Product Review

The tyranny of the urgent is a by-product of ourfast-paced world. It affects many people, butwhen it impacts pastors they are often tempted toignore the critical needs of the pastoral disciplinesthat ensure the effectiveness of ministry.In Thinking, Listening, and Being: Wesleyan PastoralDisciplines, Jeren Rowell offers theologicalreflections on what it means to live and work as apastor. He examines different aspects ofpastoral thinking, practice, and work, andchallenges pastors to continually pursue prayer,the study of Scriptures, and theological reflection.'Working in this way,' he writes, 'could not onlybe a gift of love for the church but also an importantmodel for parish pastors who are tempted tosurrender first things to the urgencies and temptationsof contemporary life.'