Running head: ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 1
Research Paper Annotated Bibliography
Genevieve Hamer
School of Divinity, Liberty University
Author Note
Genevieve Hamer
I have no known conflict of interest to disclose.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Genevieve Hamer
Email:ghamer@liberty.edu
Research Paper: Annotated Bibliography
The last two years have been the most unprecedented times in recent history and for modern
churches and ministries. In the Spring of 2019, the novel coronavirus sent the entire world into a state of
panic. Churches and ministries that may have already been struggling to keep their doors open, found
themselves faced with mandated orders to close. Many had to seek alternative means to keep their
members engaged in serving and participating with hopes that the health crisis would soon pass, and the
world would get back to normal. Notwithstanding the outbreak of COVID, thousands of churches and
other ministries close their doors every year due to many reasons. Part of the reason is that overall church
attendance on a whole has been on a decline in the United States for years. Pollsters report “attendance”
has been higher while “regular attendance” continues to drop.
In the midst of scurrying and making attempts to cater to audiences with Facebook live streams
and audio broadcasts, leaders in ministry must make decisions on whether or not to continue to move
forward with implementing technologically advanced means of teaching and ministering to others while
weighing out the ethical dilemmas that come along with balancing the use of technology in their ministry.
Biblical and other ethical paradigms may need to be taken into consideration when making decisions like
replacing meeting in person with only using technology as a means of meeting and communicating.
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References
Abernethy, A. D., Rice, B. E., Rold, L., Kurian, K. R., Grannum, G. D., & Jones, H. (2015).
corporate worship and spiritual formation: insights from worship leaders. Journal of
Psychology and Christianity, 34(3), 266-279. http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?qurl=https
%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fscholarly-journals%2Fcorporate-worship-
spiritual-formation-insights%2Fdocview%2F1787812912%2Fse-2%3Faccountid
%3D12085\.
In this article the writers explore the necessity of corporate worship. One of the major
focuses of this work is the fact that worship is not just about the coming together in the
building but the increased attention that is paid to the sacredness of the moment.
According to the authors, “Corporate Christian worship is a spiritual practice designed
to focus on the glory of God and to deepen one's faith.” (2015). They writers go on to
say, “Studies of the psychology of religion have included research on religious
conversion (Paloutzian, Richardson, & Rambo, 1999), the varieties of religious
experience (James, 1902), and qualitative depictions of mystical experiences (Hardy,
1979), but few studies have examined corporate worship. More recent work has focused
on understanding the relationships among spirituality, religiousness, and healthrelated
outcomes and significant associations have been found (Chida, Steptoe, & Powell,
2009; Powell, Shahabi, & Thoresen, 2003; Seeman, Dubin, & Seeman, 2003). The most
robust finding has been a positive relationship between church attendance and health-
related outcomes.” (2015). The focal point of this piece is that corporate worship is not
only necessary, but it is biblical. While some may argue that the same experience may
be had in an internet setting, this article would suggest that in order to experience the
full embodiment of the emotional experience and the interpersonal relationship that in
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person corporate worship is required. The inclusion of the resource as a credible source
for this paper is necessary as a means to tie into the biblical ethics. Paul writes about the
Body of Christ in his letters to the early church. Corporate worship and the teaching of
Paul definitely is girded up by this source.
Adubato, S. (2020). Leading during a pandemic. MD Advisor, 13(2), 6-7
Dr. Steve Adubato is a television broadcaster, author and leadership and communication coach as
well as a university lecturer. He has also served in the New Jersey General Assembly. Adubato
established a non-profit organization, Stand & Deliver: Communication Tools for Tomorrow's
Leaders to assist in developing communication and leadership skills in young people. Just as any
other great leader, Adubato expressed grave concerns about leading during the worldwide health
pandemic. In his journal article, Leading During a Pandemic, much of the rhetoric is specific to
the healthcare industry. However, Adubato provides specific details on how to effectively
communicate during crisis situations and provide great leadership. This information relates to the
research of making choices in leadership of church and other ministries as far as the further
implementation of technology goes as it is important to consider the overall impact of the choices
that one makes during any situation and the long term affect of them. Also, as Adubato is able to
point out, “Leaders with staying power adjust to the times.” (Adubato, 2020, p.7). This article
offers insight into how effective leaders are able to communicate, even during the midst of a
crisis. The author also allows his reader to see the human side of an effect leader as well.
Barber, M. (2020). Franklin graham to lead prayer march in nation’s capital. Accessed online. January
30, 2022. https://media.billygraham.org/franklin-graham-to-lead-prayer-march-in-nations-capital/
Franklin Graham is most noted for his leadership of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
and Samaritan’s Purse. He is one of five children born to evangelist Billy Graham and his wife,
Ruth. Graham’s father, Billy was widely known and respected throughout the world and was most
well-known for his televised Crusades. Billy Graham was commonly referred to as spiritual
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advisor to many U.S. presidents. Franklin has continued in his father’s footsteps as an outspoken
leader in evangelism and missions. He frequently engages in Christian revivals and political
commentary and is a renown public speaker and author. In his call for prayer, Graham makes it
known that in his opinion, the issues with leadership in America are due to a lack of dependency
on God. This source will help the credibility of this paper by adding the influence of a well-
known and respected Christian leader’s perspective on leadership. The fact that Graham finds that
prayer is essential in leading a nation, only adds to the impact of decision making for leaders in
ministry to also align with what is biblically ethical and theologically accurate.
Barna Group. (2013). Christians on leadership, calling, and career. Ventura, CA: Author.
Established as a notable source of reliable information, The Barna Group has reported on a
variety of statistical data for many years and has been considered a non-biased source of
credible data. Barna has become a well-known evangelical Christian polling firm which
collects data and has provided faith-based organizations with reliable information since
1984. Barna conducted an online survey to publish this report that selected a random
sampling of just over 1,100 adults in the United States who considered themselves
Christians. While the study was conducted in 2012, the results still appear to be indictive of
the reflections of people that identify as Christians today. Barna polled the group for
information of what they believed to be leadership characteristics. The inclusion of this
information as part of the research for this paper will enhance the believability of the
background required for a good leader. People at large tend to place credence in statistical
numbers and polls. Including well-known and ascribed to resources such as Barna as a
resource will add credibility to the argument that Christians support the desire for the
leaders in their ministry to be strong and ethical.
Bass, B. M., & Steidlmeier, P. (1999). Ethics, character, and authentic transformational leadership
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behavior. The Leadership Quarterly, 10(2), 181-217. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1048-
9843(99)00016-8
The authors of this journal article make their argument that in order for any form of leadership to
be truly transformational, it must be rooted in moral foundations. According to Bass and
Steidlmeier, the very core of authentic leadership must take on the characteristics of
transformation on the basis of moral character of the leaders and their concerns for self and
others; ethical values embedded in the leaders' vision, articulation, and program, which followers
can embrace or reject; and morality of the processes of social ethical choices and action in which
the leaders and followers engage and collectively pursue. (1999). These authors argue that there
is a link between virtue and moral character which correlates to the concepts of ethics. The
inclusion of this reference is necessary to enhance the examination of what is considered moral
and to provide a worldview on transformational leadership. The viewpoint of the authors will
provide a perspective that offers readers a chance to delve deeper into the components of moral
character, virtue and transformational leadership. The authors present ideas on the modern
ethical agenda of individual liberty, utility and justice which will expound into the decision-
making process for ministries.
Billheimer, Paul E. (1983) love covers : a biblical design for unity in the body of christ /.
Minneapolis, MN. : Bethany House Publisher.
Billheimer believes that the worst travesty in church history is the lack of unity in the church.
In this short book, he writes on the doctrine of the Body of Christ. According to him, there is
no other precedence for the church to consider than the doctrine of unity. Billheimer is not
asking for Christians to abandon other theological discussions or to leave any other biblical
mandates at the wayside. He simply sees that the lack of unity and the discord among the
body is one of the greatest sins which causes the biggest offenses towards Christ than any
other. It is a simple reminder that unity in the heart is what makes a healthy body. The
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discussion on unity is a great reminder and focal point for any leader. This resource is a good
source for inclusion as a research tool for this paper as it may be used to help in the ethical
paradigm of care. Care is needed when making a decision on how to move forward with any
ministry.
Bisagno, J. (2011). Pastor’s handbook. Nashville, TN. B&H Publishing.
The Pastor’s Handbook is an excellent reference book for anyone in any type of ministry or
leadership role. Bisagno has penned one hundred and sixty brief but poignant chapters of
practical application for handling typical issues that crop up in the daily life in ministry. He
taps into the issues that seem to be skimmed over or skipped in the formal education of
seminary and puts a practical yet biblical view on how to approach them. This book offers
chapters on “The Pastor as Spiritual Leader” and “The Pastor as Organizational Leader”.
Bisagno even offers his views on the use of radio, television and telecommunications as they
relate to the church and to a biblical worldview. He presents pros and cons for each media
outlets and offers scriptural references for his stances on each. While he does not go into
depth on his stances, Bisagno does offer a simple and matter-of-fact biblical viewpoint. He
gives his reader a good starting point to develop their own theological viewpoint. While this
book does not go into depth on any given topic, the variety of information that it does cover
and the biblical worldview that it provides makes it a good resource for this paper. The
information in the chapters on the use of radio in church, the use of television and other
media prove to be invaluable and offer great insight into tying in to the scripture the
implementation of technology in ministry in place of meeting in person. Bisagno does lack in
the fact that he never seems to question ethics in his suggestions or his viewpoints when he
steers his readers on to their next steps.
Bloomer, T. A. (1999). Formative educational experiences of leaders as factors influencing
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innovation in organizations (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Trinity Evangelical Divinity
School, Deerfield, Illinois.
Bloomer’s dissertation offers a view into the educational experiences of leaders and allows
the reader to explore the mindset of well-qualified leaders in their professions and find out
how they feel that the were or were not prepared for their roles in leadership as a result of
their formative educational experiences. The views that are expressed in this dissertation
expressly recognize that strong influences of biblical foundations and integration in
leadership. Bloomer spends a significant amount of time developing the concept that the
perception of ethical leadership affects the overall organizational effectiveness of any given
group. (1999). He goes on to make a case for the fact that ethical and faith formation is
foundational to the individual development of effective leaders who in turn make sound
decisions. (1999). The research in this paper shows that there is a case for ethical leadership
that also supports sound biblical and theological foundations. Apart from a deeply rooted
experience in developing a moral background that is founded in these principles, leaders in
ministries would struggle to make decisions that are good for the communities that they
serve. This source is necessary as a resource for to support this paper as it provides evidence
that education and foundations in faith and theological principles are essential for strong
leadership. The resource also offers a viewpoint into the background of educational
experiences from many different people across the country so there is diversity and inclusion
that is given consideration in the sample.
Burns, J. M. (1978). Leadership. New York, NY: Harper & Row.
In his book, Leadership, Burns offers his reader a study of leadership in all its aspects from
politics to business. Burns’ study, introduces the highly influential theory of
"transformational leadership," stating that the best leaders are those who inspire others to
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come together toward the achievement of higher aims. Leadership is the classic text for
anyone seeking to understand executive decision-making, the dynamics of influence, and
moral leadership. This book examines the qualities of great leaders through history from
Moses to Martin Luther King, Jr.. In this work, Burns focuses of the effect of
transformational leadership. His examination of the difference between transactional and
transformational provide useful insight for leaders in a modern setting that need to make
pivotal decisions regarding the future of ministry. Burns states, “The function of leadership is
to engage followers, not merely to activate them, to commingle needs and aspirations and
goals in a common enterprise, and in the process to make better citizens of both leaders and
followers" (p. 461). The impact of this resource on this paper includes the characteristics of a
transformational leader. No other time in history has the decisions of a leader been under
more scrutiny than today. Including Burns’ work will afford the reader the opportunity to
have the viewpoint on how leaders approach decisions, suggesting a theory of leadership that
builds on collective purpose, causation, and change (Burns, Chapter 16). The author goes on
to describe leadership as “practical influence,” while he references Woodrow Wilson’s
thoughts in stating “that people can be lifted into their better selves” by transforming
leadership. This, he stated, is “the moral and practical theme” of his work (Burns, p. 462.)
Caccamo, J. F. (2009). The ethics of branding in the age of ubiquitous media: insights from
catholic social teaching. Journal of Business Ethics, 90, 301–313.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/40665333.
In the journal article, “The Ethics of Branding in the Age of Ubiquitous Media: Insights from
Catholic Social Teaching”, Caccamo makes a strong case concerning the use of media to
deceive and manipulate. He specifically takes up the issue of the differing moral assessments
of the tradition of writing on social ethical issues within the Roman Catholic Church. This
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author suggests that there may be issues with the Catholic social teachings and its offerings
on how the church approached advertising ethics that charts a middle course on the debate of
branding and marketing in new media. The article introduces its readers to an approach
developed by the Vatican to advertising that highlights particular norms and only advertises
things that are set to be articulated. The implication is made that new media is manipulated as
a means a solidarity and for influence. Caccamo presents two very different sides of the story
within the Catholic church that seem to be a direction contradiction to each other. On one
hand, Catholic Social Teaching concerning social communications seem to have been placed
under rigorous examination by the Roman Catholic Church with the moral implications of
“social communication” being scrutinized harshly. Then on the other hand, the Vatican
appears to use the media to paint a picture of the brand of the Catholic Church that it wants to
be known as worldwide. While this source does not specifically deal with the ethical or moral
views of evangelical Christians, it does explore the mora; and ethical ramifications of the
teaching of an even larger Protestant Christian organization and does provide insight into a
world that may not even be otherwise considered. The views of the Vatican on interaction
with media, advertising and branding are invaluable for a Christian leader to review prior to
making ethical decisions in ministry. This article points out the deception and raw emotion
that media pulls on to influence society.
Clinton, J. R. (1988). The making of a leader. Colorado Springs, CO: Navpress.
In this book, Clinton provides his viewpoint on how to develop effective leaders over the
course of a lifetime. By examining his six markers, Clinton identifies, one learns how to:
Recognize and respond to God's providential shaping in your life; Determine where you are
in the leadership development process; Identify others with leadership characteristics; Direct
the development of future leaders. Clinton’s perspective incorporates a biblical worldview
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along with the everyday application of what would be required to shape an individual into a
strong and effective leader in any given situation. He helps his reader to readily identify the
main characteristics that need to be worked on in order to step up into the role of an effective
leader. There are some that might find it difficult to take on the responsibilities of leadership.
By having a clear and concise focal point, this book helps to make a pathway that allows its
reader to follow through with God’s plan. Clinton wants his reader to see that there is a big
picture in the process of the inner-life growth process off leading in ministry. The inclusion of
this resource as a source in this paper will provide a depth of knowledge for a biblical
worldview perspective into the integration of ministry philosophy and life lessons in
challenging leadership. Being able to draw on the experiences of a diverse background of
leaders over history will only add a deeper layer of influential details to pull data from in
order to support the views of the choices that leaders must make today in ministry.
Finigan, T. (2013), new movements and new media. New Blackfriars, 94: 223-235. https://doi-
org.ezproxy.liberty.edu/10.1111/nbfr.12008.
The article, New Movements and New Media, dedicated to the use of new media by the
pontificate of John Paul II, Benedict XVI's offers an interesting perspective into the
viewpoint of how new media infects and is not used by the church by uses the church instead.
Finigan describes how there are both wild and inaccurate generalizations made with the
introduction of new media as a means of communication by New Movements in the Catholic
church. Throughout the article he mentions the separation between two factions and the
misinformation that seems to continually flow between sources. Finigan also does speak
about the low costs for transmission of messages and the storage of media. He also mentions
the competition to stay current and make better devices as well. He calls it “adapt and
survive”. According to Finigan, “If we want everything to remain as it is, it is necessary for
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everything to change.” The Roman Catholic Church with all of its scandals and issues seem
to always manage to stay in the forefront of emerging technology as well. Televising major
events and swaying the media has been something that the Vatican has done for centuries.
The views of the Catholic church on new media should not be surprising but do offer another
biblical worldview for consideration in the overall decision-making making process for
ministry leaders.
Fluker, W. E. (2009). ethical leadership: the quest for character, civility, and community. 1517
Media. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv13vdfcd.
In his book, Ethical Leadership: The Quest for Character, Civility, and Community, Fluker
makes his case for the fact that the world is living in a leadership crisis. According to him,
“In an age when incompatible worlds collide and when scandals rock formerly stable
institutions, what counts most is ethical leadership and the qualities of personal integrity,
spiritual discipline, intellectual openness, and moral anchoring." (Fluker, 2009, p. 149). In
this work, Fluker examines great leaderships characteristics of church giants Martin Luther
King, Jr. and Howard Thurman. He takes a deeper look into the leaders in ministry setting
and provides a context for the principles of an ethical basis for leading. The author provides a
detailed description of ethical leadership and walks his reader though the characteristics and
habits that an ethical leader would possess. In the crux of the work, there is a section where
the connection is made between the quest for leading and what is best for the overall
community. While the focus of this content delivers more on ministries, other professions
that also hope to work for the common good of others may glean a wealth of knowledge from
reading this novel. Fluker has established a common ground to land a basis for the model of
the specifics of an ethical leadership which would allow his reader to move them into the
practical aspect of leadership and decision-making. This author challenges leaders not to
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forget to experience a sense of wholeness, harmony, and integration, or better, a sense of
integrity. The inclusion of this work as a resource for a reference to the paper being written
on making ethical decisions in ministry comes about in that Fluker lays out a foundation for
ethical leadership that also provides a practical application in a manner which connects his
views on the connection to community in the most impeccable way. He is certain to include
a biblical worldview and insists that leaders in ministry not only uphold the highest
standards, but also do not forget the recognition of the God they serve.
George, S. (2006). religion and technology in the 21st century. Dallas, TX.: Information Scientist
Publishing.
According to author, Susan George, technology has permeated every aspect of our lives,
including religion. Adding sound systems and computers into public expressions of religion
are just one way that technology is being used to shape religion. George cautions that many
are turning a blind eye to the other ways that technology is actually shaping religion through
philosophy and morality. In her opinion, the use of technology has begun to overtake over
religion in ways that we do not even imagine and as Christian leaders, it is time to stop
technology for infiltrating and demoralizing the church. George examines the impact that
technology has had in over religion and its connection with humanity. She offers her
viewpoint on the disconnect that technology has created in this manner as even though it
provides a means to provide information, it may be used to censor of select the data provided.
She also looks at the dual impact as the book points to a synergy that has typically been
overlooked or missed by previous researchers when delving into the connection between
technology and religion. George’s perspectives on technology and religion offer another layer
to the ethical paradigm of critique when considering the facts and evidence of making a
decision on technology and the advances of new media taking place of meeting in person in
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ministry. As a leader, one must fully understand all of the ramifications that may come about
as a result of fully embedding new media in place of meeting in person in one’s ministry.
The ethic of critique requires a keen sense of discernment that would require a source such as
this one for back up data.
Grahek, M. S., Thompson, A. D., & Toliver, A. (2010). the character to lead: A closer look at
character in leadership. Consulting Psychology Journal, 62(4), 270-290.
https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022385.
In this article by Grahek, Thompson and Toliver, the Character to Lead is explored. The trio
break down the character to lead into three factors: Personal Integrity and Ethics;
Organizational Integrity and Courage; and Humility, Gratitude and Forgiveness and nine
dimensions: personal integrity, ethics, openness, organizational integrity, courage, power,
humility, gratitude, and forgiveness. The article takes a deeper look into the results of
leadership measures and beyond the character of leadership. The authors also examine the
degree to which managers, peers, and direct reports perceived factors of character (as
compared to factors of capacity and commitment) as being important to leaders' roles and to
the likelihood of future success and/or failure. Digging deep into the aspects of the likelihood
that there is a measurable means to tell exactly which characteristics will create the best
leaders to produce the best outcomes required for success or failure. While this resource may
appear to be a non-noteworthy one, it does merit inclusion in the fact that it makes note of the
most desired qualities for a successful leader. The inclusion of this resource will also work
with the ethic of justice as it relates to what may be required for leadership or decision-
making skill of a leader.
Hutchings, T. (2011). contemporary religious community and the online church, Information,
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Communication & Society, 14:8, 1118-1135, DOI: 10.1080/1369118X.2011.591410
Online or internet-based churches have risen in popularity since the early 2000’s.
With the rise in the advancement of technology and the emergence of more free access to a
virtual world, churches have become a “loose” network of religious experiences rather than a
local “place” of membership. In this article by Hutchings, he reveals that in research
conducted in four prominent online church communities between 2005-2010 each achieved
some form of structural, financial or symbolic affiliation with an offline Christian church or
denomination. According to him, most online churches have "attracted considerable
scholarly and popular attention over the last two decades, featuring in new media research,
journalism and Christian commentary, but their significance for participants remains largely
unexplored.” (2011). What is most unique about these online churches is that “Studies of
online Christian ritual have consistently reported that online practices replicate offline
forms.” (2011). Hutchings went on to dig deeper into the dynamics of the online churches.
He found that the participants of the online churches integrated family and friends more
directly into their online church community. For some there was a sense of deliberate
isolation. The churchgoers valued the guaranteed anonymity. This resource offers a great
view into what it would be like if there were no in person meeting for church. If new media
were to take place of all in person meetings what would become of all interpersonal
relationships in the Body of Christ?
Sharp, D. (2021). Millions skipped church during Pandemic. will they return? churches, synagogues
and mosques are returning to normal services as the pandemic recedes. Associated Press.
June 21, 2021. Accessed online https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-
06-29/millions-skipped-church-during-pandemic-will-they-return.
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In his article on the effect of the pandemic on church attendance, Sharp quotes numbers of
struggles churches, synagogues and mosques that were already struggles to keep the doors
open pre-COVID, considering the future. Overall, the attendance for religious services has
been on a downward spiral and smaller and older congregations had already been doing all
they could to adapt and keep their ministries afloat. Some houses of worship simply will
never recover. The statistics in this article and others like it are needed in order to see why the
introduction of new media has become such a necessity in ministry. Also, it is a required to
consider how this type of information must be used with the ethic of critique in order to make
informed decisions for the future of ministries.
Shapiro, Joan Poliner and Jacqueline A. Stefkovich. (2016). Ethical leadership and decision
making in education. New York, NY: Routledge. ISBN: 9781138776272
Shapiro and Stefkovich introduce the multiparadigm concept of ethics that is required in
leadership to make well rounded decisions. It is from these authors that we get our foundation
for ethics of ethos which means, “customs or usages, especially belonging to one group as
distinguished from another. Later, ethics came to mean disposition or character, customs, and
approved ways of acting. Looking at this definition from a critical perspective, one might
ask: Ethics approved by whom? Right or wrong according to whom?” (2016. p, 10). From
their writings we are provided the understanding or standards by which we should view
decision making. According to them, the ethic of justice “either a traditional or contemporary
perspective, may take into account a wide variety of issues. Viewing ethical dilemmas from
this vantage point, one may ask questions related to the rule of law and the more abstract
concepts of fairness, equity, and justice. These may include, but are certainly not limited to,
questions related to issues of equity and equality; the fairness of rules, laws, and policies;
whether laws are absolute, and, if exceptions are to be made, under what circumstances; and
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the rights of individuals versus the greater good of the community.” (p.11) While the ethic of
critique “is aimed at awakening educators to inequities in society and, in particular, in
schools.” (p. 15) Further, the ethic of care asks questions like “Who will benefit from what I
decide? Who will be hurt by my actions? What are the long-term effects of a decision I make
today? And if I am helped by someone now, what should I do in the future about giving back
to this individual or to society in general?” Finally, the ethic of profession relates to the
professional code of conduct associated with one’s profession. The inclusion of this resource
is necessary in this paper as it defines the ethical paradigms and sets the standards for which
to guide the decisions of the leader. Shapiro and Stefkovich offer several real life scenarios
in the form of case studies which allow the reader to have practical experience with applying
the ethical paradigms.
Sproul, R. C. How Then Shall We Worship? : Biblical Principles to Guide Us Today. Colorado
Springs, CO: David C Cook, 2013. Print.
Sproul offers a guide on what his view is of God’s design for corporate worship. He takes his
readers to scripture and provides references in the Bible the support a guide for worship
today. R.C. Sproul says that there is no need to reinvent the worship experience. His reader
will discover that God intends for worship to be on unforgettable experience between Him
and his people. While others may see a need to incorporate pop culture into today’s worship
experience, Sproul contends that God’s word is the only place to find the answers. There is a
only one place for authentic worship and its found in God’s Word. To his point, this book is
an essential reference to this paper as the heart of worship is not new media or an other
source, it is God. The real essence of finding authentic worship is turning to the true source
of where worship is to be directed. As Sproul points out in this work, arguing over whether
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worship should be traditional or contemporary is not the problem. The problem is that the
church is not being authentic in its worship at all.
Townley, C. (2011). missional worship : increasing attendance and expanding the boundaries of your
church. Chalice Press.
Pre or post COVID, how do I raise the number in attendance has always been an issue for
church leaders. This short book by Cathy Townley speaks to the heart of the issues. The
simple answer is, it is all about the worship. According to Townley, no matter what extent
you go to in an attempt to reach the masses, it is all about seeking God each day and
incorporating spiritual practices into your life that allow Him to lead you on the mission field
so you may invite those persons to the life that is in Christ and to your church. Townley
suggest that worship is not just what you do on Sunday, it is a way of life. This “how-to”
book is a way to transform your life, your church and your approach to worship. The author
turns the lens around and makes the reader do an internal inventory of authentic worship.
She gives the reader the chance to make the changes that may impact themselves and their
ministry. The inclusion of this resource as a source in this paper is required as it is a good
source for reflection on a biblical worldview and also as a checkpoint for the ethic of critique.
Townley provides good strong points that would allows any leader time for reflection and
self-examination before moving ahead in a decision making process.
Turner, B. S. (2007). Religious Authority and the New Media. Theory, Culture & Society, 24(2),
117–134. https://doi.org/10.1177/026327640707500
Christian voice within the community that provides vital insight on the least talked about
subject in the church, spiritual warfare. Every believer experiences warfare but leaders are
prone to a greater measure of warfare. The author breaks down the aggressive spirit which is
Leviathan. This spirit is spoken of in the book of Job. He uses this spirit to take those who are
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seeking leadership on a journey beyond their wildest dream to understand what leadership is.
The author gives critical thinking exercises and thought-provoking quotes that will leave one
seeking deeper knowledge. This book ties into the topic at hand because the research will
explore the journey of leadership. This will help one understand the obstacles and some
warfare that may be encountered on the road of leading others. The author traces leadership
from biblical to current leadership today.
Wolf, Mark J. P. (2003) virtual morality : morals, ethics, + new media. New York: Peter Lang, Print.
Wolf explores the biblical principles to modern day leadership and business operations.
This book focuses on why there are failing businesses today. This can be a great
resource to the topic because every business, ministry, non-profit, etc. has aleader.
Leaders are pivotal to every organization. This book explores the pitfalls that leaders
commonly make that leads to the downturn of business. This writing aids in giving
validity to the claim of “Why it is important for leaders to possess the Fruit of the
Spirit?” The Fruit of the Spirit serves a guide, and it embodies the full meaning of what
God wanted mankind to be. Possessing such characteristics will automatically cause
one to lead well. Woolfe does a great job of using many examples of today to relate to
biblical principles within the Word of God. Within this book, Wolf details the ten
attributes of a leader. However, we must weigh it against the original foundation for
leadership.
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