Review for Ministers-at-Work by Rob Fox July 2007

The facts are always a good place to start. Ken Costa is Chairman of Alpha International and a driving force behind the Alpha programme and Holy Trinity Brompton. Born, raised and educated in South Africa, he has been an investment banker in the City of London for over 30 years. As well as his initial degree in Philosophy, Ken has studied both Law and Theology at the University of Cambridge, where he committed his life to Christ. This information alone tells you a great deal, but of course the picture is wider than that.

The book is divided, after the introduction, into eight handily sized and thematic chapters, each fitting nicely into a medium length train journey. In the introduction Ken sets out his intent and assumptions. For example he notes that living as a Christian in the workplace has become more difficult over the last 30 years, so (p.15) “this book is for those who are already engaged in the exciting challenge of living out their faith at work … [and] those exploring the bigger questions of life who would describe themselves as sympathetic to Christianity, but not quite as shareholders.” The last allusion is in line with both Ken’s own experience of work and his conviction (p.5) that “democratic capitalism … was the economic system that best served the common good and best reflected the New Testament principles of justice, individual freedom and responsible risk-taking.” This is a book by and for those who have gained most from democratic capitalism; not a judgement but an observation.

The first chapter, “Work matters”, treads the path worn by a succession of books over the past dozen years, not least Mark Greene’s “Thank God its Monday”. Ken makes the point forcefully that work is central to faith, not marginal, and draws attention to God’s creation and relatedness as Trinity as the paradigm for our work and interdependence. He is realistic, noting the downsides of work throughout the book, such as the fine line between fulfilment and futility, stress, and work – life balance. He points out (p.21) that our role as Christians at work is to “influence the world for good.” And work is not an ‘add-on’ but “is a ministry, empowered by God, for the benefit of ourselves and others, and ultimately fro his glory.” Neither is there a pecking order of jobs; to act as if there were a sacred / secular divide is “disastrous” (p.25). All good MSE stuff.

To make this ministry real, Ken offers three analytical tools (p.30): Understanding the world Critiquing the world, and Drawing the world to Christ. He seeks to use these tools himself as the case is developed. If there is a drawback here it is that his ‘understanding the world’ is quite narrow. The examples he gives do not venture away from his own background as a banker or the Christian circles in which he clearly moves. Stories by or about others there are a-plenty, and most are apt and well used. It’s just that they are about other bankers, solicitors, CEOs, stockbrokers. My heart leapt at one point when the story of a printer was introduced, only to fall as it became clear he was director of a printing company. Stories are at their best when the reader (or hearer) can relate to experiences of the characters.

There is too a great deal of discussion on practical issues, such as ambition and life choices, stress, making hard decisions, disappointment and giving. Again the illustrations and interpretations, while uncomplicated, are from a milieu reflecting the life experiences of a small part of the population, for example comparing Jesus death in the cross to City trading – a “Royal Exchange” (p.138).

One illustration did bother me. Early on (pp.44-47) Ken tackles the hoary question of whether a Christian should leave their work and ‘go into ministry’. Regrettably the merchant banker whose story he tells to send the message that we don’t have to leave our secular job in order to serve God where we are leaves his job to become Chairman of Alpha Asia Pacific.

It is not scholarly work and doesn’t pretend to be; the theology is basic and not developed. It is rather an exhortation and encouragement to see our lives as a whole and not as separate compartments. It is strong on what personal commitment and holiness mean in our work, though rather less so on the corporate aspects of our faith.

Nonetheless, this is a book that will be widely read within the constituency whence it comes, because of that and who has written it. It deserves to be read too: despite the limitations above it is written in an easy, almost chatty style, and it will, with God working through it, lead to a shift in how the relationship between faith and work is realised in the lives of many. But for those who can identify with it, it could be the starting point for taking seriously the challenges of ministry at work.