Waukesha - Mayor Jeff Scrima's directive that city managers read and then discuss at staff meetings a book by a Christian author prompted a protest this week from Police Chief Russell Jack.

The book was published by a financial contributor to Scrima's campaign.

"I am a devout WELS Lutheran, but I don't believe it is legally appropriate to bring these ideas into a department directors' meeting," Jack wrote in an email to the mayor and released after a public records request. WELS is an acronym for Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Scrima told a reporter Friday, "There's no religious language in here. If there was any religious words or overtone, I would not have recommended it."

The book, "Sequencing: Deciphering Your Company's DNA" by Michael Metzger, was distributed by the mayor to department managers with assigned reading pages to be discussed at three meetings April 7, 19 and May 3. He also gave copies to aldermen, without reading assignments.

A founder of the book's publisher, Game Changer Books, is Gary Lato of Waukesha. Lato donated $500 to Scrima's mayoral campaign. The Lato Family Foundation, which Lato runs, gave $16,500 to Scrima's New Day in Waukesha charitable fund for community causes.

The publisher was paid $428.16 in tax money from the mayor's and council's budgets for 30 books.

Citing confidentiality ground rules of staff meetings, Jack declined to repeat what he said at Tuesday's managers' meeting. But others in attendance said he objected to the exercise because of the religious underpinnings and code words in the book, as described in the author's online essay, "Living the Gospel in Culture."

In an email response to the police chief Friday afternoon, Scrima said, "The intended focus of the book study is to create dialogue and the conditions that engage everyone to achieve organizational goals. In today's economically challenged times, we can certainly all agree that achieving the city's goals is of vital importance."

Metzger, the book's author, says in his DoggieHeadTilt blog that he was a founding pastor of Bay Area Community Church in Annapolis who began to develop and lead forums. He is listed on the blog as president and senior fellow of The Clapham Institute, "whose mission is to help people and organizations advance faith-centered cultural reform."

That same blog, in a July posting, said the newly published book "is written in street language yet informed by scripture. 'Sequencing' starts with lived experience with Christianity latent. The words are drawn from the boardroom yet are derived from the Bible."

Lato's publishing company is described as one designed "to create individualized campaigns for books that foster human flourishing and the common good. It is a niche publisher seeking books that challenge prevailing assumptions about society and call for a return to the objective reality of the good, true and beautiful. Its audience is cultural creatives and institutional gatekeepers."

Lato serves on the Clapham Institute board of trustees with Metzger.

Scrima said he saw no conflict in buying books from his campaign contributor, whom he called a successful retired businessman who decided to invest in publishing a great business book.

"So what?" he said. "What's the problem?"

He said the book should be judged on its merits, not by the author's other writings.

"I could care less about a particular author's background or what else they write about," he said. "I didn't ask the department directors to do a background check on the author and read everything else he wrote."

Poor reviews

Waukesha City Administrator Lori Luther, who was out of town, responded to the concern raised by Jack over separation of church and state by text message.

"I have a duty to uphold the constitution and protect this organization. Sadly, the mayor's action puts our organization at risk," she said. "Without question, there will be no further book discussions in my presence."

Scrima said he hopes to continue the discussions.

Luther said the mayor's action was "very similar" to facts in a 2007 federal court ruling against Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. and Milwaukee County. In that case, in a lawsuit brought by the Milwaukee Deputy Sheriffs' Association, representatives of a Christian organization from Elmbrook Church were invited to present a Christian message to deputies at meetings in the workplace during work hours, and deputies were required to attend.

Other Waukesha department managers who had read at least some of the "Sequencing" book said they didn't speak up because they didn't detect an overt religious theme or, though aware of the author's approach from Web research, weren't moved to object.

Most who were contacted, however, said the book wasn't helpful as a motivational or management tool.

One who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisal from the mayor called it a "lame" book. Another found it interesting but said it wouldn't be one he'd recommend for organizational motivation.

Public Works Director Fred Abadi, who is Muslim, said he felt there was a religious tone and researched the author but wasn't offended.

He said, "I've done lots of graduate work at Marquette, and there are all sorts of management books out there, so my question is: Why this book?

"I read the book. As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing earthshaking in it. There was nothing in there that would help me do the job better as public works director."

He said, "I'm not sure if I really fully understood the reason behind it."

A book debate

Assessor Paul Klauk, who describes himself as an avid reader, said, "There's usually a point where you have an 'Aha' moment, but I haven't gotten there yet."

Scrima said in his email to the chief, "Anyone can carefully read this book for themselves and determine whether it speaks to religious bunk or the reality of organizational culture.

"As a city leadership team, we need to develop a creative environment of stability in motion to reach our goal of finding $1.5 million in annual cost savings - it will require innovation and clear-eyed perspective from all department heads. This 'Sequencing' book might just be a small step in helping us get there."