Old Wine in New Skins : Centering Prayer and Systems Theory
Lawson, an Episcopal priest at St. Cross by the Sea in Hermosa  Beach, CA, has written a surprising but ultimately insightful  hybrid of two genres: the systems theory study and the prayer  manual. He asserts that the daily meditative practice of  Centering Prayer, together with an informed understanding of how  institutional structures work, can help clergy and congregations  deal with stress and conflicting wishes constructively. It may  be difficult for most congregations to attain the complex  self-awareness demanded here, much less to achieve Centering  Prayer, but Lawson's small book ought to help many congregations  on their way. For most collections.Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.