Book Blurbs: David Peter, Organizing for Ministry and Mission
Concordia Seminary’s Dean of Theological Research and Publication Dr. Kevin Golden sits down with Professor of Practical Theology and Dean of Faculty Dr. David Peter about his recent book, Organizing for Ministry and Mission (Concordia Publishing House, 2022), in this Concordia Journal Book Blurbs segment. Peter said he wrote the book after hearing from pastors about their struggles with how to best organize their congregations and noticing a lack of resources available to help them. The book is intended as a resource for seminary students, pastors and lay/congregational leaders. “Organization is necessary,” Peter says in the video. “The way you organize is optional. But the fact that you need to organize is not optional. When I say ‘you,’ I mean pastor and lay people together need to do this to be the best stewards of the resources and the ministry and mission that God has given to them.” The book is available for purchase through Concordia Publishing House and Amazon.
Rev Joel T Dieterichs August 26, 2023
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! I can’t agree enough with the statement that “policy governance is not a fit” for many of our congregations. They are small and family-oriented. Some of it works and some parts don’t. There are, as you have mentioned, unseen power structures that a pastor must navigate and a lack of volunteers to make even good ideas work. It just adds to the immense challenge that pastors and lay leaders who ‘get it’ currently face in our post-modern American context. There are great opportunities for witness and ministry in this challenge, but the “home base” needs to be and remain in good order for that to happen, while always praying for the Lord’s guidance. Those who are fed by and appreciate Word and Sacrament must perform by faith all of the Scriptural Gospel-mandates: encourage one another, meet together, speak the Word, receive the Word, invite the sojourners, show mercy to the widows and orphans, etc. etc. Or we face disrespecting God’s clear commands and inviting His wrath.
Can’t wait to read this one! Thank you for your service to church & world, Dr. Peter!