Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

Volume 9 | Number 1 Article 10

1-2018

Servants and Friends: a Biblical Theology of

Leadership
Erich Baumgartner
Andrews University, baumgart@andrews.edu

Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/jacl

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Commons

Recommended Citation
Baumgartner, Erich (2018) "Servants and Friends: a Biblical Theology of Leadership," Journal of Applied Christian Leadership: Vol. 9:
No. 1, 106-108.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/jacl/vol9/iss1/10

This Book Review is brought to you for free and open access by Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal
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repository@andrews.edu.
 Baumgartner: Servants and Friends: a Biblical Theology of Leadership

instance, even if you are well read in

the “servant-leadership” literature,
you will marvel at the many facets of
the servant theme Richard Davidson
develops in chapter 1. Be open for
surprises. Would you have thought of
the creation event as a leadership act
par excellence? In chapter 2, as
Doukhan plumbs the depths of
hebrew thinking (rarely seen in lead-
ership presentations), we see God,
BOOK the author of life, at the “head of
time” (bereshit, “in the beginning,”
REVIEWS derives from rosh, “head,” a word
often designating one who is lead-
ing), shaping beings to be filled with
his life-giving Spirit to be like him.
SERVANTS & FRIENDS: here is God—the One without peers—
A BIBLICAL THEOLOGY creating into his own image, sharing
OF LEADERSHIP his leadership with those he creat-
ed—both female and male. humans
are both like him yet different from
By Skip Bell (Ed.) him. In setting aside holy time with
Berrien Springs, MI: Andrews them, God gifts them with his com-
University Press (2014) panionship. Giving them the capacity
Paperback, 435 pages of individuality, he entrusts to them
the power to go a different way.
Reviewed by ERICH W. Doukhan’s thoughts on leadership as
BAUMGARTNER sharing, trusting and ultimately cre-
ating are fascinating and worth the
In this groundbreaking volume price of the book. But this is just the
published by andrews University beginning.
Press, some 20 scholars examine the Given the diversity of books in
sacred text of the Old and New the Bible, the texture of leadership
testaments, as well as a selection of themes is incredibly rich and com-
six biblical leadership narratives, to plex. Each author struggled with that
lay the foundation for a biblical the- diversity in different ways. thus in
ology of leadership. Each of the first the next chapters, Gane paints good
three sections is composed of six leadership through 11 transcultural
chapters, providing an array of fasci- principles in the Pentateuch, while
nating studies of leadership in the Moskala derives lessons from the
Bible. the fourth section attempts to narratives in the historical books of
integrate the multiple facets of lead- the Old testament. In looking at the
ership insight unearthed throughout wisdom literature and the Psalms,
the various contributions into what Webberding finds that leadership is
the editor, Skip Bell, claims to be more than leaders at work to accom-
“the most complete biblical theology plish something but “a means of
of leadership available.” knowing God,” even entering the
Readers hoping for new insights ecosystem of God’s larger purpose.
for leadership emerging from biblical and Petersen points out that while
themes are not disappointed. For

PAGE 106 Vol. 9, No. 1 SPRING 2015

Published by Digital Commons @ Andrews University, 2018 1
 Journal of Applied Christian Leadership, Vol. 9 [2018], No. 1, Art. 10
BOOK REVIEW ERICH W. BAUMGARTNER

the prophets decried the spiritual and Peter, Paul, and Barnabas. all of
social conditions of God’s people, the these chapters are full of insights for
Day of the Lord would bring a stunning christian leaders, but Jo ann
paradoxical reversal that included Davidson’s stands out as the only one
social justice denied by corrupt elders. that highlights some of the amazing
the New testament chapters are contributions of women leaders:
equally rich. No other motive for courage and vision casting through
leadership compares to Jesus’ life song (Deborah), leadership as learn-
and sacrifice. he is the servant, the ing for a royal seeker for wisdom
christ, sent from God, and also the (Queen of Sheba), speaking truth to
“Instructor” (Matt. 23:1-2), a word power based on scriptural authority
which could also be translated (hulda the prophetess), and the
“leader,” as Johnston points out. sense of timing and death-defying
Servant leadership in the Gospels is courage of Esther. Sauvagnat’s study
portrayed as counter-cultural, clash- tracking the enduring contribution of
ing not only with the expectations of Barnabas as a mentor and empower-
the general culture but even with ing leader makes for a worthy conclu-
those of christ’s closest circle. sion of this section. his observation
Especially interesting was alexe’s that the disciples Barnabas and Paul
analysis of the narrative of Peter’s worked with were first called
transformation from overconfident “christians”—followers of christ, not
disciple into spiritually mature disciples of Barnabas and Paul—is a
leader, able to overcome his cultural telling commentary on the fruit of
limitations. Note how Peter’s three christian servant leadership.
denials are confronted by Jesus’ three By the time I got to the fourth sec-
heart-piercing questions before the tion of the book, I was delightfully
three-fold commissioning. But even exhausted. Each chapter had brought
after that, Peter needed a persistent out rich insights about leadership as
threefold conversation with God and possible ingredients for a biblical the-
unmistakably supernatural instruc- ology of leadership. Would Skip Bell,
tions to help him overcome his exclu- the editor of the book, and Stan
sivist and theologically erroneous Patterson, a professor of leadership
reluctance to minister to Gentiles. at andrews University, succeed in
the nature of leadership derives from creating a meaningful synthesis?
christ’s mission to the world and is Without doubt this was a daunting
thus rooted in the Gospel. Yet, lead- task which readers will appreciate
ers deal with real life issues that after reading 340 pages of biblical
range from the celebration of salva- analysis. I think both of them suc-
tion to the messiness of human fail- ceeded admirably to lay out their
ure and error. to finish the New case. Bell’s quest to develop a bibli-
testament section, tonstad’s analysis cal theology that transcends culture
of the book of Revelation as a book of starts with God’s relationship with
transparent leadership reminds us his people. Leadership is thus a gift
that God does not operate in hiding. to the whole community that is
While the first two sections of the shared, rooted in God’s vision for
book carefully sift the 66 biblical humanity and expressed in service.
books for leadership lessons, the this gift is willing to take risks and
third section analyze six sets of bibli- sacrifice for others. Patterson’s reflec-
cal stories of leadership: Nehemiah, tion explores the countercultural
women in the Old testament, Jesus, design of communal spiritual leader-

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 Baumgartner: Servants and Friends: a Biblical Theology of Leadership
BOOK REVIEW RICHARD FIGUEREDO

ship in the New testament. Pointing THE END OF LEADERSHIP

to the predominant metaphor of the
church as a body, he develops an By Barbara Kellerman
incarnational theology that, in con- New York, NY: Harper Business (2012)
trast to the patterns of leadership in Hardcover, 233 pages
Roman and Greek culture, is ener-
gized by the power of identification Reviewed by RICHARd APARECIdo
and service of love. TEIxEIRA FIGUEREdo
Servant and Friends is one of the
best attempts to date to mine the Barbara Kellerman urges readers
riches of the Scriptures to shape our to consider the “other side” of leader-
understanding of leadership. the ship. the thesis of The End of
book is well written and rich in its Leadership is that leadership has
contributions to a better understand- changed and that today we must
ing of leadership from a biblical and embrace a leadership marked not by
christian perspective. as the authors’ commanding or controlling but by a
footnotes show, most of them stuck focus on helping people (servant
to their expertise. Biblical scholars leadership) to achieve their goals.
usually cite exegetical sources while this is the “end” of the traditional
practical theologians tend to cite leadership style. But Kellerman’s
spiritual or leadership authors. accompanying concern is that the
Where biblical scholars cite current “leadership industry” is more inter-
leadership texts, it is often to high- ested in making money on this issue
light a convergence of thought, rarely than in providing real solutions for
to challenge current popular thinking leadership. as such, chief among her
about leadership. the emphasis was recommendations is that readers
clearly on providing a sound biblical learn more about leadership instead
treatment of christian leadership. In of how to be a leader.
that the authors have clearly suc- the book has valuable thoughts
ceeded. for those who want to be leaders for
I anticipate that this book will this time. One of the concepts is this:
become a standard text required in “Leadership is devolution of power—
seminary leadership classes. No from those up to those down below”
teacher of christian leadership can (p. 3). What a stunning thought! the
afford to ignore the rich contributions power of leadership has shifted
of this volume. It should be part of through the centuries from leaders to
every pastor’s library, and denomina- followers, especially in the past 30 to
tional leaders will find rich insights 40 years. this model of “followers on
for reflection on their own leader- the rise, leaders in decline” (p. 20) is
ship. I also hope that this volume will making a new sort of sense for the
spark manifold discussions on what 21st century.
it means to be a christian leader, a though the concept has almost no
question central to the mission of this weaknesses, it is controversial in that
journal. it parts with the traditional com-
ERIch W. BaUMGaRtNER, Ph.D., is Director mand/control structure that has tra-
of the Ph.D. in Leadership Program at andrews
University, where he also serves as Professor of
ditionally marked managed organiza-
Leadership and Intercultural communication and tions. Kellerman references the social
Senior Editor of the Journal of Applied Christian
Leadership.
contract in leadership, citing only
two reasons that followers may
accept a contract today: “either we

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