Dr. Jana Holiday’s New Publication Reframes Administration as Formation
Adjunct Professor of Practical Theology and Dean of Students Dr. Jana Holiday released her first publication: Taking Good Care: Administration as Christian Formation (Eerdmans, 2026). In it, Dr. Holiday offers a theologically rich vision of administrative work as a pathway for shaping Christian leaders spiritually. Jana Holiday draws from extensive administrative experience to explore how everyday tasks—from spreadsheets to decision-making, conflict resolution to resource stewardship—can become transformative practices.
As she explains, “We cannot help but be formed by our work. Especially as Christians, we want to take good care of the people, resources, and projects of which we are stewards. Thinking about administration from this perspective allows us to access our hearts even as we reflect on our work. It’s not about finding the most efficient way to do a task, but about how to love, walking in fruitfulness, wisdom, and imagination. We live in a broken world rife with horrible tasks, annoying processes, and difficult people—this is not Eden. Our formation is about life in Christ, as we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, encompassed by the love of the Father, which leads to greater fruitfulness than possible in Eden!”
Through Taking Good Care, Dr. Holiday reframes administration as a path to Christian formation rather than simple task management. She integrates theological reflection with practical guidance and calls leaders to approach their daily work as an opportunity to steward people and resources faithfully, and to participate in God’s work of shaping lives and communities.