David's Book

David's Book Launch is on Tuesday 12th March at 6.30pm at Harts in Saffron Walden. He’ll also be happy to sign your book on Sunday 17th March after the 10am service and, over coffee on Saturday 23rd from 9.45 to 11.15am at 29 Saxon Way. All welcome on all three occasions.

"Leading a Church to Maturity in Love - A Theological and Practical Guide to Church Leadership" by Rev'd Canon David Tomlinson.

David's Book called ‘Leading a Church to maturity in love’ is available for pre-order from Sacristy Press - go to their website - or any good book shop. ISBN: 978-1-78959-023-4, only £12.99. 

The Church as a community is called to reflect the inclusive love of Christ. Yet, church leaders frequently encounter tensions and conflict, especially when facing change. Building on extensive experience of leading churches at times of change, David Robert Tomlinson shows how through critical theological reflection and modelling good practice church leaders can facilitate church life that is grounded in and transformed by the love of God

The Revd Canon Dr Roger Matthews, Dean of Mission and Ministry, Diocese of Chelmsford says:

"It is a rare book that I can commend without hesitation or caveat. David Tomlinson’s Leading a Church to Maturity in Love is one of them!

There are two reasons for this. The first is about David himself. I know him to be an outstanding Training Incumbent and Area Dean with wide experience of leading congregations and benefices in very different contexts. This means we are not told stories of quick-fixes or solo heroic leadership. Rather we benefit from the fruit of a highly experienced reflective practitioner who demonstrates his own vulnerability and learning. Many speak about theological reflection, David actually does it.

Secondly, David makes extensive use of insights from family systems theory. He both explains and applies family systems principles in a way that is immediately relevant to UK church leadership. As far as I know, this is the first book from a UK church leader to do this with such skill and clarity. There are other resources available from the United States but they all need ‘translating’ for UK leaders - now we have an immediately usable and understandable text that will enable many others to benefit from these insights.

 Everyone with congregational leadership responsibility will benefit from reading, reflecting and applying David’s insights. And if anyone says they have not learned anything, then I suspect they haven’t read it properly!

 Applying David’s wisdom for leadership will make a huge difference to the health and vitality of God’s church and his ministers in the years to come. I couldn’t be more grateful."

More information about David Tomlinson's book here.