Dr. Coy Roper's An Introduction to Church Leadership: Principles, Skills, Challenges flows from a lifetime of teaching, leadership, and scholarship in service to Christ and His church. Roper presents a strong biblical case for servant leadership that respects the roles of elders and preachers in both protecting and equipping fellow Christians. Balance and wisdom permeate each of the 21 brief chapters. Roper's style of writing is itself balanced-consistently humble but equally compelling. He warns both leaders and followers of common dangers but consistently offers paths to cooperation and harmony. Topics cover the gamut of church leadership: "A Scriptural View of Church Leadership," "Leadership in a Church Without Elders," "Communication Skills," "Motivation," "Solving the Drop-Out Problem," "Overcoming Strife," and "Meeting the Challenge of World Missions." By design, Roper's book breaks no new ground. Rather, it optimistically affirms foundational principles that honor God and bless His people. Yet, the book never feels old. Its wisdom and practicality keep it fresh. While the reader will need to add appropriate social media and technological advances to Roper's fine lists of tools, An Introduction to Church Leadership invites engagement, reflection, and growth in God's service.
