The Modern Concept of the Mentor - Book Report/Review Example

?Augustine as a Mentor by Edward L. Smither. Nashville, TN: B & H Academic, 2008. 264 pp, $17.99 paperback. Edward L. Smither is a of Intercultural Studies at Colombia International University who writes academic books on theological subjects. His study on the renowned Christian scholar Augustine of Hippo provides a new slant on an age-old theme: the nurturing of Christians so that they themselves in turn become able to nurture others. Much of the material is not particularly new, but it is presented in a modern style using language from the world of business and training as well as traditional terms like discipleship and evangelism. Smither uses the modern concept of the “mentor” as his main theme. In the first chapter he explains that the figure of Augustine interests him so much because of the impact that this man had on other spiritual leaders of his generation. He was, in effect, a pastor to other pastors, and his writings serve as a set of textbooks which other spiritual leaders can use as they prepare themselves for the many challenges of ministering to other people. It is this role as a leader of the next generation of leaders that fascinates the author. The language of the book is easy to read, and not too technical either in theological or pedagogical terms. Chapter two describes the early Christian mentoring matrix which includes the work of metropolitan bishops in charge of different regions in the third and fourth centuries. These men allocated mentoring tasks to specific individuals and set up church councils in order to bring leaders together and allow them to support each other in their difficult work. They also compiled educational texts which offered guidance on moral issues as well as theology and the avoidance of heresy. This is a sensible start to the book, which locates the issues firmly in the early history of the Christian church. Chapter three examines the experience that Augustine himself had of being mentored by others, including his mother Monica, and close friends such as Ambrose, Simplicianus and Valerius (p. 92). Smither does not gloss over the human weaknesses that these people were prone to, and he makes it clear also that a person can be mentored by several different people, at different stages in life, and for different purposes. Each mentor has something valuable to offer, and it is the combination of different talents and skills that brings the most benefit to the individual. The method used in this chapter is to narrate the historical facts and show how they contributed to forming Augustine’s ideas about mentoring and nurturing. Chapters four and five deal with Augustine’s own approach to mentoring, and his thoughts on this subject. A key feature in these chapters is the fact that Augustine stresses again and again the need to focus on the teachings of Scripture. His famous treatise entitled On Teaching Christianity, for example, underlines the role of Scripture as the final authority on all matters (p. 193). The role of the instructor is seen as that of an agent through which God’s grace flows, and at all times the instructor is expected to be sensitive to the individual needs of each learner. The real meat of the book lies in these two chapters. I found it fascinating to read about the problems that Augustine anticipates in his writings, and the solutions that he proposes for teachers to use in their effort to encourage and occasionally reprimand those who are in their care. The letters of Augustine are frequently cited, showing how he was not afraid to confront the sins of others, and his famous book of Confessions demonstrates that he was not afraid to own up to own struggles against the temptations of the flesh. Above all, mentors are advised to be humble, and to take instruction even from those whom they teach. The final chapter links Augustine’s life and work with the modern day task of “shepherding shepherds” (p. 258). The author notes that modern Christian leaders are under pressure in a very busy world, and that they rarely take enough time to share a meal with each other in peace and quiet, or sit down for a long one to one conversation with a fellow leader. The dimension of community between brothers, such as was common in the third and fourth century monastic life, is very difficult to replicate in the world of mobile phones and mountains of paperwork. The author recommends, however, that more of this mutual encouragement needs to happen if church leaders are to be able to grow in their faith and be effective in all the many roles and tasks that they are required to fulfil. Taken as a whole, this book offers useful guidance on finding ways to ensure that Christian leaders both give and receive good spiritual support throughout their whole lives. The main message that comes out of the book is that leaders need themselves to be led, and that no person, however spiritual, and however high up in various Christian hierarchies, has reached perfection. A second very useful reminder that emerges from this book is the importance of community living as a channel for mutual mentoring. On the basis of the advice given on these two points, this book can be recommended to Christian leaders. There are, however, some weaknesses in the book, and these are related to the author’s express decision to limit his message to a specific target audience which excludes women and all those believers who are not in an official leadership role. This means that the case studies are limited to Augustine’s relationship with men, even though the author concedes that Augustine’s work had “an edifying impact on women, particularly the nuns and virgins” (p. 3). This approach is outdated, and it implies an elitist view of the Christian life which regards women and lay persons as lesser beings. In fact within the book Smither describes the positive influence that Augustine’s own mother had on him and this is an argument for extending the idea of mentorship to a wider range of responsible Christian believers who are in a position to influence and nurture others. For this reason I have some reservations about this book, and would recommend that it be read alongside other works on similar themes, in order to balance out its rather biased approach towards the male establishment in Christian churches. Read More