
Integrating Christian Faith and Work
Description
Though the majority of Americans claim faith in God and adults spend the majority of their time working, these two important dimensions of life are rarely effectively integrated. It is important for people of every faith tradition to consider how, when and if their faith and work are to be integrated. This is especially true as research shows that the integration of faith and spirituality in the workplace results in numerous benefits for individuals, organizations and society - if done respectfully. This book presents key research insights concerning integration influences and strategies for Christians who seek to integrate their faith and their work. Specifically, it discusses how individual, occupational and organizational factors influence faith and work integration, and suggests diverse ways to integrate the Christian faith at work. The Faith and Work Integration Spheres of Influence Model is presented as a tool to guide individuals in better understanding how to develop their own personal plan for faith and work integration within the context of limiting or enabling occupational and organizational factors. It also suggests areas for further research on this topic. Readers will learn how Christian faith and work integration can be maximized based on individual attributes, occupational characteristics, and organizational factors.
Reviews / Votes
"Buszka and Ewest provide a well-written book and deeper level of insight into faith-work integration in an era when religion and spirituality's role in the workplace is increasingly challenged." (Stuart Allen, Professor of Organizational Leadership, Robert Morris University, USA)"This book is a rich resource with roots in both management science and Protestant Christian theology. The Spheres of Influence model is particularly relevant given growing workplace religious diversity -- useful to academicians and leaders, alike." (Peter Williams, Professor of Leadership, Abilene Christian University, USA)
"This book will take you on a fascinating journey through the integration of the Christian faith at work. It provides a refreshing and comprehensive insight into diverse occupational contexts, organisational processes and complex situations where the Christian faith makes a difference. Buszka and Ewest's book is immensely important for academics and practitioners - a must read!" (Allan Discua Cruz, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Strategy, Lancaster University Management School, UK)
"As we struggle with increasingly challenging social and environmental issues, embedding positive faith beliefs and values into our organizations may be one solution to ensuring a flourishing future for all. Certainly, plenty has been written about the 'what' and the 'why' of such integration though little has been offered as to the 'how', especially as it pertains to Christian Faith Traditions in modern workplaces. Buszka and Ewest's important book,
Christian Faith and Work: Individual, Occupational and Organizational Influences and Strategies
addresses this lacuna. This well-written and engaging book presents a useful and wide-ranging approach to integration,as well as offering constructive practical strategies for embedding Christian faith in organizations, even in the face of identified obstacles. The author covers a broad range of ideas, concepts and theory, making the work academic but at the same practical for everyday readers. From my perspective, this book has the potential to be a standard reference work for both Christians and managers for many years to come." (Peter McGhee,
Associate Professor of Management, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand)
"Buszka and Ewest approach the integration of Christianity and work with fresh and penetrating eyes. Their "faith and work integration spheres of influence" model, a dramatic leap over other contributions in this field, provides a sophisticated tool explicating four primary influences on how an individual can experience faith-work integration." (Kent W. Seibert, Professor and Chair, Department of Economics and Business, Gordon College, USA)
"We desperately need to better understand how we can integrate our faith into our work. Buszka and Ewest's work provides a well-researched, comprehensive resource that provides important insights at many levels, including one's personal faith stance but also well beyond that to the occupational and organizational influences shaping how we live out our faith at work. In particular, their Faith and Work Integration model will help people think through how they can more effectively integrate their faith with their work, whatever and wherever that may be." (Elden Wiebe, Associate Professor of Management, The King's University, Canada)
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Persons
Timothy Ewest is Associate Professor of Business and Director of the M.B.A. program at Houston Baptist University, USA. He is also a Visiting Scholar at the Institute for Faith, Work and Economics, Tysons, VA.
Content
1. Introduction.- 2. Historical Perceptions of the Meaning of Work.- 3. The Meaning of Work.- 4. Christian Views of Work.- 5. Definitions and Terminology.- 6. Benefits of Faith and Work Integration.- 7. The Need for Faith and Work Equipping and Training.- 8. The Faith and Work Integration Spheres of Influence Model (FWSI).- 9. Individual Influences and Strategies.- 10. Occupational Influences and Strategies.- 11. Work Organization Influences and Strategies.- 12. Faith Organization Influences.- 13. Conclusion.