail to: Martin Zip at unsnofuocc@gmail.com

stating your interest in participating and confirm the e-mail to which you wish

us to send information and session invites.

Your brothers in Christ!

Martin and Yaroslaw

Oriented Leadership: Why Every Christian Needs It

By Benjamin D, Williams and Michael T. McKibben

Reviewer’s comments

This book provides an overview of leadership and leadership development from an Eastern Christian perspective, discussing the subject at both theological levels and informing it with practical examples and problems found in typical parish and organizational life. Oriented Leadership paints a clear picture of what Christian leadership should and shouldn t be. The authors demonstrate that leadership is a sacramental aspect of life a vital part of what it means to be created in the image and likeness of God. This very practical book should be read by every Christian, no matter what his or her leadership capacity. The authors link traditional teaching with contemporary practice. Oriented Leadership fills a critical need for sound and workable methods of inter-relationship and inter-action within Church communities and beyond.

Table of Contents

Introduction – Key Words

1. Why leadership development? Why me?

2. What is leadership

3. Orthodox leadership must be informed by vision

4. Orthodox leadership must be Trinitarian

5. Practical applications of Trinitarian theology

6. Orthodox leadership must be Kingdom-centered

7. Orthodox leadership requires development

8. Servant leadership

9. Called to be stewards

10. Organizational stewardship

Appendix

· Theology for successful leadership

· Direction for successful leadership

· Documents for successful leadership

· Information needed for successful leadership

· Meetings for successful leadership

· Systems needed for successful leadership

· Process skills for successful leadership

· Content skills for successful leadership

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