GCORR Book Study Guide: For Small Groups & Individual Reflection

The General Commission on Religion & Race (GCORR) remains committed to supporting and resourcing the Church in its journey of dismantling racism. We are aware that people learn and grow in many ways due to the rich diversity of humanity.

Our hope is that this study guide resource will help you on your anti-racism journey, deepen your faith, and strengthen your mind and spirit to continuing working for a more just and equitable world.

Author Tod Bolsinger discusses a key characteristic all leaders must possess if they are to sustain great leadership – resilience. Bolsinger names the fact that leading is difficult and, often, it is crises that propel leaders into the act of leading. The author mentions failure of nerve and failure of heart as two primary conditions that prevent leaders from leading well specifically amid crisis and change. Bolsinger lays out a process for a leader forming resilience within themselves and the practice of leadership – recognizing the crises present in leading change, formation in the act of leading, self-reflection, relational security, handling stress well, practicing the act of leading, and engaging rhythms of leading and not leading.

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How To Use This Study

This book study guide follows the structure of the book:

• Session 1: Introduction & Crises of Leading Change
• Session 2: Resilience
• Session 3: Working
• Session 4: Heating
• Session 5: Holding
• Session 6: Hammering
• Session 7: Hewing
• Session 8: Tempering & Epilogue

Sessions may be completed each week for an 8-week study or may be completed in four weeks by engaging two chapters each week. Each session opens with a prayer and scripture verse or opening quotation from the book.

For more book studies, visit the GCORR book study page.