Article Index
This section collects articles from other parts of the Web, arranged by topic.
"When
Christians Fight Christians"
by Tim Stafford from
Christianity Today (Oct. 6, 1997)
"Shielding
Your Heart from Strife: Five Ways to Limit Conflict's Impact on You"
by Jock E. Ficken (from Leadership)
"Four
Types of Manipulators: And How to Deal with Them"
by
Thomas Fischer (from Ministry Health)
"North
American Guide to Church Dragons: How to Identify and Approach Two Dangerous
Species"
by Louis McBurney (from Leadership)
"How
to Read Your Critics: What 5 Different Detractors Say and What They Really
Need "
by Ken Warren (from Leadership)
"When
is a Broken Person Ready to Lead?"
by Daniel Brown with Bob Moeller (from Leadership)
Five questions to determine whether the hurting are ready for responsibility.
Development
"Covenant
with the Poor: Toward a New Concept of Economic Justice"
by Kim Yong-Bock
"What
Religious People Think About the Poor"
by Robert Wuthnow (from Christian Century)
Summary of research on American attitudes about the poor.
"Pious
Materialism: How Americans View Faith and Money"
By Robert Wuthnow (from Christian Century)
Summary of Wuthnow's study published as God and Mammon in America
Economism
as Idolatry
by John B. Cobb, Jr.
Economism is leading us into catastrophes even worse that the religious
wars of the early seventeenth century and the Second World War in our
own. Christians emphasize the positive value of human community, the principle
of subsidiarity, preferential option for the poor, and the integrity of
creation and the human use of the environment should be sustainable. The
policies implementing economism, such as the globalization of the economy
through free trade, are diametrically opposed to all of these Christian
principles.
What
Kind of Growth?
by John B. Cobb, Jr.
The author shows that the GNP is inadequate as an index of real growth.
Instead, he proposes an Index of Sustainable Economic Welfare, and dvocates
a new kind of economy, one based on the needs of the community, and suggests
several steps to bring it about.
Growth
Without Progress?
by John B. Cobb, Jr.
Cobb examines the dynamics of growth and concludes that growth
is quite different from sustaining the welfare of all citizens in a society.
Instead of breaking down local communities in the interest of capital
and labor mobility, the alternative would be to work for the economic
health of local communities. The United States should recognize the importance
of developing an economic policy designed to improve the economic well-being
of its own people rather than to support its transnational corporations
in their global competition with those of other great economic blocks.
"The
Way We Work, the Way We Live"
by Marilynne Robinson (from the Christian Century)
We sell ourselves cheap, so that work can demand always more of our time,
and families can claim always less. The sin most abhorrent to God is the
failure of generosity, the neglect of widow and orphan, the oppression
of the poor.
Economics (Small
Town)
"In
Search of a Better Life: Americans are fleeing suburbia for small towns."
By Eric Pooley (from TIME magazine)
Small towns across the country are filling up with emigres from metro
areas, who are using the latest in technologies, like the Internet, to
keep themselves close to the action.
Environmental
Concerns and Eco-Justice
"Ecological
Degradation as the Judgment of God"
by William C. French (from the Christian
Century)
French approaches the ecological issues facing the world from the theological
position that the ecological destruction occurring is evidence of God's
judgment on our misuse of creation. Citing books by Al Gore and Bill McKibben
to support his critique of our consumer-oriented culture, French emphasizes
the crucial role churches can and should play in sensitizing us to the
need for sacrifice if we are to reverse the destruction.
Eco-minded:
Faith and Action
by Charles Pinches (from the Christian Century)
Pinches reviews Larry Rasmussen's Earth Community, Earth Ethics
wherein Rasmussen proposes "sustainability" as the correct goal for human
interaction with the earth. But he also notes that this description is
prone to abuse, for it has been too easily twined with expansionism.
"Staying
Sharp in a Small Town"
by Richard Doebler (from Leadership)
Down home values don't have to include lower standards. Advice based on
the author's experience in moving from a large city to a small town.
"Night
With Pastor"
by Wayne Dobratz (from Ministry Health)
An orientation program for beginning a new pastorate.
"The
Leader of the Future"
by William C. Taylor
Harvard's Ronald Heifetz offers a short course on the future of leadership.
"Your
Leadership is Unique"
by Peter F. Drucker (from Leadership)
Good news: There is no one "leadership personality".
"Leadership
Principles From Peter Drucker"
by Greg Morris (from Ministry Health)
A very short summary of Peter Drucker's principles of leadership.
"Goodbye,
Command and Control"
by Margaret Wheatley (from Leader to Leader)
The "self-managed" environment facilitates high levels of productivity.
Vision
"Building
a Visionary Organization is a Do-It-Yourself Project: A Conversation with
James C. Collins"
by Joe Flower
Interview with the author of the well-received book Built to Last.
"A
Conversation with Ronald Heifetz: Leadership without Easy Answers"
By Joe Flower
Interview with the author of the important book Leadership without
Easy Answers
"The
Key to Cultural Transformation"
By Frances Hesselbein (from Leader to Leader)
Organizational culture changes through mission-focused efforts which involve
the people affected by the changes.
Volunteers
"Is
Your Job Your Calling"
by Alan M. Webber
Describes why people feel particular satisfaction with their jobs. An
extended interview with the directors of MBA the career development programs
at the Harvard Business School, business psychologists Timothy Butler
and James Waldroop.
"Small
Groups Forge New Notions of Community and the Sacred"
by Robert Wuthnow (from the Christian Century)
Summary of his book Sharing the Journey: Support Groups and America’s
New Quest for Community
"Welcome
to the Next Church"
by Charles Trueheart (from The Atlantic Monthly)
Introductory article about the mega-church movement, which makes extensive
use of volunteers.
Youth