Church Leadership in the Age of Human Resource Management : Discerning a Forgotten History

Should churches adopt the modern practices of leadership theory?

Rahel Siebald delivers a compelling analysis of how modern leadership discourse, rooted in industrial-era labour conflicts, has transformed the way churches understand ministry, decision-making, and community. This work reveals key features uniting modern leadership. It then highlights how leadership theory, instead of reconciling conflict, can often avoid or silence it.

Drawing on historical sources and the theologies of Kathryn Tanner and Jacques Ellul, Siebald uncovers that these efficient but silencing techniques are still at work in contemporary leadership theories. She traces their origins from Thomas Carlyle’s romantic heroism, through Frederick Taylor’s scientific management, to Oliver Sheldon’s focus on motivation. Siebald then offers a fresh theological account of prophecy and discernment, rooted in Old Testament traditions, and provides practical insights for resisting the pressures of Human Resource Management in faith communities.

This important and sweeping book equips advanced students, scholars, and church leaders with tools to navigate the complex relationship between leadership, management, and faith.