Feed My Shepherds, Book Review
by Nancy E. Waldo, Administrative Assistant
Book Review for The Servant
FEED MY SHEPHERDS: SPIRITUAL HEALING AND RENEWAL FOR THOSE IN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP
by Flora Slosson Wuellner(Upper Room Books, 1998)
Ministering to Ministers, among other organizations, hears many stories of what it means to be a "wounded servant." We are aware (as are our readers) of how difficult it can be for ministers to feel their own needs for healing and how rare it is to find a church culture that truly understands the humanity (and needs) of the ministers who serve it. Often it is only a crisis that allows us to step back and seek God's wholeness for our lives (and those of our families) as well as for the members of our congregations.
Rev. Flora Slosson Wuellner has written a truly revolutionary (and gentle) book that offers an alternative vision to "management by crisis." She encourages all Christian leaders to take some time to dwell with Jesus and the disciples during the time between the resurrection and the ascension as a model for the intense preparation and healing Jesus knows his disciples (then and now) need for healthy and effective ministry. I was deeply touched by the gentleness, the sanity, and the wholeness with which Wuellner examines the challenges of ministry, the resources of "Incarnational Spirituality" (chapter 4) and "Depth Healing" (chapter 5) and the processes of healing and growth. Her chapters are lucid and accessible, and each ends with meditations suitable for individual or group use. I highly recommend this book for all ministers, especially those who have been wounded (and if you haven't ever been wounded, I'd really like to hear about it!), for denominational leaders, for minister support groups, for retreats for caregivers, and for all who provide care for caregivers. Feed My Shepherds is truly a gift from this wise and experienced writer for all ministers.