Publications. – DR CHLOE LYNCH

Chloe Lynch, The Glorious Risk: Freeing the Church from Managerialism and the Martyr Complex (London: IVP, 2026)

‘Written out of deep love for the church, this is a thoughtful and timely book. Chloe Lynch names with clarity the twin pressures of managerialism and the quiet pull toward martyrdom that have shaped much contemporary church leadership, and offers a more humane and hopeful vision in their place. Grounded in theology and lived experience, her account of leadership as friendship invites the church to recover trust, mutuality, and joy in its shared life.’ – Jason Clark, Lead Mentor and Professor for the Doctor of Leadership programme at Portland Seminary.

‘As long as I have been talking to Christians about friendship, I have been asked whether leaders can be friends with those they lead. This marvellous book not only addresses this critical question but gives us a beautiful (and very real) vision of what relational leadership can look like. Chloe writes honestly, authentically and insightfully. The Glorious Risk offers deep theological truth alongside a relatable narrative of the battles and blessings of leading a church. We have long needed to raise the volume on friendship and this is a vital contribution.’ – Phil Knox, Head of Gospel Impact, Evangelical Alliance and author of The Best of Friends

Chloe Lynch, Ecclesial Leadership as Friendship (Abingdon: Routledge, 2019)

‘In this book Dr Lynch provides an original theological argument for taking the notion of friendship seriously in the context of ecclesial leadership. This is a most welcome study that could influence the theology and practice of leadership in the church significantly. Therefore, I highly recommend this book because it deserves to be read and discussed widely by church leaders, scholars and students.’ – Mark J. Cartledge, Professor of Practical Theology, Regent University School of Divinity, USA

‘One of the classic tasks of theology—that somehow has been lost in the blurring transitions of modernity—is to speak of the most central and intimate parts of human existence. Chloe Lynch has offered us an important book that does just this, taking us deeply inside the experience of friendship, showing how God moves in the rhythms of friendship, and how we are most human when we are friends with God and one another. This is an immensely helpful book that will challenge your conception of leadership, and beautifully call you into new theological visions.’ – Andrew Root, The Carrie Olson Baalson Professor of Youth and Family Ministry, Luther Seminary, USA and author of The Pastor in a Secular Age (2019)

‘In a time of deep uncertainty and apparently perpetual change the issue of leadership becomes crucial. If the church does not faithfully nurture Christ-like leaders then the beautiful and crucial gift that is the Gospel will be inhibited in its transformative task. Of course God’s work will continue no matter what! The church exists for a purpose: to expand our imagination. When the apostle Paul talks about renewing our minds, at least part of what he pushes us to consider is the reconstruction of our imagination. In this book Chloe offers us a way of thinking and understanding leadership that serves to re-form our imagination in ways that can enable us to re-think and reframe what it means to lead God’s people. That is not a small contribution! This is a fascinating and important book that has huge potential for facilitating creative thinking, and initiating thoughtful change and faithful living.’ – John Swinton, Professor in Practical Theology and Pastoral Care, University of Aberdeen, UK

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In addition to my book, I have also published a number of peer-reviewed articles and book chapters:

Directing Desire: Diagnosing Acedia and Dark Night in Spiritual Direction in John of the Cross: Carmel, Desire and Transformation (eds. Peter M. Tyler and Edward Howells) (forthcoming with Routledge, 2024).
A Friend Even Though He is Lord’: Teresa of Avila and the Soul’s Relationship with God Studies in Spirituality 32 (2023), 337-352.
Leadership Vulnerability: Its Concrete Expression and the Courage to Embrace It Journal of Religious Leadership 22:1 (2023), 30-51.
The Heart of the Matter: Using Theological Reflective Method in Spiritual Direction Practical Theology 15:4 (2022), 342-353.
Prophetic Imagination as a Mode of Practical Theology in Evangelicals Engaging in Practical Theology (eds. Helen Morris and Helen Cameron), Abingdon: Routledge, 2022.
Difficulties in Prayer: Diagnosing and Directing Acedia and Dark Night Presence: An International Journal of Spiritual Direction 28:2 (2022).
Leading Away From God: Acedia, Believers and the Church Practical Theology 14:3 (2021), 242-252.
Preacher as Friend Anglican Theological Review 102:3 (2020), 437-456.
Don’t Give Up Hope: Continuing in Friendship with God amidst Acedia Evangelical Review of Theology 44:2 (2020), 126-140.
Prophetic Leadership: Making Present the Truth of Ecclesial Hope Journal of Religious Leadership 18:1 (2019), 51-73.
Love, Leadership and McDonald’s Journal of the European Pentecostal Theological Association 38:2 (2018), 113-125.
In 1 Peter 5:1-5, who are the πρϵσβύτϵροι and what is said about their role? Expository Times 123:11 (2012), 529-540.
How convincing is Walter Wink’s interpretation of Paul’s language of the powers? Evangelical Quarterly 83:3 (2011), 251-266.

My popular-level writing includes the following:

In addition to a couple of devotional series for Scripture Union’s Closer to God publication, I have been published by Preach magazine and also here in Conversatio, an initiative of The Martin Institute.
I blog regularly at The Art of Steering.

DR CHLOE LYNCH | ACADEMIC&PRACTITIONER