ABSTRACT
Chapter 1 traces a cultural narrative intrinsic to the wider field of leadership studies, that of managerialism, and explores its infiltration of leadership in Western churches. In line with the first of Brueggemann’s four pillars of prophetic imagination, this chapter expresses the pain associated with the adoption by ecclesial leadership of managerial priorities, arguing for the need to articulate an alternative consciousness. The chapter also clarifies the book’s focus on leadership as activity rather than secondary questions of who is leading and associated positions and structures of leadership. Particularly, it defines leadership, in accordance with the wider leadership literature, as a process of influencing other(s) towards a goal.
