Consultancy Skills for Mission and Ministry

Consultancy is increasingly being used to support mission and to help church leaders and workers in the challenges they face in their work. Helping churches and workers understand their situation and develop effective strategies demands skilful consultants who can handle issues of context and theology, the characteristics of voluntary sector organisations, and mission in a post-modern world. This guide to being a church consultant offers rigorous, practical consultancy theory and tools as well as pointing to a rich range of methods and models for further investigation. By integrating the insights of practical theory, organizational studies, the social sciences and a range of helping skills, consultants will be able to support those who are leading change in churches in processes which are more explicit and carefully thought through than is often the case. This book encourages consultants to develop their own model and practice built on a healthy cycle of sound theory, evaluated practice and thoughtful feedback.

This book is the fruit of both his experience working as a consultant and teaching consultancy at York St John University. David Dadswell clearly sets out his focus as 'work consultancy' and differentiates this from supervision, counselling and spiritual direction. He covers topics that include: roles, process and models of consultancy, and, issues in the provision of consultancy in churches. His hope is to encourage theoretically informed intentional practice. I believe that David has succeeded in providing us with a less daunting and more accessible way into the field. He manages to do this without loss of rigour and often appreciatively in dialogue with Lovell's work. I can see this book being of value not only to diocesan officers to support their own reflection on practice but also to encourage those consultants that offer their skills from the margins of the church to reflect on the distinctiveness of their new context. This is a timely and welcomed resource.", This is an excellent book. David Dadswell demonstrates his deep understanding of theory in the best way by using it to shine a clear light onto a complex topic. He writes with conceptual rigour but also with warmth and humour, giving considered and practical guidance along a difficult path. This book has significant value beyond its immediate application to such a worthwhile field. I thoroughly recommend it to anyone who is serious about consultancy work., Leap over prejudices you might have about the word consultancy. How we work alongside each other can matter as much as what we do in ministry and mission. David Dadswell has brought together a wealth of knowledge and experience that will be invaluable both to those looking for the right kind of consultancy and to those providing a wide range of support services.

The Revd David Dadswell has been consultant to a range of commercial, public and voluntary organisations for more than thirteen years. He is a tutor on the MA in Consultancy for Mission and Ministry in the York Institute for Community Theology at York St John University.