Management and the Gospel

The goals of Management and the Gospel: Luke's Radical Message for the First and Twenty-First Centuries may appear to be simple: it describes what management theory and practice looked like in the first century, uses this as a lens to examine what the Gospel of Luke says about management, and draws out implications for today. However, the book is quite profound in finding that management is a dominant theme in the Gospel, that its message is consistently counter-cultural, and that Luke contains a four-phase 'how to' process model to help readers to implement change. Readers will acquire a new way to understand the Gospel as well as the moral foundations of modern management.

“Dyck demonstrates that ‘management’ is not just a contemporary concept, but aspects of it were already evident in the ancient world (including in Aristotle‘s reflections) and in the Bible. …This remarkable effort will be of special use to Christian practitioners and scholars who want to reflect theologically on leadership. One would be hard pressed to find anything comparable to this work.” (Arthur Boers, Journal of Religious Leadership, Vol. 14 (1), 2015)

“This ambitious volume engages in an interdisciplinary dialogue between the Gospel of Luke and contemporary management theory. … the volume is a welcome primer on how biblical studies can seek to interact with contemporary management theory.” (Thomas E. Phillips, Religious Studies Review, Vol.42 (3), September, 2016) 

"Dyck advances the state of the art on the theology and spirituality of management by elaborating an integrative framework of New Testament theology, organizational behavior and business ethics in a scholarly, yet accessible, challenging and reader-friendly way. The book is replete with coherent and persuasive arguments on the relevance of Luke Gospel's tenets and principles to the secular world of contemporary rationalized organizations in their quest for inner meaning, purpose, new identities and above all, vision in turbulent times. . . . Provides an impetus for critical reflection on the responsibilities of organizations in modern times of a multilevel, as well as multifaceted and persistent crisis." - History of Economic Ideas

"A remarkably interesting and insightful study . . . Dyck's book is a must-read for everybusiness and management school in Anabaptist, Protestant, or Catholic-related institutions. It should also be read by Scripture scholars. He provides solid historical evidence for his claims and does not offer superficial remedies. Having begun the book with suspicions, I left it convinced that he has made an important contribution." - Direction: A Mennonite Brethren Forum

"An excellent example of good Biblical integration . . . Valuable for management professors interested in teaching students what Jesus might say to present-day managers." - Christian Business Academy Review

"In Management and the Gospel, Dyck's provocative and persuasive research reveals the world of first-century management, reinterpreting the teaching of Jesus through that lens, with implications for managers today. A serious read, calling us to ponder the possibilities and responsibilities of management today." - Walter C. Wright, Jr., Author, Relational Leadership: A Biblical Model for Leadership Service, Max De Pree Center for Leadership, USA

"This revolutionary new volume is an important work that scholars seriously interested in the historical, sociological and spiritual foundations of management will not be able to ignore. Connecting this kind of systematic, scholarly book to practical issues is a major challenge for any author, but Dyck has done so in a powerful, convincing and useful way." - Tom Lawrence, Professor, Simon Fraser University, Canada

"This book brings together the study of management, business ethics, and theology in a scholarly yet accessible way. It is anoutstanding achievement that all of us involved in those fields need to take account of." - C.R. (Bob) Hinings, Professor Emeritus, University of Alberta, Canada

"This well-documented work is a worthy addition to Lukan studies, and not least to management alternatives in the twenty-first century. Every member of an organization (oikos), from a small family unit to a large corporation, should read this book." - V. George Shillington, Author, An Introduction to the Study of Luke-Acts; Professor Emeritus, Canadian Mennonite University, Canada

"Dr. Bruno Dyck has delivered a provocative and compelling alternative to traditional interpretations of Luke's relevance to work and business. Whether readers end up agreeing with Bruno's perspective or not, they will surely have benefitted from reading an engaging and well-supported critical evaluation of dominant perspectives that just might change their way of thinking and acting." - Mitchell Neubert, Chavanne Chair of Christian Ethics in Business, Baylor University, USA

"In an increasingly technological and secular world, we may be tempted to think that sacred texts such as the Gospels are irrelevant to the complex world of managing organizations. Bruno Dyck's Management and the Gospel says otherwise. The book provides a compelling and convincing argument that the Gospels are central to an understanding of management that has at its core the growth and development of people. While modern management has become technically sophisticated, it has also become morally primitive. As JRR Tolkein put it 'Ours is an age of improved means to deteriorated ends.' Management and the Gospel marries spiritual and moral ends to sophisticated and technical organizational insights to give a vision of management that is desperately needed for today's organizations." - Michael J. Naughton, Coauthor, Managing as if Faith Mattered; Moss Chair in Catholic Social Thought, University of St. Thomas, USA

"This book challenges usto reconsider the gospel with a view toward transforming relationships within and between organizations. Bruno Dyck applies careful attention to the biblical text and appreciation for historical context to interpret Jesus' teachings and apply them to contemporary management practice. His study signals the kingdom of God, salvation, and the Holy Spirit as central for a practical Christian theology of management." - Kent Miller, Professor, Eli Broad Graduate School of Management, Michigan State University, USA

"This book is a most welcome addition to the growing scholarship on the theology and spirituality of management. Its ability to take account of both the first and the twenty-first centuries on their own terms makes it an especially valuable contribution. In spite of the rigour and depth with which Dyck covers a diverse range of scholarly material, the writing throughout is accessible, clearly argued, and highly engaging. The detailed, critical, innovative and engaging analysis of Luke's Gospel will be of interest to biblical scholars, both professional and amateur. The book will be of great relevance to scholars and managers, whether in the private, public or third sectors, who are looking for a viable, grounded alternative to individualistic, short-term, profit-seeking modern corporatism." - Sarah Drakopoulou-Dodd, Academic Director, AHEAD-ALBA Hub for Enterprise and Development, Greece

"This fascinating interdisciplinary work contemplates and re-frames central themes of modern management theory through the wisdom and values of the ancient world, particularly through a critical inquiry into 'management' in the New Testament Gospel of Luke. Here emerges a persuasive argument that Max Weber's 'iron cage' view of modern rationalized society need not be so iron-clad as commonly assumed. Moreover, the book urges that a broader hermeneutic and dialog with important religious traditions can provide modern productive organizations with a reservoir of alternate values and institutional understandings." - Douglas E. Oakman, Coauthor, Palestine in the Time of Jesus: Social Structures and Social Conflicts; Pacific Lutheran University, USA

"Anybody with a desire to live out God's call to them should read Management and the Gospel: Luke's Radical Message for the First and Twenty-First Centuries. Dr. Dyck takes an insightful and fresh look at Jesus' life and words. It engaged my head and challenged my heart." - Galen Lehman, President, Lehman's Old Time General Store, Kidron, Ohio, USA

"I thank Bruno Dyck for this remarkable book. Just as theologian John H. Yoder proposed the Practices of the Christian community as paradigms for Christians in business and all other human organizations, so Bruno Dyck shows in a refreshing and challenging way how Jesus as presented in the Gospel of Luke offers God-given ways to incarnate God´s character in business management. With this book, Dyck may well become known as one of those 'new prophets'contributing to 'the rebirth of old ideas and ideals' which Max Weber was talking about a century ago." - Werner Franz, Professor of Ethics and Bible; Dean, of the Department of Theology, Universidad Evangélica del Paraguay, Paraguay

Bruno Dyck is Professor in the Department of Business Administration in the I.H. Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba, Canada.