A REVIEW OF
REVIEWING LEADERSHIP
BY ROBERT BANKS AND BERNICE LEDBETTER
SUBMITTED TO DR. DANIEL MOOSBRUGGER
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF LEADERSHIP 510
BY HENRY TOLBERT
GRAMBLING, LA
NOVEMBER 2, 1014
ABSTRACT
Robert Banks and Bernice M. Ledbetter believe the subject of leadership to be one worth exploring, and they do so in their book much to our profit. In this short book, Banks and Ledbetter begin by presenting the overall question they want to answer: Do Christians' core convictions shape their views and practices of leadership or are they affected by wider cultural assumptions? [1]The book begins by exploring the many reasons for the increased interest in leadership today. The authors offer a plethora of reasons, not withholding the greatly increased pace of change, and they also set out some other factors for understanding leadership, including the comparison and contrast between a ‘leader’ and the qualities of ‘leadership’. Banks and Ledbetter take great care to ask challenging questions. This practice aids in the development of the book. In the opening chapters they begin by defining leadership as involving a person, group, or organization who shows the way in an area of life. [2] The authors also provide a strong distinction between management and leadership while also showing the importance of these two roles to work together. The foundation of the writing is supported by the claims towards the importance of the study of leadership. Banks and Ledbetter continue on to explore leadership in a wider range of historical and Biblical contexts. They work from religious and Christian perspectives and work outward towards cultural influences. The authors share insight as it relates to the biblical, historical and contemporary perspectives, covering the accounts of the Apostle Paul, historical models such as the Benedictine tradition, Lutheran, Presbyterian and Pentecostal. They continue by exploring trait, contingency and
Bibliography: Banks, Robert and Ledbetter, Bernice “Reviewing Leadership: A Chriatian Evaluation of Current Approaches”, Grand Rapids, MI Baker Publishing Group 2004