By: Adam Cheney on February 10, 2025
Before Reading: Colonialism – the rapid spread of colonies, throughout America but also throughout the world, as demonstrated by England so prevalently. America originally had 13 colonies (which became states) in which the settlers pushed out the Indigenous peoples who were already residing along the East Coast. Currently, we see colonialism throughout the Holy Land…
By: Christy on February 10, 2025
In 2024, I visited an island in Indonesia to visit a few communities that are engaging in oral Bible translation that is supported by my organization. Indonesia has the world’s largest population of Muslims, with Statista reporting 241 million as of 2022, beating out Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. [1] But this island is an exception,…
By: Noel Liemam on February 9, 2025
Introduction “Rethinking Leadership,” by Dr. Annabel Bereel. The title makes me wonder and ask myself, is there something wrong, or missing from what we have been learning about leadership? Or this is an exhortation to leaders to take their leadership role seriously. It makes me curios about where she was coming from and what she…
By: Joel Zantingh on February 8, 2025
I remember how startled I was when I first heard my grandparents casually blurt out phrases that were ‘out of step’ with my current views on topics (think racism). I was just coming to that age where I understood that different generations bring different perspectives on the world, and that we are collection of generations,…
By: Kari on February 6, 2025
Rethinking Leadership offers a refreshing perspective. The leadership crisis during the COVID pandemic serves as a catalyst for this book. The pandemic illustrates the central thesis: older leadership models must be replaced with new approaches that are relevant today. The book explores outdated leadership models and explains why they are ineffective. It introduces various new…
By: Daren Jaime on February 6, 2025
As I am reminiscent of some of our initial time as a cohort, I can remember hearing how vast leadership was. We were later told that thousands of books on leadership are released annually as many attempt to lay expert claims on leadership. I can recall stumbling and bumbling, trying to articulate the proper definition…
By: Julie O'Hara on February 6, 2025
This week’s reading was almost too much of a good thing. Annabel Beerel is an international consultant specializing in leadership and ethics, leadership theories, critique, and interdisciplinary approaches. Perhaps this array of specializations is what made Rethinking Leadership so enticing. While trying to do an inspectional reading, all the goodies drew me in deeper. Not…
By: Chad Warren on February 6, 2025
In the final scenes of The Dark Knight, Commissioner Gordon tells his son that Batman is “the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now.” This line captures a truth about leadership—sometimes, those in power are not the most suitable to lead. In our rapidly changing world, we face a similar dilemma.…
By: Debbie Owen on February 6, 2025
My friend told me about the church plant where she and her husband were getting involved. The growing church had gotten to the point where it needed someone to take on a pastoral role and responsibilities. Because she is a retired pastor, the group of leaders all looked at her and said, “You’re the pastor.”…
By: Elysse Burns on February 6, 2025
We are all on a journey—a realization that becomes clearer whenever I find myself puzzled by the actions of others. I find this perspective especially valuable in leadership, where the ability to discern both our own path and the journeys of those we lead is essential. Ideally, leaders not only inspire others on a transformational…
By: Graham English on February 6, 2025
Unwanted journeys are imposed on us, plunging us into seasons of uncertainty, confusion and loss. As I read Rethinking Leadership: A Critique of Contemporary Theories by Annabel Beerel, I was drawn to some of these types of journeys that our leaders face and a significant one that I faced as a leader. Some churches must…
By: Jennifer Eckert on February 6, 2025
“To each, there comes in their lifetime a special moment when they are figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a very special thing, unique to them and fit for their talents…” – Winston Churchill, the Finest Hour speech, August 20, 1940 Several years ago, I had the chance to visit…
By: Christy on February 5, 2025
“That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, ‘Let us go over to the other side.’ Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it…
By: Diane Tuttle on February 4, 2025
Have you ever done a jigsaw puzzle with 1500 to 2000 pieces? It seems to take forever and in the midst of it I wonder if it will ever be finished. Pieces are all over a table and everything is disjointed. Then suddenly, the pieces start to fall into place. The picture becomes clearer and…
By: Adam Cheney on February 4, 2025
I try to live each day as authentic as possible. I try to be the same person whether I am at home, at church with my Christian friends, or engaging my Islamic immigrant friends. Whatever the audience, I try to point people to Jesus. However, it is living in authenticity that can become so challenging.…
By: Glyn Barrett on February 4, 2025
Despite the vast array of books, papers, research, and training programs, the fact that “finding an all-embracing definition of leadership remains elusive”[1] is both a concern and exciting. Firstly, it is concerning because if it is true that we are yet to grasp an effective understanding of what effective leadership is, it brings clarity as…
By: Shela Sullivan on February 3, 2025
What is this book about? “Rethinking Leadership: A Critique of Contemporary Theories” by Annabel Bereel provides a comprehensive critique of traditional leadership theories and offers insights into more effective leadership practices.[1] The book highlights the limitations of conventional models, such as trait theory, transactional leadership, and transformational leadership, and argues that these approaches oversimplify the…
By: Ryan Thorson on February 3, 2025
What does it take to lead well through change and crisis? What sorts of tools does a leader need in their tool belt when facing the tumultuous world in front of us today? Annabel Beerel’s text on various leadership theories, their values, and limits, was insightful and helpful. The clear and easy layout of the…
By: Jeff Styer on February 3, 2025
While reading Annabel Beerel’s, Rethinking Leadership: A Critique of Contemporary Theories there were many ideas that came to mind to focus on for this post[1]. Bereel has a chapter on neuroscience, a topic I love, and how it relates to leadership, she references Daniel Kahneman and David Rock whose books we have read.[2] In her…
By: Noel Liemam on February 2, 2025
“When it comes to strong leadership, I think about strength of character, body, and mind. Strong leaders also have clear vision, direction, and purpose. Purpose is huge: Why you work matters, not just to you, but to others in the organization or institution.” [1] David Nicholl response to Hutchinson Karise as he was asked about…
