Theology of Authority: Rethinking Leadership in the Church

By Christa L McKirland

Is authority reserved for those with a specific calling to leadership? Who holds power in the church? Does authority have limits? Are teaching and preaching the most important practices of authority?

Our understanding--and misunderstanding--of authority has significant implications for our individual and corporate flourishing. In A Theology of Authority, Christa McKirland challenges our assumptions about authority, power, and leadership. With a focus on low-church traditions, she examines authority through the lens of analytic philosophy and biblical theology to offer a theological definition of authority. She also tackles questions related to divine and human authority, Scripture, and practices typically related to ordination: preaching, teaching, serving communion, baptizing, church discipline, and vision casting.

A Theology of Authority expands our understanding of authority, recognizing the Spirit's enablement of each member to fulfill their calling to spiritual maturity. Readers will gain a deeper understanding of the nuances of authority and power and how we relate to one another as siblings in Christ.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1540969614
• ISBN13: 9781540969613
• Release Date: November 2025
• Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.22 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.0"