When No One Leads the Church: Pastoral Leadership and the Formation of a Healthy Church Culture

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Reginald W Steele Kenneth N Ngwa

When No One Leads the Church

Pastoral Leadership and the Formation of a Healthy Church Culture

Reginald W Steele, Kenneth N Ngwa

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English

Wipf & Stock Publishers
14 November 2025

Christianity; Christian life & practice; Christian social thought & activity; Religious groups: social & cultural aspects

When No One Leads the Church delves into the intricate social dynamics influencing Black Baptist congregations, focusing particularly on the influence of ""family legacy groups."" By using the fictional Wayside Baptist Church as a case study, the book investigates how survival strategies, initially developed to navigate leadership changes and conflicts, become ingrained in the church's culture. These survival strategies, while once crucial for maintaining stability, often solidify into power structures that resist change, impede growth, and create friction between traditional governance and new practices. To shed light on these dynamics, the book draws a compelling comparison to Malcolm X's life, contrasting his survival identity before his pilgrimage to Mecca with the transformative journey that altered his perspective and ethics. This comparison offers a framework for understanding how deeply rooted congregational practices can either block or enable change. Across seven chapters, the book explores the origins of family legacy groups, the influence of teaching and leadership, the significance of rituals like Lent and pilgrimage, and the potential for transformation within faith communities. This book serves as both a critique and a guide. It urges Black Baptist churches to distinguish between essential survival practices and distorted legacies, while providing pathways for renewal, justice, and genuine congregational transformation.

By: Reginald W Steele
Foreword by: Kenneth N Ngwa
Imprint: Wipf & Stock Publishers
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 216mm, Width: 140mm, Spine: 8mm
Weight: 186g
ISBN: 9798385247523
Pages: 156
Publication Date: 14 November 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Reginald W. Steele is a pastor, scholar, and writer whose work explores faith, culture, and the survival dynamics of Black religious communities. With a passion for teaching and creating transformative spaces, he bridges theology and lived experience to inspire critical reflection and spiritual growth. His research and ministry highlight the intersections of identity, tradition, and resilience, offering fresh insights for churches, classrooms, and community life.

Reviews for When No One Leads the Church: Pastoral Leadership and the Formation of a Healthy Church Culture

""Densely packed with fresh, interreligious insights about the ethics of internal Black church congregational life, Reginald Steele's analysis will deepen and shake up what you imagine possible for substantive and justice-oriented healthy transformations to occur."" --Traci C. West, Professor Emerit of Christian Ethics and African American Studies, Drew Theological School ""Densely packed with fresh, interreligious insights about the ethics of internal Black church congregational life, Reginald Steele's analysis will deepen and shake up what you imagine possible for substantive and justice-oriented healthy transformations to occur."" --Traci C. West, Professor Emerit of Christian Ethics and African American Studies, Drew Theological School