Luther on Leadership: Leadership Insights from the Great Reformer ed. by David D. Cook

Abstract

Reviewed by: Luther on Leadership: Leadership Insights from the Great Reformer ed. by David D. Cook Ronald A. Hoyum Luther on Leadership: Leadership Insights from the Great Reformer. Edited by David D. Cook. Eugene: Wipf and Stock, 2017. 170 pp. This book examines the life and legacy of Martin Luther from the perspective of modern leadership theory. The first four chapters review Luther's tumultuous and eventful life and describe the broad contours of his theology. Of particular note are the chapters that discuss Luther's impact on law, education, politics and church-state relations. Readers may disagree with some statements and conclusions regarding Luther's theology as presented in this first section. But on the whole, it presents a fair and balanced description of Luther's theology and its impact on society. The second section assesses Martin Luther's leadership through the lens of modern categories developed in the academic literature on leadership. Chapters five through seven examine Luther as a change agent, as an adaptive leader, and as a transformational leader. For those unfamiliar with modern leadership theory, these chapters will be the most helpful and enlightening. It should be noted that these chapters are doing an after-the-fact analysis of Luther's approach to leadership. Luther never set out to lead the church or transform society in accordance with a particular [End Page 339] vision. Luther never saw himself as an adaptive or transformational leader or a change agent. Luther's sole guiding principle was the gospel. Luther responded instinctively to the challenges he faced as he preached justification by faith—the doctrine upon which the church stands or falls. All the authors except one teach at Dallas Baptist University. The chapter on Luther as adaptive leader was written by Erik Gronberg, bishop of the Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod (ELCA). Although he does not draw on personal experiences, he does speak as one for whom adaptive leadership is of utmost importance. The final two chapters describe Luther's theology of pastoral leadership. Both chapters do a fine job of articulating Luther's countercultural approach to pastoral ministry. Mark Cook writes, "Leadership as a contemporary field of study is constantly undercut by popular-level best-selling books that offer list of hackneyed platitudes, empty of any particularity, but promising rewards of success to those who will spend the money on the book" (126). It is easy for us "to conceal selfish success in hollow spirituality by merely adopting a vocabulary that communicates how success brings glory of God. The problem, however, is that success is never the goal of Christian ministry in the Bible" (129). Luther on the other hand saw the pastor as one who leads through humble service in obedience to the call of Christ. The vocation of the pastor is simply to proclaim Christ and deliver Christ's gifts to His people through Word and Sacrament. This book is not an academic treatise on Luther's theology but a practical outline of Luther's vision of pastoral leadership. It would be best used as a resource for first-call theological education or a seminary class on the role and vocation of the pastor. Parish pastors may also find it useful as they seek to lead their congregations through a fast-changing cultural landscape. [End Page 340] Ronald A. Hoyum Port Madison Lutheran Church Bainbridge Island, Washington Copyright © 2019 Johns Hopkins University Press and Lutheran Quarterly, Inc.