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Clayton is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and Special Assistant to the President at Andover Newton Theological School in Newton Centre, MA, where he teaches a course on "Practicalities of Parish Ministry." In Letters to Lee, he draws on his years in ministry using a unique epistolary format-from an older, experienced pastor to a novice. He addresses issues such as preparing for weddings, funerals, and baptisms; planning education, evangelism, and stewardship programs; growing spiritually; developing a leadership style; and maintaining personal and professional boundaries.

Highly acclaimed in use in Clayton's Andover Newton seminary classes, students, new pastors, and mentors will find this book an excellent introduction to parish ministry. "This is a terrific book for a seminary student or a recently ordained minister. I would put Letters to Lee at the top of a must-buy list," noted Benjamin Griffin, President, Andover Newton Theological School. "I wish it had been available when I started out as a pastor 35 years ago. It is full of practical 'how-tos.' Paul Clayton has a deep love for the congregation and the pastoral ministry, but doesn't pull any punches about the realities of church life. His informal, warm style engages the reader in the week-to-week work of the pastor."

"Pastoral ministry is not taught in a classroom. It is learned in the way one learns a craft-by spending time as an apprentice to someone with great skill and experience," noted Martin B. Copenhaver, Senior Pastor, Wellesley Congregational Church, Wellesley, MA. "That is what Paul Clayton, a skilled and experienced pastor, provides in this book. In these letters to a young pastor, Reverend Clayton shares the fruit of his own pastoral experience to guide his young charge (and us!) into areas never touched upon in seminary."

Referring to the practicality of Letters to Lee, Rev. Carole Carlson, Conference Minister, New Hampshire Conference, United Church of Christ, Concord, NH, wrote, "Paul Clayton's suggestions enable the pastor to develop a structure in an unstructured profession, freeing pastor and people for God's work in the world."

Before teaching at Andover Newton Theological School, Paul C. Clayton was director of the City Mission Society in Boston and director of United Church Board for World Ministries. His previous publications include Mission: A Parish Perspective and Add Salt to Season: God's People in a New Time.

In practical reality, church structure often takes precedence over theology. In his book, Liberating the Laity, R. Paul Stevens shares how he tried to equip the people in his church for doing the church's ministry but failed because-as he discovered-the governmental struc- ture of the church required him to do "the ministry. " He writes,

"Structure, I discovered, is important; there is no point in saying that every member is a minister if the structure of the fellowship says the exact opposite - by making it hard for people to discover their gifts or to exercise loving service."

The fact is, no society - religious or secular - can ever afford to be careless about the structure of its government. This is especially true of the Christian community because great and precious principles are at stake. People who are deeply involved in the actual operation of a local church know from personal experience that the government of the church affects every aspect of the inner life of the church and that it is an extremely relevant topic.