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Reviewed by Dan Dick Best Advice: Wisdom on Ministry from 30 Leading Pastors and Preachers edited by William J. Carl, III Westminster John Knox Press, 2009. “Dealing with Diversity,” by Miguel A. De La Torre Professor De La Torre’s fine analysis challenges contemporary approaches to diversity and points out many fallacies and failings to some of our best efforts. Not only are we often ineffective, but many approaches to diversity actually hurt the very people we wish to include. Rethinking and truly understanding diversity is not merely a good idea, but imperative if we want to be the church we need to be in the future. “Preaching From, With, and For,” by John S. McClure Preaching as a collaborative act–to inspire, empower, and educate–is nothing new, but McClure offers practical and concise guidance to everyone with responsibility not just to deliver messages, but especially those wishing to connect the body of Christ to the Will of God. “Learning and the Life of the Pastor,” by Leanne Van Dyk Van Dyk offers the simple but critically important counsel that pastors need to be lifelong learning leaders. Being intentional about learning–not just squeezing it in when convenient, but strategically planning for growth and development–should be a high priority for congregational leaders. Reading should be a part of our daily ritual, and not something we do only when we have extra time on our hands. “Do You Love Me?” by Hyung Cheon Rim The pastor is more than just the administrative executive or the figure head of the congregation, but the shepherd and guide of a community. Hyung Cheon Rim shares from his cultural context helpful advice on the importance of healthy relationships between pastors and those they lead. Being a good pastor begins with being a good person, committed to loving, feeding, and guiding the members of the flock. The focus here is on spiritual leadership, and Rim offers one of my favorite quotes from the book when he reminds us, “Wisdom gained through prayer and meditation is more precious than any other form of knowledge or skill acquired from educational conferences or seminars.” (p. 136) “Being Repairers of the Breach,” by Katharine Rhodes Henderson Henderson underscores the importance of ministry beyond the local church we serve. The activist role of the spiritual leader cannot be absorbed (and ignored) by the demands of a local church’s inward focus. The church is a witness to Christ for the world, and therefore the pastor must be a visionary leader pointing the way. The ministry of Christ reaches into a broken world, and we need leaders who will move us beyond the walls of the local church. “How to Be An Effective Pastor and Preacher,” by Joseph L. Roberts, Jr. Look beyond the prescriptive nature of Roberts’ writing and you will find some of the most down-to-earth, reasonable and rational advice in the entire book. Not everything here has the universal application that Roberts implies, but there is virtually nothing in this essay that is not worth noting, contemplating, and preparing for. This chapter is especially valuable for those newer to ministry. “Why Stay in the Church?” by John Buchanan Buchanan notes that we serve in an especially challenging time in a church that does not always honor and support its leaders. Beyond that, however, is a reward and satisfaction that makes all the challenges and sacrifices worthwhile. To stay the course and claim the prize, Buchanan offers helpful instructions–seek the help of faithful mentors, prioritize your work and do the important things first, organize your work, pay attention to relationships, practice self-care, and pray, among them. The real value of these essays is the message that pastors are not in this alone. Many others have trod the same roads, experienced the same challenges, and adapted to the same demands. Perhaps these suggestions will not be right for every reader, but they give hope that a way can always be found. 
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