Leading Like Francis - Building God's House - Softcover

Carl Koch

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1565485750 ISBN 13: 9781565485754

Publisher: New City Press, 2014

Synopsis

Leading Like Francis - Building God's House introduces the reader to the foundational principles of servant-leadership and how they are clearly manifested in the life of St. Francis of Assisi. The book clarifies the ten characteristics of servant-leaders as identified by Robert Greenleaf and seen in Francis, and now in Pope Francis. Each section incorporates stories from Francis' life, passages from his writing and from Scripture, and then offers activities that individuals or groups may use to reflect on their own experience and develop habits of servant-leaders. Contents include Introduction;Listening to God's Word Wherever Spoken; Empathy with God's People; Opening Mind and Heart; Healing the Body of Christ; Drawing All to God's Reign; Gospel Vision; Attending Now, Looking Ahead; Being the Good Steward; A Resource for Growth; Building Community; Epilogue; References and Further Reading.

About this title

About the Author:

Carl Koch was the first director of the MA in Servant Leadership Program at Viterbo University and the program coordinator at the Franciscan Spirituality Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Thirty-eight years of working in schools and sixteen years in the publishing business convinced him that the most effective leaders were servant leaders. His pilgrimage to Assisi convinced him that Francis of Assisi exemplified servant leadership for all of us no matter what our roles in life. Although he continues to conduct servant-leadership training for medical and educational institutions and facilitates retreats, Carl retired in 2011 after six years as Director of Ring Lake Ranch, an ecumenical retreat center in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming. Carl has authored 36 books and many journal articles, most on topics of adult spiritual development, moral decision making, and writing. Among his books are: A Popular History of the Catholic Church (Saint Mary's Press), Journalkeeping: Exploring a Great Spiritual Practice (Sorin), Growing in Christian Morality (Saint Mary's Press), and John Baptist de La Salle: The Spirituality of Christian Education (Paulist Classics). He holds master degrees in religious education, spirituality, and English and a doctorate in English from the University of Michigan. Carl and his wife, Joyce, live in Minocqua, WI and enjoy cooking, singing, kayaking, playing with their two dogs, and walking.

Review:

Carl Koch masterfully provides stories and writings of Francis of Assisi to exemplify Robert Greenleaf's ten characteristics of a servant-leader. The interplay of the thirteenth century saint with prevalent thought on leadership reflects the author s vast knowledge of servant-leadership. This book is a delight and useful tool for current and future leaders. --Ramona Miller OSF, Franciscan Pilgrimage leader

Leading Like Francis is a masterful weaving of wisdom from the Christian and Franciscan traditions, successful business leaders, and real life practical experience. As I concluded reading the text, I felt that this was a 'must read' for CEOs, Board members, and staff members of service oriented organizations, especially, but not limited to those claiming a Franciscan identity. Exercises at the end of each chapter invite personal as well as organizational reflections that are most helpful. --Nancy Schreck, OSF, past president of the Franciscan Sisters of Dubuque, IA and the Leadership Conference of Women Religious

Saint Francis of Assisi always referred to himself as a servant, like Christ, bending low in love to be for others. Here we see the values of Franciscan servant leadership exemplified in the pontificate of Pope Francis who calls men and women to a particular way of leading no matter what one's status or role, whether parent or student, teacher or executive. This is a valuable book, especially for people in professional life both in Church and world, because it raises the Gospel life to a new level, as the basis of servant leadership. --Ilia Delio, OSF; Georgetown University

About this edition

• Publisher: New City Press
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1565485750
• ISBN 13: 9781565485754
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 128
• Editor: Tom Masters