Leading the Story: Rethinking Church Leadership

Vaughan S. Roberts is Team Rector of Warwick and Vicar of the historic Collegiate Church of St Mary. He has served a variety of local churches in the dioceses of Guildford, Bath & Wells and Coventry whilst also being a hospice and university chaplain, vocations adviser and director of ordinands. As well as degrees in biblical studies and theology he has a PhD in organisational behaviour and management from the University of Bath. David Sims is Emeritus Professor of Organizational Behaviour, Cass Business School, City, University of London. He worked for 20 years as Research Fellow, Lecturer and Senior Lecturer at the University of Bath. He has been a visiting professor at the Stockholm School of Economics, and has also worked for the National University of Singapore, Brunel University, where he was the founding Head of the School of Business and Management, and more recently City, University of London, where he has been Associate Dean for MBA Programmes at Cass Business School and then the Head of the Faculty of Management

‘This absorbing book sets out to bring the category of story into the centre of debates about church leadership. The authors succeed admirably in this with a study that is lucid, persuasive and enjoyable. If people follow stories rather than leaders, here is a rich story well worth pursuing.’ -- John Pritchard

Against the current trend of lionizing heroic leadership, the authors have sought to offer a view of gentler, more collective account of leadership built around stories that explore, evolve, unite and inspire. They have succeeded brilliantly. Their book addresses mainly leadership in religious organizations but it should be read by everyone interested in understanding how leadership, once stripped of its pseudo-heroic qualities, can be exercised effectively by sharing stories. The book, full of rich stories from the authors’ own experiences, will also delight and inspire every scholar and practitioner who loves organizational storytelling and stories in general. -- Yiannis Gabriel

“Leadership is not much of a New Testament word whereas discipleship, or followership, is. Churches are keen on 'servant leadership'. So, too, is business. To say what it means we tell stories. Leading by Story provides excellent thought leadership in what has become disputed territory. It is informative, subtle, insightful and wise. It recognises the importance of leaders who love as well as the significance of context and community.” -- Nicholas Holtam, Bishop of Salisbury

"...Vaughan Roberts and David Sims have given us a real gem – a book of treasures that will gestate within us as we ponder the ways in which stories lead our thinking and action. This is a great book, full of richness and wisdom from leading thinkers in contemporary Anglican ministry.” -- Martyn Percy, Dean, Christ Church, Oxford

“This is a fresh look at leadership, challenging old models of heroic individualistic approaches and advocating forward looking collaborative leadership. It’s inspired by stories which aid decision making!” -- Caroline Spelman, MP, Second Church Estates Commissioner