In this creative new work, veteran associate pastor and seminary professor Bob Radcliffe explores the essential principles that ensure effectiveness and longevity in the role of the associate ministry. Some of the topics covered are dealing with church traditions, relating to the pastoral staff, working effectively with boards and committees, and terminating gracefully.
A book written by a dated author, who appears to be serial church-hopper, who writes with the assumption that you're at a multi-staff church, and who stars as the hero of every example of successful navigation of church politics. This book could've been half as long with a larger degree of specificity, but what it is is a bloated mess that has a few nuggets surrounded by a lot of self-congratulatory fluff and a forced musical metaphor.
Utilizes psychology (self-esteem and personality test) and a sometimes superficial business model of church polity. Over emphasizes the office of "senior" pastor (elder) without biblical precedence. Lacks overall scriptural foundation. Some good practical advice, but I would have thrown this in the trash after 10 pages had it not been a required reading for class.