---
title: "The Contemplative Pastor: Returning to the Art of Spiritual Direction by Eugene Peterson"
description: "Summary: How should pastors spend their time and focus. After re-reading Eugene Peterson's memoir The Pastor, I looked around for something else of Peterson's to read. I picked this up primarily..."
url: https://bookwi.se/contemplative-pastor/
date: 2015-08-25
modified: 2023-12-14
author: "Adam Shields"
categories: ["Book Reviews"]
type: post
lang: en
---

# The Contemplative Pastor: Returning to the Art of Spiritual Direction by Eugene Peterson

**[![Contemplative Pastor cover image](https://bookwi.se/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/8302613-200x300.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0035RP5DW/)Summary: How should pastors spend their time and focus.**

After re-reading Eugene Peterson’s memoir [The Pastor](https://bookwi.se/the-pastor-a-memoir-by-eugene-peterson-2/), I looked around for something else of Peterson’s to read. I picked this up primarily because of the subtitle. I am interested in spiritual direction and wanted to get Peterson’s take on it.

There is wisdom here. Primarily, this is a book that is calling on pastors to take charge of the definition of their calling. The role of the pastor is to call people to Christ, not to primarily manage an organization.

But spiritual direction, in a formal sense, is basically not mentioned. Peterson is calling on the pastor to be unhurried, to give time to people and relationships, to prepare for worship and to pay attention to their own spiritual lives.

For most people, skip this and read his memoir instead. There are a lot of overlapping themes and stories. That is not to say that this is not worth reading; it is. But it is more oriented toward the pastor, and if you have already read his memoir, I think it is less essential. And if you had to pick only one, I would pick the memoir.

**The Contemplative Pastor: Returning to the Art of Spiritual Direction by Eugene Peterson Purchase Links: [Paperback](http://www.amazon.com/Contemplative-Pastor-Returning-Spiritual-Direction/dp/0802801145/), [Kindle Edition](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0035RP5DW/)**

***Related Book Reviews***

- [![](https://bookwi.se/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/357853320_80_80.jpg)](https://bookwi.se/the-pastor-a-memoir-by-eugene-peterson-2/)[The Pastor: A Memoir by Eugene Peterson](https://bookwi.se/the-pastor-a-memoir-by-eugene-peterson-2/)
- [![](https://bookwi.se/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/213312790_80_801.jpg)](https://bookwi.se/a-little-book-for-new-theologians/)[A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology](https://bookwi.se/a-little-book-for-new-theologians/)
- [![](https://bookwi.se/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/291748641_80_801.jpg)](https://bookwi.se/run-horses-quest-life-best-eugene-peterson/)[Run With the Horses: The Quest for Life at Its Best by Eugene Peterson](https://bookwi.se/run-horses-quest-life-best-eugene-peterson/)
- [![](https://bookwi.se/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/188500033_80_80.jpg)](https://bookwi.se/tell-it-slant-a-conversation-on-the-language-of-jesus-in-his-stories-and-prayers-by-eugene-h-peterson/)[Tell It Slant: A Conversation on the Language of Jesus in His Stories and Prayers by Eugene H. Peterson](https://bookwi.se/tell-it-slant-a-conversation-on-the-language-of-jesus-in-his-stories-and-prayers-by-eugene-h-peterson/)
- [![](https://bookwi.se/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/331765901_80_801.jpg)](https://bookwi.se/practice-resurrection/)[Practice Resurrection: A Conversation on Growing Up in Christ by Eugene Peterson](https://bookwi.se/practice-resurrection/)
- [![](https://bookwi.se/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/279246168_80_80.jpg)](https://bookwi.se/the-pastors-kid/)[The Pastor’s Kid: Finding Your Own Faith and Identity by Barnabas Piper](https://bookwi.se/the-pastors-kid/)