Navigating the Call: A Pedagogy for the Disinherited

Water was a significant instrument in the leadership life of Jesus Christ. He was baptized in water, turned water into wine, called disciples who made their living from the water, and performed the ultimate act of servant leadership by washing the feet of His disciples with water. Jesus calmed angry seas, offered Himself as the Living Water, and invited the spiritually dehydrated to drink the water He gives so that they will never be thirsty again. By the grace of God in Jesus Christ, we have a vision of what it looks like to have rivers of living waters flowing from within us. Even to the Book of Revelation as He pronounces, “It is done” and proclaims, “I am the Alpha and the Omega” Jesus extends this invitation: “‘Come!’ Let the one who is thirsty come, and the one who desires the water of life drink freely.” Navigating the Call offers one such invitation to the Christian leader who is committed to the call of pastoral leadership.

The vocational praxis of African-American clergy involves deep inquiry and embodiment of the ministry and teachings of Jesus Christ. African-American pastoral leadership is foundationally contextual and inseparable from the social constructs of justice and marginalization which impact the way we learn, lead, and disseminate the Gospel message of faith, hope, healing, and the love of Christ to all who will receive it. Leadership by navigation offers the African-American pastor a fresh way to faithfully approach and contextually answer The Call. This book is an invitation to explore navigational leadership.