William H. Willimon$13.99 at CBD
"The great ethical danger for clergy is not that we might 'burn out,'" writes William Willimon in Calling and Character. "Our danger is that we might 'black out,' that is to lose consciousness of why we are here and who we are called to be for Christ and his church." Thus Willimon summarizes the main argument of this relatively little book, a book which will certainly challenge all readers who are in vocational ministry positions to take their responsibilities and callings with the utmost seriousness.
Calling and Character was mandatory reading in the seminary, and I come back to it often for a reminder of why ministry leaders must always remain sober-minded and above reproach in the ministry, as the Apostle Paul once wrote to Timothy. This is serious subject matter, and the author tackles it seriously; although, in typical Willimon style, he also uses humor and interesting stories to hold the reader's attention.
To substantiate his case, Willimon crafts together a brief survey of Christian writings on what we might broadly term "clergy ethics," borrowing from such notable figures as Ambrose of Milan, Chrysostom (who's On Christian Priesthood plays a significant role in the book), and Martin Luther. As a result, Calling and Character is a treasure trove of time honored Christian thought in this often-neglected area of our faith.
A word of warning: this book is intended for clergy. The subtitle indicates that much right off the bat. Reading the book beyond the purview of vocational ministry could leave one concluding that Willimon overlooks ethics in the pews, and that he is guilty of segregating the pastor from his congregation. This isn't his intent.
I would certainly recommend Calling and Character to all who are in the ministry, regardless of how long you have served.
Use it for the glory of God and the edification of the saints. We have a high calling, but we also serve a God who is capable of supplying every one of our needs.
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