Keeping Faith

This long-overdue book is a must-read for trustees, executives, employees and supporters of Christian organisations, wishing to remain true to their founders’ missions.

Professor Kenneth J. Barnes
Mockler-Phillips Chair in Workplace Theology and Business Ethics,
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

I wish I had access to this book when I was a CEO and welcome such a refreshing and thoughtful resource.

Rev. Tim Costello
Former CEO of World Vision Australia

Keeping Faith is a project long overdue, challenging the expectation of organisational drift with a new and important approach they call ‘organisational faithfulness’.

Dr John Dickson
Historian, author and Jean Kvamme Distinguished Professor,
Wheaton College (Illinois)

This book will help to inform and inspire the everyday faith of those who are concerned to influence the corporate culture of their organisations and who seek to embody gospel values in the public square.

Canon Professor Elaine Graham
Professor Emerita, University of Chester

Keeping Faith prompts readers to pay careful attention, align beliefs and actions, and avoid subtle compromises that threaten their convictions.

Peter Greer
President and CEO of HOPE International and co-author of Mission Drift

Toby Hall
Former CEO of St Vincent’s Health Australia, and Mission Australia

This challenging book provokes us to think, pray and dialogue about the issues as we guard the good deposit which has been given to us.

Archbishop Dr Peter Jensen
Archbishop of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney 2001–2013,
founding General Secretary of GAFCON

Even as someone entirely committed to the ideals that Keeping Faith espouses, this book challenged and convicted me that there is much more to reflect on, to articulate, and to embed.

Melissa Lipsett
CEO of Baptist World Aid Australia

This book is an indispensable guide for leaders and board members of Christian institutions, who will have to stand before God and account for the faithfulness of their organisations.

Paul Oslington
Professor of Economics and Theology, Alphacrucis University College

I am convinced that every staff member of a Christian organisation on recruitment should be presented with this book: it will enable them to be confident about what to expect and what is expected of them.

Dr Stuart Piggin
Conjoint Associate Professor of History, Macquarie University

This is a volume to stimulate intentional reflection (including a discussion guide) on the enduring Christian shape of an organisation’s ethos, identity and impact.

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel
Anglican Archbishop of Sydney

Practical theology at its best, this book is a gift to any leader who longs to promote a gospel-infused culture in the organisation they lead.

Dr Brian Rosner
Principal, Ridley College, Melbourne

This book is essential reading for all Christian leaders and anyone who seeks to explore the vital role organisations can have in changing the world.

Donna Shepherd
Chair, World Vision International

Keeping Faith raises the difficult question of how Christian organisations remain faithful to serving God’s mission throughout the world.

Clare Steele
CEO of Compassion Australia

Keeping Faith articulates a beautiful organisational theology that resists the temptation to go Jesus-lite in Christian organisations in order to satisfy secular metrics.

Revd Dr Richard R. Topping
President and Vice-Chancellor, Vancouver School of Theology

1. About the authors
2. Preface: The Global Perspectives Edition
3. Preface: The loss of faithfulness
4. Abbreviations
5. Section 1: The Concept of Organisational Faithfulness
1. 1. Is it possible for an organisation to be Christian>
2. 2. What is organisational faithfulness?
3. 3. In the marketplace, everyone is a theologian
6. Section 2: Towards a Theology for Organisations
1. 4. Why your organisation might be sinful without you even noticing it
2. 5. Judgement: you are what you tolerate
3. 6. Reflecting God’s grace
4. 7. Faith, hope and trust
5. 8. Experiencing forgiveness in the workplace
6. 9. What does redemption look like in organisations?
7. Section 3: Theological Foundations for Practice
1. 10. Being Christian can be risky
2. 11. Stewardship: acknowledging God in all things
3. 12. Practising radical hospitality
8. Section 4: Keeping It Grounded
1. 13. Embedding theology in practice
2. 14. Developing a practical organisational theology
3. 15. Organisational faithfulness checklist
9. Conclusion: Everything is possible with God
10. Bibliography
11. Appendix: Risk Management Policy of the Church Missionary Society of Australia
12. Acknowledgements