Tug of War : The Downward Ascent of Power

A treatment of power, vulnerability, and suffering in the life and ministry of mid-career leaders offers a reminder of the need to rethink power. The push and pull of power dynamics, unless acknowledged and surrendered, can impact leaders' spirituality, relationships, character, and ultimately their faithfulness in ministry. To supplement countless books on leadership models, techniques and motivation, this book offers a counter-narrative of power informed by and embedded in the message of the cross; it elaborates on a humble use of power and proposes a reframing of power as seen in Christ's downward ascent and cruciform strength. This book is of critical importance in the field of ministry formation (local and global) because it probes to the very core of our human condition, illuminating one of the chief perils in lives of position and leadership-the misconstrual and misuse of power-a reality that can be particularly destructive in spiritual and ministry contexts. The larger Christian community will also find relevance in this message as leaders of every ilk share common challenges in the struggles of power and control. You will find a very personal and deeply reflective treatment on our common human condition, and an invitation to admit our inner and external struggles over the use and practice of power in ministry.