 Westminster John Knox Press
About the Book
G. Lloyd Rediger argues that America—the “land of plenty”—has become a place where unfitness is so common we think it is normal, where living life to the fullest has become, for most, only a vague possibility, and where “leading the good life” has brought us to lead the world in the incidence of life-threatening and disabling diseases.
In this important and urgent message to pastors, Rediger emphasizes the necessity of integrating fitness of body, mind, and spirit in order to attain fulfillment of personhood and calling.
While pastors are not immune from the debilitating unfitness that is endemic in America, they of all people must be fit physically, mentally, and spiritually if they are to facilitate God’s purposes in the world. Rediger stresses that clergy need to reinvent a healthy pastoral role based on this holistic approach if they are to model the wholeness concept of fitness by which a person can be a truly fit witness to God.
In this much-needed guide, Rediger discusses these components of total fitness and identifies the disciplines necessary for pastors to achieve them—and, in turn, find the inner peace and confidence that are the foundation of effective ministry.
Reviews
“Calling upon his decades of experience as a pastor, and as a counselor to pastors, Rediger has created a primer designed to help pastors to develop an individualized plan for physical, mental and spiritual well-being.”
—Linda Milholen, Soundings
“Rediger’s book is more than an argument for fitness; it points the reader in the direction of practical disciplines to help achieve what he pictures.”
—Jim Holladay, Western Recorder
“This is a useful book with a clear message that if you are to be effective as a pastor you need to be as fit as possible, physically, mentally and spiritually.... I found the chapter on achieving mental fitness the most helpful.”
—George Hacker, Chrism
“G. Lloyd Rediger notes that pastors exhibit the same unhealthy symptoms that the rest of our culture does—stress, depression, and confusion. Then he emphasizes that pastors need to reinvent a healthy pastoral role—through body, mind, and spirit—if they want to model the wholeness concept of fitness.”
—Rev. Magazine
“Fit to be a Pastor is a welcome guidebook for ‘laying aside the weight’ and would appeal not only to clergy needing to shed a few pounds but also to those simply needing to get in better overall shape.”
—Christian Retailing
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1 Are You Fit to Be a Pastor?
Three Fitness Cases
The Personal Context of Fitness
Perspective
Ask Yourself Some Questions
Summary
2 Clergy Fitness Context
From Sickness to Health
Conflicts, Distractions, and Vulnerabilities
Fitness is an Adventure
Questions About Fitness
Summary
3 The ABCs of Fitness
Important Definitions
Levels of Fitness
The ABCs Outline
Summary
4 Healing for Fitness
Important Definitions
Models of Healing
Levels and Stages of Healing
The Forgiveness Formula as Healing Agent
Summary
5 Bodily Fitness
The Mental Connection
The Spiritual Connection
The Physical Connection
The ABCs Outline
Summary
6 Mental Fitness
Memos Concerning the Mind
Mental Fitness and the ABCs
Summary
7 Spiritual Fitness
Memos Concerning Spiritual Fitness
The ABCs Outline
Summary
8 Fitness as Fulfillment
Agendas for Human Behavior
How Body-Mind-Spirit Fitness Affects the Agendas
How the Agendas Affect Body-Mind-Spirit Fitness
Body-Mind-Spirit Fulfillment
Summary
9 Fitness for Congregations
Congregational Fitness and the ABCs
Teaching Fitness
Conclusion
A Fitness Initiative for Clergy
Appendix
A Illustrations
B Fitness Worksheet
C Body-Mind-Spirit Fitness Quest
D Body-Mind-Spirit Fitness Regimen Outline
Bibliography
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