Title Details

According to McLennan (author of Finding Your Religion and inspiration for Doonesbury's Rev. Scott Sloan) and Nash, the church manages to support and nurture its people through birth, marriage and death; when it comes to helping Christians make sense of the day-to-day grind of the business world, however, churches are too often silent. It is vital for the future of the church, and for the well-being of Christian business-fold, that churches and parishioners find a way to talk meaningfully about the connections between faith and work. Clergy in particular will value this book, which is filled with tips to help them minister more effectively to the businesspeople in their midst. For example, the authors suggest that seminaries should offer more "exposure to the character of the businessperson," and that clergy should attend the occasional business seminar. This would have been a stronger book if the authors had restrained themselves from stuffing it with familiar but uninspired self-help suggestions for "reflection" and "action" at the end of each chapter, or cutesy mnemonics like "the four P's." It is hardly the final word on the subject; its riveting descriptions of the glaring gulch between church and business are more compelling than its attempts at bridging that gulch, making this more "wake-up call" than solution. Still, McLennan and Nash have made a valuable contribution to the growing conversation about church-life integration, and clergy especially shouldn't miss this book. (Oct.) (Publishers Weekly, October 1, 2001)

"This intelligent, provocative book is a rare study that takes both religion and business seriously, and it has insights for people of all faiths." (Harvard Business Review, November 2001)

4 out of 5 stars (Church of England Newspaper, 21 December 2001)

"Nash and McLennan raise critical issues of Christian ethics and the daily realities of business life in a manner designed to encourage honest thought and dialogue. Their practical reflection and action ideas will be helpful to congregations who really want to start talking about the business of faith." —Jim Wallis, editor of Sojourners; Convener, Call to Renewal; and author of Faith Works

"This empirical study of the intersection of spirituality and economic life reveals that many business leaders draw from their faith at work to help forge a new ethic for business life today." —Max L. Stackhouse, Stephen Colwell Professor of Christian Ethics, Princeton Theological Seminary and editor of On Moral Business

"For anyone interested in advancing spirituality in business and yet concerned that it might do more harm than good, this book is a must read. It states the issues well and offers a way through that is a win-win for all concerned." —Oliver F. Williams, academic director, Center for Ethics and Religious Values in Business, University of Notre Dame

"This is a very important discussion of the relation between business and religion in contemporary America. It should be required reading, especially for business people worried about the Church and Church people worried about business." —Peter L. Berger, Director, Institute for the Study of Economic Culture, Boston University

"Nash and McLennan unlock the door between Christian beliefs and the day-to-day realities of the business world. This book is must reading for Christians working in the private sector and the clergy struggling to effectively minister to them" —Samuel L. Hayes III, Jacob H. Schiff Professor of Investment Banking-Emeritus, Harvard University

"Extremely useful in breaking down the walls between business and religion, and will be equally valuable to religious and business leaders alike." —Bowen H. "Buzz" McCoy, author of the award-winning Harvard Business Review article The Parable of the Sadhu

"Laura Nash shares her unparalleled depth of insight about why the Christian faith is failing to engage the core activities of the business enterprise. No one can make any real progress until they come to grips with the realities she and Scotty McLennan so fluently explore. Read it-whatever your perspective about faith and business." —William Messenger, Director, Mockler Center for Faith and Ethics in the Workplace and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

"Manna from heaven! Nash and McLennan couple empirical evidence with personal anecdotes to articulate and analyze the nature of the divide that many people of faith find between their Sunday worship and their Monday work. This is must-read for clergy who take their congregation's work seriously, and for lay people who take their worship seriously." —David W. Miller, president, The Avodah Insitute

"This is a much needed and important book. In an area that has been shockingly devoid of empirical research, Nash and McLennan add to our knowledge of one of the most important aspects of life. They are to be strongly applauded." —Ian Mitroff, holds the Harold Quinton Distinguished Professorship of Business Policy at the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California and author of twenty books, including Smart Thinking for Crazy Times and A Spiritual Audit of Corporate America

"The line between the sacred and the secular often separates the thinking and understanding among Christian leaders and leaders in business who are also Christian. The essence of the faith requires integration in all areas of life, so why isn't there more common ground? This book represents a careful study and review of this question. It is a must read for those who are serious about teaching and living their faith." — C. William Pollard, chairman, The ServiceMaster Company and author of Soul of the Firm

"A bold book with a clear wake-up call and to businesspeople and churchgoers to cease seeing one another as incompatible adversaries and begin to recognize that, as a source of strength and perspective, religion offers businesspeople a foundation on which to take risks and do good work. And business offers an opportunity for people of faith to let their beliefs drive their behavior and accountability in the workplace. Laura Nash and Scott McLennan use stories of real people to ground their book. The result is an heartening, indispensable guide for anyone making critical decisions in business today." — Jeffrey Seglin, author, The Good, The Bad, and Your Business: Choosing Right When Ethical Dilemmas Pull Your Apart

"With incisive intelligence, Laura Nash and Scotty McLennan lift the curtain on the mistrust, even hostility, between the church and business. A groundbreaking book." — A.J. Vogl, Editor, Across the Board magazine

"This book's particularly thoughtful analysis comes at a crucial time— when more business people are seeking deeper spiritual understandings and commitments and also when churches are seeking to engage the challenging problems of our communities that business people are well equipped to help resolve." —J. McDonald Williams, chairman, Trammell Crow Company