Leading from the Second Chair: Serving Your Church, Fulfilling Your Role, and Realizing Your Dreams

This book was an eye-opener. It confirmed much of what I've experienced in various staff roles and as a lead pastor. The paradoxes of tensions faced by anyone serving on a staff was well explained. If there was one negative, it might be the absence of testimonies of second chair leaders from smaller churches. Still, the book's tenets are easily transferred into any church of any size. Even as a lead pastor, I came away from this book recognizing myself as a "second chair" that follows the Lord Jesus Christ. This book is not another leadership book full of theory and technique. Instead, the book lays out material that can be used by pastors and staff in their churches.

IF . . .Staff communication and Egos are healthy enough to take it.This book elevates the role of second chair pastoral staff. As the lead pastor of a church I appreciate the public acknowledgment of the immense value of second chair leadership. Any senior pastor who feels a need to micromanage or minimize the role of others is guilty of leading the church to mediocrity, sort of like an engine only running on one cylinder. I always want my second chair leaders to be LEADERS in every sense of the word.This book also cautions second chair leaders to check their personal egos at the door when they enter. Subordination is a great American weakness that does great damage to the church. Often second chair leaders excell in vision, energy, and drive, but too often are weak in areas of savy and experience. If the first chair leader feels threatened, things quickly go from bad to worse. This book builds savy.This book is timely, important, and could potentially prevent many ministry wrecks. I suggest that every multiple staff church use it as a study guide for a series of staff meetings. I wish it had come along earlier in my ministry.

Book is in perfect shape and arrived quickly. Only draw back is it seems yellowed with age.

This is an excellent book! This was one of the supplemental text books for a recent class and it offered wisdom and great information for those serving as the second chair whether in ministry or the workplace. I highly recommend it!

This book is great if you want to become a leader.

Most of my time in ministry has been in a second chair role. This book gave me a greater appreciation and acceptance of my place in the kingdom purpose of God. I recommended this book to my first chair and he had all the staff of our church read it. I just went through the book again with a group of men on the campus of the multisite church that I pastor. I'm now seeing God fulfill the dreams He gave me while I was a student in Bible college 40 years ago, and He's surpassing those dreams even while I continue to serve in a second chair role.

Good reading for any Christian Church Leader who is not the current Church Pastor.

Wish it had an audiobook version