About the Book
The book, Leading Decisively! Leading Faithfully! Reflections and Markers, is intended to serve as a multi-lingual, cross-cultural, and baccalaureate-level text on leading decisively and faithfully in Christian communities. It reflects convictions to which we as decisive and faithful leaders remain captive, as we live and lead as maturing disciples of Jesus Christ. You may find this book beneficial as you lead within your faith community or even outside the structures of the church where you live and work. Techniques for leading are not offered, nor are easy steps outlined. Rather, a perspective is given and reflections are shared, along with a theological vision for leading others. Summarized are the values, priorities, and principles that have guided the author in leading others in numerous countries and diverse assignments. Perhaps the "driving forces" outlined in the book can serve to motivate you in your leadership assignment. As much as leaders want to be known as decisive, with our decision-making marked by firmness and our action characterized by certainty and conclusiveness, even more critical in leading others is a distinctively Christian quality and depth of communication. Caring for others is the mark of greatness, more so than decisiveness. Our testimony of faith in Jesus Christ must increasingly inform and transform the way we live in and lead a faith community, as that community is expressed in the home, on the job, in discipleship class, youth group, church board, local congregation, or seminary. Three compelling convictions prod us as we explore our vocational calling to lead decisively, with a vision to serve: convictions about who we are as the people of God; what we are called to do in the mission of God; and how we live together as the family of God. These three convictions or cornerstones are common threads that grow stronger in the lives of servant leaders. To lead decisively and to lead faithfully, we need to expand the three cornerstones into markers that guide our behavior as leaders. Indeed, they serve as boundaries and perimeters. For many of us, embracing these six markers will constitute change in how we approach the task of leading others. If leaders are to assist "the led" to think and act Christianly, we must wholeheartedly embrace these decisive servant markers and major ideas around which this book is written: The PASSION for leading decisively is grounded in a vision of ministry.
The IMPERATIVE in leading decisively is speaking to, not past, each other.
The GOAL of leading decisively is focused on effectively preparing the Body of Christ-the People of God-for mission and ministry.
The METHOD of leading decisively in accomplishing the vision includes mentoring, diligent board governance, missional planning, and a robust community.
The PAIN of leading decisively is experienced in the tension between good and godly people over vision, values, and traditions.
The EVIDENCE of leading decisively is reflected in the qualitative growth of the led, individually and collectively.
Fundamentally, leading decisively is grounded in biblical perspective and not in organizational skills. It means that the primary motivation of our actions is deeply theological. The Spirit of God within us enables us to make decisions grounded in our identity and life in Christ and our biblical worldview. Skills, of course, are needed. However, sharp skills without Christian motives easily lead to manipulation. The book explores the concepts that are inherent in the Christian servant leader who is not afraid to lead decisively. They will characterize us at our best and convict us at our worst. When we come to the end of our journey, may it be said of us that we led decisively with clear vision, deep humility, and intense resolve. We connected the faith we profess and proclaim to the way we live and lead. What a legacy to leave behind. What a leg
About the Author: Edward LeBron Fairbanks founded and has served as the director of BoardServe LLC since 2011. The consulting service nurtures "transformed and transformative" governing boards of Christian organizations, including universities, not-for-profit organizations, and local churches. He retired in October 2011 as the education commissioner for the Church of the Nazarene. In this assignment, he served as the administrator of the International Board of Education (IBOE), a consortium of 52 denominational universities, colleges, and seminaries on campuses and learning centers in 120 nations. Dr. Fairbanks co-authored the leadership text, Learning to be Last: Leadership for Congregational Transformation in 2008 and Best Practices for Effective Boards in 2012. He created the teaching video, Building Better Boards: A Conversation, produced in 2012, and available in English and Spanish. In addition, he wrote a ministerial course of study text, Leading the People of God: Servant Leadership for a Servant Community. Dr. Fairbanks earned his bachelor's degree at Trevecca Nazarene University. He also earned three master's degrees- M.A. from Scarritt College, M.Div. from the Nazarene Theological Seminary, and M.Th. from Princeton Theological Seminary. He was designated a Fellow in Pastoral Leadership Education by Princeton Theological Seminary and earned the Doctor of Ministry degree from Nazarene Theological Seminary. Dr. Fairbanks completed the summer program at the Harvard University Institute of Educational Management and was a Research Fellow at Yale University Divinity School. Dr. Fairbanks became Academic Dean in 1978 for the European Nazarene College near Schaffhausen, Switzerland. In 1984, he was elected President of the Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary in Manila, Philippines, where he served until accepting the presidency of Mount Vernon Nazarene University in Mount Vernon, Ohio, in July 1989. He served MVNU as university president for 18 years, retiring in 2007. In addition to his BoardServe consulting service, Dr. Fairbanks served in interim leadership roles in Brisbane, Australia, and Tampa, Florida. He taught leadership classes in the past three years in Manila, Philippines; Gelnhausen, Germany; Lisbon, Portugal; and Yangon, Myanmar (Burma). He and his wife, Anne, have been married for over 50 years and have one son, Stephen. Dr. Fairbanks can be contacted at lfairbanks@boardserve.org. His blog/website address is: www.boardserve.org.
