b'MINISTRY & CHURCH LEADERSHIPASSOCIATE PASTORSMICHAEL MATTHEW MAURIELLO Ministry from the MiddleRather than simply leading or following, why not consider stewarding? Associate pastors of all kindswhether assigned to children, youth, worship, adult, or outreachare often caught in the middle of compli-catedrelationshipsintheircongregations.Itsanemotionallytaxing andorganizationallyconfusingposition.InAssociatePastors,Michael Matthew Mauriello demonstrates how associate pastors can harness the ambiguity that accompanies their role in ways that can mutually benefit church members and other pastoral staff.The heart of Associate Pastors comes from personal interviews with twenty-fiveassociatepastorsinsmall-to-medium-sizedchurcheswho have served in pastoral ministry positions for more than ten years. Their shared experiences demonstrate the unique social and spiritual dynamics of the associate pastor role and suggest great promise for those willing to approach their calling with creativity and care. Specifically, when associ-ate pastors facilitate of learning within their congregations, they confer benefits on church leadership and laypeople alike.Given that most pastoral students have limited preparation for the responsibilities associate pastors shoulder, Associate Pastors is an ideal textbook for Bible colleges and seminaries. Those studying for the pastor-ate and those already serving in associate pastor roles will find encourage-ment and a new vision for blessing the church.Michael Matthew Mauriello (PhD, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is Assistant Professor of Christian Ministry at LeTourneau University CONTENTS and the Director of Church Relations, Training, and Assessment at the Chapter 1: The Challenges of Being in the Middle Passage Institute for Youth and Theology, a one-year discipleship pro-Chapter 2: Orienting to Ambiguity in the Middle gram for high school students. He has more than ten years of experience as an associate pastor in EFCA churches.Chapter 3: The Pinched Relationships of Associate PastorsChapter 4: How Associates Learn and How They HelpRelated Titlesthe Congregation Learn Embracing Shared MinistryChapter 5: Five Critical Skills Associate Pastors Need to978-0-8254-4264-3$19.99Navigate Ambiguity The Mentoring ChurchAfterword: Suggestions for Preparing Students for978-0-8254-4464-7$18.99Associate Ministry978-0-8254-4744-0$20.99Paperback5.5 x 8.5240 pagesChristian Ministry /Pastoral Resources Kregel MinistryRights: WorldMay 24, 202238kregel.com/academic'