Gifted to Lead: The Art of Leading as a Woman in the Church
Nancy Beach (Forward by John Ortberg)
Zondervan, 2008, 216 pp., $15.99, Zondervan.com
Gifted to Lead is a breath of fresh air to women leaders who enjoy being women and leaders. Beach writes with a humble and balanced voice, making this book accessible whether one holds an egalitarian, equalitarian or hierarchial view.
Beach tells women with strong leadership qualities that God didn’t make a mistake endowing them with such. However, this isn’t just a girl-power read-along. She gives equal time to character and boundaries as they pertain to being a church leader among mostly male staff, working well with other women, nurturing family life while working in full-time ministry, and finding one’s own voice. She writes, “Choose to focus on humility, self-confidence, humor and integrity if you hope to be effective for the long term.”
In her genteel, yet direct and intelligent way, one chapter is an open letter to male pastors hesitant to bring on female staff.
