FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PUBLISHER
Paul D. Robbins
April 1, 1984
Generally we don't push books in this column, but I am going to set custom aside momentarily and urge you to read In Search of Excellence by Thomas J. Peters and Robert H. Waterman, Jr. (Harper & Row). It is relevant, carefully researched, and well written. It's been on The New York Times bestseller list since January 16, 1983.
In a nutshell, this book explains why some American corporations-IBM, Procter & Gamble, 3M, Hewlett-Packard, Disney, McDonald's, etc.-stand head and shoulders above their peers. It lists eight principles the authors found common to these corporations.
Harold Myra and I have been discussing this book, chapter by chapter, with the executive staff of Christianity Today, Inc. Although written about megacompanies that dwarf our nonprofit publishing house, we have learned much that applies. In between sessions, I have found it intriguing to speculate on direct applications for parish ministry.
Last week we discussed chapter 6, on staying "Close to the Customer." Its forty-four pages of analysis and supporting anecdotes revolve around this premise: Excellent companies define themselves by their ability and capacity to serve the customers.
Who is our "customer" in church ministry?
I'm reminded of a story about Richard Halverson, now chaplain of the U.S. Senate. When he was senior pastor of Fourth Presbyterian Church in Bethesda, Maryland, he made it a practice to minister to people at their place of employment. On one occasion he called the principal of a junior high school and asked if he could lunch with him in his office. The principal obliged and had sandwiches brought in. The two of them talked in an intimate, relaxed way about the difficult task of educating thirteen- and fourteen-year-olds.
After lunch, ...
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