The Gift of Administration

Thomas C. Campbell and Gary B. Reierson

Ministers spend most of their time doing what they like least administering. Now in response to the constant struggle between what ministers feel called to do and how they actually spend their time comes this enlightening examination that can help clarify the role of the clergy and enhance the ministry of lay persons in the church.

This perceptive book recovers the concept that administration is one of God's spiritual gifts to the church the gift through which ministry occurs. "Ministry," explain the authors, "occurs in and through administration. This is different from saying that administration serves ministry or that administrative insights may be used to manage ministry. Until the ordained clergy recog-nize that administration is a central locus of ministry and is itself ministry, there will be no central motivation, either for them or others within the community of believers, to exercise administra-tive functions with sensitivity and joy."