Living with Paradox: Religious Leadership and the Genius of Double Vision

By H. Newton Malony

Book Overview

Individuals who are in religious leadership positions will immediately recognize the dilemmas or paradoxes described in this book. The good news is that Malony offers sound practical advice on how to deal with them. This book is accurately descriptive and helpfully prescriptive.
--Douglas Lewis, Wesley Theological Seminary

Malony suggests ways to turn destructive conflict into creative tension. A helpful guide for every religious leader struggling to make sense out of the colliding interests that buffet many congregations and other not-for-profit institutions.
--William E. Hull, Samford University

As a leader you must also challenge individuals to make uncomfortable choices in the service of doing God's work in the world.

Maloney identifies eight central paradoxes that all religious leaders--both lay and ordained--must confront. The author shows how these paradoxes, when viewed as either/or choices or struggled against, can whipsaw the leader, tearing the ministry apart. However, embracing paradox and accepting it as a gift allows religious leaders to deal successfully with conflict in their roles, and in so doing, break through to a more powerful connection with those to whom they minister.

H. Newton Malony is senior professor of psychology at Fuller Theological Seminary, a licensed psychologist, and an ordained United Methodist minister.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0028IC9CY
• ISBN13: 9780787940577
• Release Date: May 1998
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.1" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Contridiction denied

The book opened my eyes to contradictions which I was aware of yet were blind towards. This book is an eye opener for anyone involved in church administration. We do not want to think that we should look at the two sides of every situation in religious interaction but the truth remains there are two sides to every story. The book encourages us to identify both entities and realize that we cannot think it is "either or" but rather "both and".

A Must Read for Every Minister

This is one of the finest books on leadership in a congregational environment. The book deals with numerous paradoxes that the minister experiences in leadership. In most leadership books from the business culture, the application and transference is not applicable because of the difficult contexts of these cultures. The minister's world is special because of special circumstances. I have felt these paradoxes for some time in the role of a minister, but after this book I have gained valuable wisdom in dealing with these situations properly. The book deals with congregation expectations, the multiple roles of the minister, developing inclusive and exclusivity communities, the role of money in preaching, the concept of individualism and organization in community, and the product and process dynamic. This book should be read by every full-time minister in the church. The insight is deep and needed. It would solve some of the confusion that ministry brings to a person's life. This book taught me numerous lessons for productive ministry in the future. Read this book preachers! You will be blessed and thankful that you did.

Hard to Categorize Except as "Good"

In "Living with Paradox," H. Newton Malony seeks to take religious leaders from "the tyranny of the OR to the genius of the AND." He explores eight paradoxes of religious organizations and religious leadership. The table of contents gives a sense of the book's scope:1. Religious leadership and paradoxPart One: Paradoxes in the Religious Leader's Role2. Person and position: being true to oneself and to congregational expectations3. Prophet, priest, and king: playing three roles that become confoundedPart Two: Paradoxes of Perspective4. Inclusivity and exclusivity: appreciating both uniqueness and universality in faith convictions5. Timely and timeless: applying the Bible's eternal truths to present circumstancesPart Three: Paradoxes Built into the Structure of Religious Congregations6. For-profit and not-for-profit: balancing the books while serving a larger purpose7. Person and organization: running an efficient organization in which people feel deeply recognizedPart Four: Paradoxes of Congregational Mission8. Product and process: valuing ends and means equally9. Mission and maintenance: moving the congregation toward achieving its goals while fostering goodwill and group cohesion10 Conclusion: Leading others to double visionTrue to its paradoxical theme, this book defies easy categorization. Part one focuses on the nature of ministry and ministers. The chapter on "timely and timeless" takes up the subject of preaching, while the next chapter, "for-profit and not-for-profit," moves on to financial issues. Many of the book's subjects tend to be issues for church conflict, and chapter seven is partly about the process of church conflict. You will not find a comprehensive treatment of any single subject in Living with Paradox, but I'm certain the book will spark some new ideas for reflection.As someone who is preparing for ministry, I found the book very helpful. I would easily recommend it to any minister or ministry student. I also think Living with Paradox would be of interest to board members, committee chairs, or other lay leaders in a church.