Working the Angles: The Shape of Pastoral Integrity

This work of Peterson carries great weight in fueling the passions for deep Spirit formation, and gives a beautiful working foundation for such deep inside-out growth of the spirit and soul.

No one has been more helpful to me from afar in church planting and pastoring than Eugene Peterson. His vision of pastoring is inspiring but increasingly rare in the church growth landscape of the Evangelical industrial complex. “The pastors of America have metamorphosed into a company of shopkeepers, and the shops they keep are churches. They are preoccupied with shopkeeper’s concerns—how to keep the customers happy, how to lure customers away from competitors down the street, how to package the goods so that the customers will lay out more money.” In this book, Peterson offers up an alternate view—a biblical view—of the work of the pastor: prayer, reading Scripture, and offering spiritual direction. This work is modest work—hard work—but it is the good work God has called us to.

Eugene H. Peterson opens his book with an overwhelming introduction that both captured me and also struck fear into my heart. I had read the introduction before, yet had not pressed farther into the book. Yet recently was challenged to revisit this book to face the challenges of Peterson's book and seek the Holy Spirit's work in my life. After completing Working the Angles, I found there were three specific areas where I received the greatest challenges; prayer, contemplative exegesis, and Sabbath.Having spent the last three years in fulltime work in the Church, Working the Angles, was a good challenge to return to the perspective, practice, and discipline I began those years doing. His words and emotional force cut into my heart with the realization of how little energy and importance I now (and perhaps always) have put on prayer. Most striking, however, was the call to the realization of what prayer really is:"Prayer is a daring venture into speech that juxtaposes our words with the sharply alive words that pierce and divide souls and spirit, joints and marrow, pitilessly exposing every thought and intention of the heart (Heb. 4:12-13; Rev. 1:16) (Peterson 1998, 43)."I had definitely fallen back into a bland routine of praying. I neither was considering Who I was actually communing with or the gravity of my prayers. The sections dealing with prayer in this book have been quite restorative in even helping me to slow down in my prayer and seek God. His words to Pastors on "little prayers" offered at the start of an event or function have also pressed my heart to not take lightly the moments we pray prior to the start of class, chapel, a meal, or bedtime with the children.The second of area of challenge that I found of great benefit was that of contemplative exegesis. He uses a striking illustration from Herman Melville's novel White Jacket to tell how we might get carried away with the technical skills of our life's calling to the actual defeat of what we are striving to accomplish. Already this term I have found this true as we bury deep in research, reading, study, and writing. It is easy for me to strive to read all the texts, gather data, or compose papers and sermons, but to do so devoid of the life found in God's word. Again Working the Angles has been a siren call away from the shoals of academic and scholarly success that could easily end in break up spiritual well being. Prayer and re-realization of a God Who is alive and speaking through His word has been a breath of fresh air.Finally, Peterson's discussion of Sabbath presses upon my heart. I have been struggling to find both rest and Sabbath. Each day I feel the pressure of deadlines and responsibilities, while the tension of family and Church ministry expectations hound my thoughts. Peterson reflections on the Hebrew morning and evening concepts, I pray, will continue to shape my perspective of Who is really at work in my life. He also helped me to re-think what a real Sabbath means and I am seeking to implement a weekly time that restores my perspective on the reality of God, His sovereignty in my life, and healthy disciplines moving forward.

The power, longevity and effectiveness of a church lies in large part on the leadership of its pastor(s). It shouldn't be about his or her administrative skills or ability to jump at every whim a member of the congregation brings forward. It should be about the spiritual life and leadership of the pastor. This isn't about perfection. It's about relationship with God. As a lay person who is active in the local church and works in a ministry to pastors, my heart delights in a pastor who puts God first and everything else in its proper place. You see, when the pastor's hunger for God is alive and well and being fed I can see it, and I have a role model to follow. When the pastor's life demonstrates the results of intimacy with Christ, I am motivated and encouraged.As a lay person, I was brought up short because for too long I have measured my pastors by the to do list he accomplishes and the teaching she does. I have not always allowed them the space to do the most important things - being the guardian and teacher of the word and sacrament, abiding in Christ through prayer, and being the spiritual director I need rather than the quick answer to a problem I bring forward. I stand corrected.My hope is that this book crosses the desk of every pastor in America, to renew his or her call to ministry, to give permission and encouragement in keeping the promises of ordination and installation. It will radically change the pastorate and the Church it ministers to.Well done, Pastor Peterson. Thank you for your honesty, your leadership, and your willingness to be real and tell it like it is.

This book is profoundly insightful and easy to read and understand. It is not heavily theological (and does not need to be). It is practical. I have purchased an additional copy to give my pastor for his birthday. If he has already read it, he can pass it on. EVERY pastor needs to read this and practice these tips, which many do not receive in seminary. THIS is the type of pastor I want and need (and my pastor does embody much of what Peterson describes). I think pastors should read this every year or two to reassess their progress toward keeping these goals always in mind and in practice as much as possible.

Although first published 25 years ago, Peterson addresses a matter that is still timely, the need for all pastors to commit themselves to prayer, reading scripture and spiritual direction. These, Peterson asserts, are an essential foundation for all other aspects of ministry. Peterson's premise, that many pastors have abdicated their primary calling to these three practices, is still very relavent to the current state of pastoral ministry. Its content will be useful for new and veteran pastors alike.

Eugene Peterson has many years' experience of working as a pastor in a church and is therefore well-qualified to write a book on the three angles of pastoral vocation, namely prayer, Scripture and spiritual direction. The book is beautifully written, full of practical wisdom and is a great help to those who want their work in church to be more than mere employment but the outworking of God's call on their lives. It tackles both the issues themselves and offers advice on how to implement these three angles into practical, daily living.

Have almost finished book. V useful

While this book was written a number of years ago it speaks prophetically into our day!

Eugene Peterson writes with conviction. He breaks through the many voices that we hear of what a pastor should be and do. Peterson reminds us what is important when it comes to pastoral integrity. This is a must read for pastors.

A very good book especially for pastors and leaders and those considering to be pastors or leaders. Peterson touches on the 3 importamt and shaping actions of pastoral ministry - God's Word, prayer, and spiritual direction. Without these 3 crucial angles in place, the "triangle" of pastoral ministry goes eschew. Even for the every day person, this will be a great book that will help them shape their lives around God rather then themselves.