The Unnecessary Pastor: Rediscovering the Call »

Best-selling authors Marva Dawn and Eugene Peterson offer encouragement to pastors.

Pastors are strategically placed to counter the culture. No other profession looks so inoffensive but is in fact so dangerous to the status quo. Their weapon? A gospel that is profoundly countercultural. But standing firm in today s world isn t easy. Powerful forces, both subtle and obvious, attempt to domesticate pastors, to make them, in a word, unnecessary.

In this book, two of today s most respected authors help pastors recover their gospel identity and maintain a pure vision of Christian leadership. Marva Dawn and Eugene Peterson reconnect pastors with the biblical texts that will train them as countercultural servants of the gospel. Marva Dawn looks to Paul s letter to the Ephesians for instruction for churches seeking to live faithfully in today s world. In turn, Eugene Peterson explores Romans, 1 and 2 Timothy, and Titus, drawing from them the correct view of pastoral identity.

Christian Retailing

The book's premise is that there are three ways that pastors are unnecessary: to what the culture presumes is important, to what pastors themselves feel is essential and to what congregations insist that pastors must do and be. The Unnecessary Pastor should liberate ministers from such manmade limitations and free them to become what God has called them to be. It's likely not only to be popular with clergy, but also clergy-to-be, as seminarians could definitely benefit from its godly insights.

Introduction EUGENE H. PETERSON

1. On Being Unnecessary EUGENE H. PETERSON
2. Preludes to Rediscovery MARVA J. DAWN
3. The Call to Be a Living Doxology MARVA J. DAWN
4. Paul: Finishing Up in Rome EUGENE H. PETERSON
5. The Call to Triumph over the Principalities and Powers MARVA J. DAWN
6. Timothy: Taking Over in Ephesus EUGENE H. PETERSON
7. The Call to Be Formed and Transformed by the Spirit of the Ascended Christ MARVA J. DAWN
8. Titus: Starting Out in Crete EUGENE H. PETERSON
9. The Call to Build Community MARVA J. DAWN

For Further Reading