The Marketplace Ministry Handbook

Book excerpt: Work has become for many people the central reference point in their lives and the main consumer of their time and energy. Whether people have much or little money is what much of life revolves around. There is an implicit theology in everyone's attitude to and handling of work. This book looks at the relationship between God and the marketplace, at work as a spiritual discipline, and at how to handle some of the main pressures and dilemmas that arise in a work setting. The combined wisdom of dozens of experts makes this volume a great place to start thinking about how Christians should approach subjects such as: . ADVERTISING . BUSINESS ETHICS . COMPETITION . COMPROMISE . CONTRACTS . CREDIT. DEBT . FIRING . GOSSIP . INSURANCE . INTEGRITY . INVESTMENT . LEADERSHIP . LOYALTY . MANAGEMENT . NEGOTIATING . NETWORKING . OFFICE POLITICS . PROMOTION . RETIREMENT . SHIFTWORK . STEWARDSHIP . STRESS . STRIKES . UNIONS . VOLUNTEER WORK . WHISTLE-BLOWING R. Paul Stevens is the David J. Brown Family Professor of Marketplace Theology and Leadership at Regent College in Vancouver and the author of many books on marriage, work and everyday life. His many books include The Other Six Days, Liberating the Laity, Marriage Spirituality, Living the Story and Down-to-Earth Spirituality. Robert Banks is past director and dean of Macquarie Christian Studies Institute in Sydney, Australia. He has written widely on work, community, and popular culture, including The Tyranny of Time and Redeeming the Routines.