Nobody's Perfect: redefining sin and mistakes in adolescent Christian education by
Adolescents, like everyone else, make mistakes. However, religious educators Cynthia L. Cameron, Lakisha R. Lockhart-Rusch, and Emily A. Peck argue that some youths are born with the privilege of making mistakes in ways that others often are not. They also argue that many Christian education practices that guide our understandings of mistake-making are shaped by gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, and race in ways that disenfranchise some adolescents. In response, Cameron, Lockhart-Rusch, and Peck curate a much-needed conversation that helps religious educators accompany adolescents and better understand mistakes based on a theological framework that names adolescents as fundamentally good. The result is an edited volume that explores ways educators can walk with adolescents so that youth can learn from their mistakes and grow without misunderstanding all mistakes as sin. Together, these essays seed a theology of adolescent goodness that's rooted in a liberative Christian theological anthropology. Drawing on both qualitative and quantitative research, Nobody's Perfectoffers nuanced and robust definitions of what a mistake is, apart from definitions of sin. The book also explores the challenges of talking about mistake-making and sin with adolescents within religious institutional contexts that shape policy, pastoral practice, and ministry orientations. Finally, the book presents youths' own voices about how they understand and process what mistake-making looks like in the contexts in which they live and learn. Nobody's Perfectis for Christian educators who serve either in the academy or in congregational settings. The book well serves educators who recognize the various cultural and developmental challenges adolescents face when their church communities. The book also offers tools to help such church leaders attend to religious education spaces with a renewed theology that can root a more liberative experience of religious education.
The Problem and Promise of Freedom: a public theology for the church by
Jesus calls us to make disciples of all the nations. Many Christians believe this means enlisting soldiers in a culture war. But putting faith in the service of politics risks remaking God in our own image. How can the church help bring God's kingdom to earth without relying on the political structures of this world? Critiquing our idolization of the values of classical Western liberalism, Steven Félix-Jäger seeks a renewal of the church's public witness. He points out the pitfalls that stem from our obsession with individual freedom--from the prosperity gospel to Christian nationalism to conformity with secular progressivism. True freedom is not about individual liberty or free market economics but about flourishing in covenant with God. Félix-Jäger offers a public theology that challenges the church to be a holy, loving, and generous witness to a world bound by visions of self-absorbed autonomy and materialism. Inspired by Jubilee and Pentecost, he ultimately constructs an alternative model for public witness rooted in the abundance of the Spirit. The Problem and Promise of Freedom not only serves as an indispensable resource for students of religion and society but also offers urgent and clear-sighted witness to the church today.
Films for All Seasons by
The Spiritual Practice of Watching Movies What's your favorite Christmas movie? Easter movie? Pentecost movie? Casual viewers and movie buffs alike have favorite movies to watch at certain times of the year. But for film critic Abby Olcese, movies with spiritual themes aren't just limited to the holiday season. They're part of a deep human need to connect our favorite stories to the natural rhythms of our lives, and to let them shape and give meaning to our experience of the seasons all year long. The life of the church is also defined by stories, which we revisit through the pattern of the Christian year. In Films for All Seasons, Olcese invites us to reflect on the great themes of the church calendar through the lens of film. From superhero movies and Star Wars to classics and arthouse films, she chooses movies for each liturgical season and leads us through them with skill and infectious enthusiasm, exploring how each one can inform and deepen our appreciation of its corresponding season. Films for All Seasons is more than just a book about movies--it's a model for how we engage with art as Christians. Includes: Explorations of popular, classic, and arthouse films and how they relate to liturgical seasons Reflections on the great themes of the church calendar Discussion questions after each movie designed to facilitate discussion with small groups and friends
A Dream Eclipsed : the fractured quest for greater Lutheran unity by
In the last decades of the twentieth century, American Lutherans embarked on a journey fraught with peril and filled with promise: the formation of a new church intended to unite Lutherans throughout the country in a shared vision of ministry, service, and fellowship. Congregations, leaders, institutions, publications, programs--the whole ministerial infrastructure of three of the country's Lutheran church bodies--were reborn with the ringing in of the New Year in 1988. Yet, the birth of this new church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), was not universally celebrated. From his "front-row seat" as the ELCA's first secretary, Lowell G. Almen tells the story of the ELCA's birth, life, and growing pains as it sought to promote and embody Christian unity. A Dream Eclipsedis a memoir of the ELCA's first three and a half decades told from the wealth of Almen's personal and professional experience. It offers a unique view into the triumphs, tribulations, and ongoing work of the ELCA's founding era as the church looks forward to what lies ahead. In facing that future, Almen writes, "The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the whole church always must be on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35), taught by the resurrected Christ, informed by the words of Scripture, and renewed in faith through the breaking of the bread."
A Historical Theology of Worship : understanding freedom, order, and participation from the perspective of a Free Church tradition by
Why does the church worship as it does? Worship is central to the life and vocation of the church. Yet the church's understanding of worship is more often connected to practicalities and a congregation's likes or dislikes. This book seeks to take the reader beyond the practical; to explore where God is in worship and the impact worship should have on the life of the church. Through a historical narrative of the evolution of worship in a British Free Church (the United Reformed Church and its antecedents, the Congregational Church in England and Wales and the Presbyterian Church of England), freedom, order, and participation are identified as the key elements of worship. Investigation into their interrelationship develops a theology of worship that is applicable not only to churches of the Free Church tradition in Britain, but potentially to the universal church.
Queering the Pulpit : a sexegetical approach to preaching an inclusive word by
Queering the Pulpit addresses the huge gap between the Queer community and the church by looking at the historical, cultural, theological, and biblical issues that too often marginalize the Queer community. After setting that contextual foundation the book addresses the "clobber passages" in the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, which are the texts that have been used to bash Queer folx. Looking at these texts through new eyes is essential. Using a Queer-affirming process, the book turns to creating a new process for establishing a foundation and understanding the diverse context into which sermons are delivered and heard. Using a new "sexegetical" approach to crafting Queer-affirming sermons, the preacher will be better able to preach sermons that invite Queer folx, inspire other listeners to welcome all, and bring the listener to a deeper relationship with the Divine and hopefully their Queer siblings. If this book helps save one gay kid, one trans woman of color, or one couple exploring their faith and their Queer lives it will be worth everything it took to bring this book to reality.
Changing on the Job: : how leaders become courageous, wise, and steady in an anxious world, Second Edition by
"Brilliantly captures the essence of adult development, offering leaders a roadmap to growth amidst complexity. A must-read for anyone committed to evolving their consciousness and leadership practice." --Robert Kegan, Harvard University Graduate School of Education, co-author of Immunity to Change and An Everyone Culture An advanced guide to leadership development and intentional evolution--your own or others The leaders we need to solve our complex, unprecedented problems can only be developed in the workplace, and they require personal transformation, not just some new leadership skills. The second edition of Jennifer Garvey Berger's influential Changing on the Job explains the advanced perspective, maturity, and personal evolution leaders need to make a powerful difference in their organizations and in the world. The book offers practical tools and deep insights based on adult development theory to help leaders turn their greatest challenges into growth and personal transformation. Berger explains the four predictable stages of leadership maturity and wisdom, and how to accelerate growth toward the third and fourth stages. Whether you're a seasoned leader or an emerging coach, Changing on the Job is a roadmap to cultivating courageous, wise, and steady leadership in an uncertain world.
Growing Women in Ministry : seven aspects of leadership development by
While many aspects of leadership development are similar for women and men, women face different cultural expectations and have different experiences than their male counterparts. Anna Morgan's own experiences in pastoral ministry leadership launched her search for a holistic way to grow the skills, influence, and authority of women who are gifted and called as leaders. This book provides a positive, comprehensive, research-based model for developing women in church and ministry leadership. Morgan identifies seven aspects of leadership development that form a woman over her lifetime. Three work inwardly as a woman grows in leadership: spiritual calling, giftedness, and emotional intelligence. Four work externally to shape her authority and influence: home life supports, ministry leadership contexts, leadership relationships, and communication. Growing Women in Ministry offers a new way to understand how women leaders are formed and how they rise to become influential leaders in positions of authority in churches and ministries. It is written in a clear, accessible style for both female ministry leaders and men seeking to promote female leaders. It includes policy suggestions, strategies, values for ideal growing conditions, and discussion questions, making it an ideal resource for ministry, practical theology, and leadership courses, church and parachurch leaders, and pastors.
Types of Ecclesiology : five theological approaches by
This book introduces the study of the doctrine of the church. David Emerton highlights the breadth of contemporary ecclesiological thought by articulating five approaches to ecclesiology. He argues that we must ask what the church is before asking what the church does. Professors will find a valuable orienting text, students will grasp the stakes of contemporary debates, and scholars surveying ecumenical ecclesiology will discover an illuminating structural framework. Doing the work of the church requires discerning its essence, and this timely volume insightfully examines what is at the heart of the body of Christ.
The Contemporary Black Church : the new dynamics of African American religion by
Charts the changing dynamics of religion and spirituality among African Americans Recent decades have ushered in a profound transformation within the American religious landscape, characterized by an explosion of religious diversification and individualism as well as a rising number of "nones." The Contemporary Black Church makes the case that the story of this changing religious landscape needs to be told incorporating more data as it applies specifically to African Americans. Jason E. Shelton draws from survey data as well as interviews with individuals from a wide variety of religious backgrounds to argue that social reforms and the resulting freedoms have paved the way for a pronounced diversification among African Americans in matters of faith. Many African Americans have switched denominational affiliations within the Black Church, others now adhere to historically White traditions, and a record number of African Americans have left organized religion altogether in recent decades. These changing demographics and affiliations are having a real and measurable effect on American politics, particularly as members of the historic Black Church are much more likely than those of other faiths to vote and to strongly support government policies aimed at bridging the racial divide. Though not the first work to note that African Americans are not monolithic in their religious affiliation, or to argue that there is a trend toward secularism in Black America, this book is the first to substantiate these claims with extensive empirical data, charting these changing dynamics and their ramifications for American society and politics.
Healing Leadership Trauma: finding emotional health and helping others flourish by
Countless books are designed to help leaders to become better leaders. But most resources neglect the underlying emotional struggles of both emerging and established leaders, who are often isolated and suffering in silence. Leadership professor Nicholas Rowe and counselor Sheila Wise Rowe offer their expertise in helping leaders process painful and traumatic experiences. Trauma contributes to how we lead others in either empowering or dysfunctional ways. Understanding how these experiences formed us is the beginning of the path to healing. Woven throughout each chapter are five themes--invitation, attachment, remembrance, healing, and reconnection. Healing Leadership Trauma lays out the emotional challenges of leadership and offers encouragement, prayer, and therapeutic tools to help leaders face their pain and begin to heal.
Religion in a Changing Workplace by
Employees are increasingly embracing the notion of "bringing their whole selves to work," and many employers are encouraging them. Those whole selves often include religious identities, however, and that can make things complicated. Employers can be uncertain about how to respond to workers' religious identities and afraid that such expression will lead to conflict.Elaine Howard Ecklund, Denise Daniels, and Christopher P. Scheitle have conducted more than 15,000 surveys and 300 in-depth interviews on the subject of faith at work in the US. In this thoughtful exploration of religious identities in the workplace--the culmination of five years of research--the authors make the case for inclusion and argue that employers should accommodate religious self-expression at work. Their data-driven but accessible approach uses up-to-date research to show how a wide range of workers understand their work vis-a-vis their faith, and how religious identities overlap with--and may be key to fostering--other kinds of diversity. By looking at how workers from a variety of religious traditions and social groups are bringing their faith into the workplace, the authors identify why and how organizations can foster a diversity of religious beliefs and expressions in the workplace. This book will help organizational leaders, workers, and scholars understand both the challenges and benefits of the integration of faith at work and to respond thoughtfully and respectfully to the presence of religion in the workplace.
The Digitalised Image of God : artificial intelligence, liturgy, and ethics by
This book focuses on the idea of the imago Dei to engage theologically with artificial intelligence (AI). It reflects on how enormous progress in the development of AI has raised some challenges to Christian theology.
Leadership As Stewardship : honouring our past while ensuring our future (2024) by
"Exploring different understandings of stewardship across a range of research domains and cultures, this insightful book examines the tensions between competing perspectives and their implications for leadership. Marian Iszatt-White proposes 'leadership-as-stewardship' as a new signifier for leadership research, providing practical guidance to leaders navigating the challenges and trade-offs of the Anthropocene. Leadership as Stewardship identifies how the apparent inadequacy of modern leadership coincides with a shift in scholarship away from practical inquiry and towards a range of aspirational approaches, including authentic, sustainable, responsible and ethical. Iszatt-White proposes stewardship as an alternative to these aspirational forms of leadership and challenges the ability of Western, Enlightenment-based thinking to solve global issues created by that same thinking. The book concludes that it is time to place the more enact-able construct of stewardship at the heart of leadership aspirations and scholarly activities. Interdisciplinary in scope, this book will be vital for scholars of leadership, management and organization studies. Highlighting the ability of stewardship to combat perceived failings in leadership as both a construct and a practice, it is also valuable to policymakers, management educators and leadership practitioners"-
When the Lord's House Closes : church repurposing and urban community practice by
Functioning churches are an integral part of a community, not only for the active members of a congregation, but in providing myriad other services to the broader population - from food, housing, and other charitable outreach to hosting local events, to serving as election polling locations. So what happens when a church closes? Declining religious affiliation, accelerated modernization, and a number of other demographic, ecological, economic, and political factors mean that church closures are increasingly common in the United States. When the Lord's House Closes examines the forces behind these closings and provides community-centric recommendations for repurposing church buildings. With a focus on cities and communities of color, Melvin Delgado's analysis highlights the rewards and challenges of urban church repurposing. With the aid of case studies, this book considers whether, and how, community needs and interests can be factored into decisions for how a closed church might be used.
Christian Cosmopolitanism: faith communities talk immigration (2025) by
While religious institutions have been gateways for immigrants into local communities, religion has also coalesced with nationalism to discriminate against foreigners. Felipe Amin Filomeno asks, can "deliberative dialogues" about immigration in Christian congregations play a cosmopolitan role and bridge differences of nationality, race, and culture regarding immigration? To find the answer, he visited numerous Christian congregations in Baltimore with varying demographic makeups to discuss intergroup tensions and similarities in their communities. He developed dialogues to promote mutual understanding and collaboration between immigrants and U.S.-born people in religious spaces. Christian Cosmopolitanism shows that mutual understanding can result when people share their personal stories, feelings, and thoughts about immigration. They reflect and deliberate on collaborative action to advance common interests and shared values, which can unleash the cosmopolitan potential of the Christian community. Including practical tools for church leaders, Christian Cosmopolitanism promotes dialogue as a cultural practice that can help diverse communities overcome segregation and become socially cohesive.
Leading with Cultural Intelligence : the real secret to success (2nd Edition) 2024 by
As our workplaces become increasingly global and diverse, being a culturally intelligent leader isn't just a bonus -- it's essential. Whether you're negotiating a contract with a supplier on the other side of the world, managing an increasingly diverse workforce, expanding your business across borders, or developing and applying cultural intelligence (CQ), this classic resource provides you with the adaptability you need to motivate, negotiate, and accomplish results with anyone, anywhere. Having done consulting and research with leaders in more than 100 countries, David Livermore, founder of the Cultural Intelligence Center and professor at Boston University, has detailed the four CQ skills that are proven to maximize your leadership success in today's diverse, global business environment : drive, knowledge, strategy, and action. Featuring the latest research, case studies, and new chapters on how to lead culturally intelligent organizations and teams, this new edition of Leading with Cultural Intelligence will help you thrive in any leadership environment -- whether it's across the world or in your own back yard.
A Visible Unity : Cecil Robeck and the work of ecumenism (2024) by
"A Visible Unity is a study in systematic theology on the practices of the ecumenical movement, demonstrating how the sharing of practices between churches reconciles their ecclesiological differences. Josiah Baker makes his argument by studying the career and writings of Pentecostal ecumenist Cecil Robeck"-
Exvangelical and Beyond : how American Christianity went radical and the movement that's fighting back (2024) by
A pioneer of the Exvangelical movement examines how a toxic right-wing movement took over American Christianity -- and why people are leaving the church and speaking out against it. With the rise of Trumpism, the American evangelical movement has more political influence than ever -- yet at the same time, people are leaving Christianity in record numbers. Why are so many people walking away from the right-wing religion they were raised in, and what are they doing to overcome the past? Writer and podcaster Blake Chastain is uniquely positioned to understand this phenomenon. Raised evangelical, he went to a Christian college intending to become a pastor -- until he found himself unable to reconcile his faith with the prejudice and even abuse he saw being done in God’s name. He created the popular hashtag #exvangelical and the hit podcast of the same name, and soon became part of a growing movement of people walking away from toxic religion and using the unique tools of the internet to speak out, find healing, and build new communities. In Exvangelical and Beyond, Chastain delves into evangelicalism's deep roots in American politics and society, and explains why and how so many Christians -- and ex-Christians -- are forging a new path online. Blending history, personal narrative, and incisive analysis, this is a must-read for anyone who has left the church, is deconstructing their own faith, or simply wants to understand religious culture in America. -- Provided by publisher.
The Sacramentality of Music (2024) by
"This book explores how music is sacramental: able to serve as a means of divine revelation and transformative grace by way of a sacramental dynamic. Through participation in the mysteries of incarnation, beauty, contemplation, and fruitfulness, music is granted a pastoral value in the spiritual life"
Saving Memory and the Body of Christ: a moral liturgical theology by
For Christians, memories of God given in the Christian Bible are juxtaposed, echoed, and expanded within and outside Christian communities of faith. In Saving Memory and the Body of Christ, Sedgwick argues, Christians are attuned to the polyphony that is the voice of God calling those who have ears to hear into the love and grace of God in life together. Sharing together in the Eucharist, he goes on to describe, Christians remember, celebrate, and are drawn into life in God as imaged in the Greek word 'kenosis,' meaning emptying oneself. Christian faith is accordingly what the Latin word 'credo' means: to give one's heart to God, hence, to give oneself in faith and fidelity to the memory of God. In the memory of God, Christian faith is a practical piety. In prayer and worship Christians remember and respond to the call of God to life lived in the grace and love of God, in the glory of creation, in birth and death, in sickness and health, in compassion and care for one another in creation. This is the birth of moral conscience, hearing in the voice of others what claims those who have faith and calls for response.
Follow Your Bliss and Other Lies about Calling by
What does it mean to pursue a calling? According to Bonnie J. Miller-McLemore, it may mean ambiguity, uncertainty, and even suffering--but that's what makes it worthwhile. The common understanding of calling is often simplistic. You simply need to follow your bliss, or God's will. Miller-McLemore dives into the complex reality of what it means to pursue a calling, challenging the deceptive and destructive idea that a well-lived life is simple, with one perfect career, partner, or summons from God. Instead, she argues, to truly grapple with calling, we must consider how it evolves amid the constraints of life. Callings are often accompanied by loss, regret, failure, impediments, frustration, overload, and conflict, challenges that are an important part of a balanced life. Grounding her argument in stories from memoirs and biographies, fiction, and the people she has encountered in her thirty years of teaching and research, Miller-McLemore guides the reader through six dilemmas one may face throughout life, from missed or conflicted callings to unexpected or relinquished passions. Each chapter explores the pain and hardships around these complicated experiences and the enhanced insight and vitality that arises from enduring them. Intertwining faith, philosophy, and pragmatism, Miller-McLemore engages unflinchingly with the ways we find purpose in our lives, and how we make meaning of the search for a calling, no matter how rough the road it leads us down.
Burdened Agency : Christian theology and end-of-life ethics by
Travis Pickell explores the paradoxes of choice in modern dying and the ways Christian theology can aid in navigating the relationship between moral agency and dignity at the end of life. Burdened Agency addresses the problem of death and dying through Christian theology and ethics. In previous centuries, death was something that simply "happened" to us. To choose how or when one died was the exception, not the rule. However, due to advances in modern medicine, individuals are increasingly required to make concrete choices about the nature and timing of death. Modernity, with its emphasis on individualism, complicates this further because we are increasingly bereft of cultural and religious guidance regarding death. This gives rise to the phenomenon of "burdened agency": the predicament of having to make such difficult choices with so little to help us. This engaging book offers a historical and philosophical account of the origins of our situation of burdened agency, as well as a Christian solution to the problems that it raises. Looking to theologians such as Karl Rahner, Karl Barth, and Stanley Hauerwas, Pickell devises a radically countercultural approach to death and dying rooted in Christian theological commitments and enacted in the practices of baptism, Eucharist, and prayer.
The Theory of the Kingdom: a Unified Model of Human Agency, by Andrew Root (2024) by
This original monograph presents a comprehensive theory regarding the economy of the kingdom of God. The theory and associated model will help individuals make better choices. The research integrates fundamentals of the temporal real economy, and the permanent economy of the kingdom of God, to present a unified model of human agency. According to the model, effective agents are salt and light in the real economy, arresting corruption and revealing the truth. Effective agency produces life, peace, and growth. Individual and organizational practices that arrest corruption and reveal truth can resolve longstanding economic grievances.
The list of spiritual credence goods is extensive and includes commonly known virtues such as humility, patience, and hope. Spiritual goods are allocated based on the owner-agent relationship. The quantity of goods the owner supplies is in proportion to an individual's sacrificial offering of time and money. Spiritual goods are stored as heart capital. In a process analogous to the real economy, heart labor applied to heart capital produces desirable outputs. The owner relates to his agents through a heart-inscribed behavioral contract. The owner generally intervenes in the real economy by communicating with agents rather than by restricting choice. Prior studies across economics, finance, and sociology prove the efficiency of behavioral contracts and communication over restricted choice.
Herein researchers will find new testable propositions, and practitioners will find new ideas and practices to live better, more consequential lives. Examples of practical applications include methods of resolving group-level bias and understanding the purpose of life's difficulties.
Enjoy the latest articles from Word & World's most recent issues, many by Luther Sem's own Faculty, accessed via Luther Library's subscription to ATLA -Religion Database. For the most recent issue of Word & World (Fall 2024, not yet in ATLA), see this link. Meanwhile, here are some recent articles, including several by our own faculty: Select Articles from Word & World (Spring 2024), focused on “Leaders for the Future Church”:
Anderson, Jon V Bishop. “Ministry In Rural and Small Town Settings.” Word & World 44, no. 3 (Sum 2024): 304–14.
Elton, Terri Martinson. “The Future of Congregations: Cruciform Communities of Hope.” Word & World 44, no. 3 (Sum 2024): 282–93.
Granquist, Mark Alan. “Leadership in an Age of the Loss of Transcendence.” Word & World 44, no. 3 (Sum 2024): 265–67.
Lange, Dirk G. “An Unassuming yet Surprising Common Word: The Lutheran-Roman Catholic Joint Commission on Unity.” Word & World 44, no. 3 (Sum 2024): 365–76.
Riesen, Eric M. “Challenges for Theological Education Today: Secularism, Schism, and the Technological Revolution.” Word & World 44, no. 3 (Sum 2024): 340–54.
Sanders, Cody J. “Feral Hope for Futurist Leaders.” Word & World 44, no. 3 (Sum 2024): 355–64.
Shore, Mary Hinkle. “Word and Sacrament: The Spirit’s Gifts for a Divided World.” Word & World 44, no. 3 (Sum 2024): 327–39.
Steinke, Robin J, and Jeannette Ada Maina. “Leadership Wisdom from the Global Church: A Journey of Accompaniment.” Word & World 44, no. 3 (Sum 2024): 294–303.
Zscheile, Dwight J. “Shifting Ministry Paradigms: From Primarily Clergy-Led, Lay-Supported, to Lay-Led, Clergy Supported.” Word & World 44, no. 3 (Sum 2024): 315–26.
Also found in the ATLA Database are the Currents in Theology and Mission, and the Lutheran Quarterly. Here are a few examples from their most recent issues:
Capacity, Informed Consent and Third-Party Decision-Making (2024) by 
The Polyphonic Mass in Early Lutheran Central Europe (2024) by 
Chaplaincy : contemporary and global perspectives (2024) by
"This new collection, from chaplains in a wide variety of contemporary chaplaincy settings in the UK and around the globe, brings together practitioner perspectives with academic discussion and is tailored to support students of Chaplaincy at every level. The lively narratives and reflections make this book accessible to those engaging with what chaplaincy means for the first time, while the rigorous critical engagement with key issues makes this a key read for anyone seeking a fresh and global perspective on developments at the forefront of this swiftly growing and diversifying field of ministry. The volume explores what chaplaincy means in contemporary and global settings. It takes seriously the intersectionality of both practitioners and recipients of chaplaincy ministry, centering factors such as race, gender and disability, alongside political, missional and denominational considerations."
Worship, Its Theology and Practice by
In Worship, Its Theology and Practice, Jean-Jacques von Allmen establishes the broader framework of a doctrine of worship, to then see how it can be applied in practice. The book's two parts, 'Problems of Principle' and 'Problems of Celebration', allow for a holistic approach to worship in all its forms. Covering a wide range of liturgical study, von Allmen places regular Sunday worship in its historical and theological context, affirming its nature as the 'recapitulation of the history of salvation' and a sacred sign of Christ's presence, while fully acknowledging its practical role in building the Church. In this new edition, von Allmen's work is brought up to date with a Foreword by Ronald Andrew Rienstra. There is also a new index, enabling scholars to locate key concepts and themes with ease. At its core, Worship, Its Theology and Practice remains acutely relevant, with its vision of an experience of worship comprised of deeper participation and simple obedience to Jesus Christ.
The Art of Preaching Old Testament Poetry by
Preachers often struggle with preaching Old Testament poetry. They are uncertain how to preach the highly emotive poems in Psalms, the one-liners in Proverbs, the tedious conversations in Job, the esoteric observations about life in Ecclesiastes, and the confusing love poems in the Song of Songs. Here leading pastor theologian Steven Mathewson instructs and inspires preachers to preach some of the most challenging--and some of the richest--material in the Old Testament. This companion to his successful The Art of Preaching Old Testament Narrative guides readers through preaching the oft-neglected Old Testament poetic books. Mathewson introduces foundational issues and offers basic methodology and preaching strategies that are faithful to the text and sensitive to its listeners. Highlighting Mathewson's skill at bringing the riches of the Old Testament to bear on the life of the church, this book makes scholarship on the poetic books accessible for pastors and pastors-in-training. It also includes sample sermons.
Chaplaincy and Seafarers: faith at work by
This book explores the faith, work, and lives of port chaplains and seafarers. It draws on archive materials, fieldwork in ports and on cargo ships, and interviews with chaplains in the UK and overseas. The volume presents a detailed picture of seafarers' attitudes to working in mixed faith crews, their understandings of their own faith and its role and negotiation in a life at sea, and their needs with regard to faith and more general welfare support. In addition, it describes the daily life and work of port chaplains, how they understand their roles in relation to their own faith, and how they manage their work in a multi-faith environment. In producing this rich account, the perspectives of relevant stakeholders and the historical underpinnings of port chaplaincy have also been considered, alongside the ways in which port chaplaincy compares with other forms of chaplaincy about which rather more has, hitherto, been known.
Taking It Seriously: a faith leader's guide to domestic violence by
Domestic violence harms congregants and impacts our churches. Abuse affects millions across this nation and around the world including individuals in your own congregation. Informed by research, and verified by experience, this book provides practical guidance for pastors and lay leaders to faithfully address and respond to this crisis. The influence of pastoral care and congregational preparedness from the author's seminary education and community-practice social work lens is clearly evident. The chapters are well-researched, trauma-conscious, and survivor informed. The supplemental, unique, and comprehensive glossary of domestic violence terms crafted specifically for faith-based ministry sets this book apart. Prevention and intervention guidelines, along with valuable recommendations for interacting with victims and survivors, is the instructive content needed to propel faith leaders to action and improve the way domestic violence is handled within churches.
Music and Spirituality: theological approaches, empirical methods, and Christian worship by
The composer Sir James MacMillan has often referred to music as 'the most spiritual of the arts', and for many people, regardless of religious affiliation, this rings true. In listening to music, we are drawn to dimensions of human experience beyond the material. This collection brings together leading scholars from various disciplines - including Christian theology, musicology, and psychology and neuroscience - to interrogate the intimate relationship between music and spirituality. Organised in three parts - theological approaches, empirical methods, and Christian worship - the volume covers a vibrant array of topics. From examining how the Covid-19 pandemic has reshaped the profile of contemporary worship to investigating the spiritual effects of bodily positioning in liturgical spaces, from exploring spiritual experience through heart and breathing activity, electrodermal activity, and saliva samples to comparing the spiritual experiences of British Methodists with Welsh sporting fans, these essays attend to the lived reality of people's perceived spiritual experiences through music. This collection will be an invaluable resource for scholars in the growing field of Christian theology and music, and will serve as a cornerstone for future research at the intersection of theology, music, and psychology and neuroscience. It will also appeal to anyone curious about why music consistently, across cultures, occupies a unique space bridging the material and spiritual dimensions of human life.
The Congregation As Hermeneutic of the Gospel: investigating Lesslie Newbigin's answer to questions about the credibility of the gospel in a pluralistic world by
Lesslie Newbigin's concept of the congregation as hermeneutic of the gospel has been used for over thirty years to discuss the overlap of mission and ecclesiology. This book provides the contextual background to the congregation as hermeneutic of the gospel, then discusses the important components of this concept and how they connect with Newbigin's lifetime of writings on the nature and identity of the church. Within this discussion, there are three key elements to Newbigin's ecclesiology as it pertains to the congregation as hermeneutic of the gospel: the relationship between the Holy Spirit and the local congregation, the kingdom of God and the local congregation, and the local congregation within itself. These three components can be found throughout Newbigin's discussions about the nature of the church ranging from the 1940s until the 1990s. Pulling all these components together and showing how they shed light on Newbigin's intended meaning by calling the local congregation the hermeneutic of the gospel for their society provides a new interpretation of this concept that will both strengthen and challenge contemporary uses of this concept within the church today.
Caring for Our Shepherds: understanding and coping with burnout as a pastor by
Pastors play a fundamental role in churches across the globe, yet more and more are finding themselves struggling with the stress of ministry life and experiencing burnout. The consequences of pastoral burnout can be severe and impact not only individuals' physical, mental, and emotional well-being, but spillover to their families and congregations as well. Despite this increasingly common problem, the subject of pastors and their unique experiences has not been well studied. Caring for our Shepherds is written to pastors and for pastors. In this book, researchers on pastoral burnout, Thomas V. Frederick, Yvonne Thai, and Scott Dunbar answer the questions: what is pastoral or ministry burnout, how can it be guarded against, and how can we help those experiencing it? The reader will not only develop a deeper understanding for the demands of ministry, but also be provided with specific practical and spiritual frameworks to cope with those demands in ways that promote a positive and healthy mindset. Caring for our Shepherds is an excellent resource not only for those in ministry, but to those who desire to pour back into those who serve in the church.
Sound Theology : pipe organ power plays among Protestants, pulpits, professors, and peers by
Sound Theology: Pipe Organ Power Plays among Protestants, Pulpits, Professors, and Peers surveys the liturgical soundscape during and after the Reformation with regard to the use of instruments in worship in general, and the (dis)use of the pipe organ specifically. Why were some sounds considered sacred, and others profane? The book tells the story of first-generation reformers' approaches to shaping their new Reformed worship services in regard to music, and the resulting debates, power plays, and ultimate compromises. Sound Theology also examines second-generation Protestants' affirmations, adaptations, and reversals. Sound Theology: A Reader is a companion volume of curated primary source material. Together, Sound Theology's two volumes tell a little-known, but colorful and foundational story that shaped Reformed worship for centuries to come.
Swimming with the Sharks : leading the full spectrum church in a red-and-blue world by
Building on a string of Haberer family harrowing encounters, Swimming with the Sharks presents a framework for addressing the sharks among us: those on the other side of the divide in American church life. What is characterized as the separation between blue progressives and red conservatives is shown to be a sellout to a political model and a false witness about the facts and faith on the ground. Believers do see things differently but not in simplistic, binary parties--rather in an overlapping set of five understandings of Jesus' heart and passion for God's mission in the world. Each is faithful, each is true, and yet, when huddling in their enclaves of agreement, likeminded folks become stupid, duped by their shared blind spots. All five living together become iron sharpening iron. And while we still may diverge on hot-button controversies, we do converge and, indeed, take flight through the Holy Spirit's filling, empowering, gifting, calling, and commissioning of every believer in a culture, a movement, a full-spectrum revolution of mutual giftedness in mission. Practical implications get spelled out (e.g., less pastor-driven, more member-driven), and then conclude with blunt explications: "Not all church consultants need to be ignored, but many do."And while we still may diverge on hot-button controversies, we do converge and, indeed, take flight through the Holy Spirit's filling, empowering, gifting, calling, and commissioning of every believer in a culture, a movement, a full-spectrum revolution of mutual giftedness in mission.
Queering the Church : the theological and ecclesial potential of failure by
Church dialogues, including official reports and debates within the General Synod, operate under the premise that canonical authority can shape a viable theology and coherent ecclesiastical and liturgical practices.In a groundbreaking departure from conventional methodologies, Queering the Church offers a rigorous examination of the hermeneutical frameworks that inform discussions on homosexuality within ecclesiastical governance. Drawing inspiration from Halberstam's concept of the 'queer art of failure,' Doe advocates for a fundamental shift--a move away from entrenched institutionalized debates toward a more inclusive, deconstructive discourse. Rather than perpetuating cycles of authoritative rhetoric, Doe proposes a transformative realignment--one that challenges traditional power dynamics and fosters a more equitable theological dialogue. Provocative and timely, this book promises to illuminate new avenues toward a nuanced comprehension of church discourse.
Worship in an Age of Anxiety : how Churches can create space for healing by
The history of the theology of worship is riddled with examples of clergy and worship leaders who have sought to manipulate their parishioners' anxiety in order to spur repentance and turn people toward God. Even if such ends may be desirable--at what cost? In Worship in an Age of Anxiety, Jordan challenges this utilitarian approach, offering a critical assessment of contemporary as well as historical evangelical figures such as D. L. Moody and Billy Graham who have deployed anxiety as a tool for conversion. Proposing a completely different model, Jordan takes up various elements of worship, including: liturgy space music preaching the sacraments In doing so, he develops a practical theology of worship that also turns people toward God but within a healing framework. While worship alone cannot heal anxiety, it can be a time and place where, rather than being manipulated, anxiety can be acknowledged, accepted, and offered to God.
When Ministry Hurts : triumphalism and the crisis of trauma among clergy by
Pentecostal clergy are among a group of professionals who may suffer from personal trauma and may also be susceptible to vicarious trauma. Pentecostal theology does not have adequate resources to help clergy persons amid trauma to aid in comprehending what they are going through, especially when there is no relief from the traumatic symptoms for the sufferer. This phenomenological study and theological analysis reveals that there is a triumphalistic attitude within Pentecostalism that does not adequately prepare pastors to understand or cope with trauma. The way forward is for clergy to understand trauma not through traditional Pentecostal theology but by incorporating Martin Luther's theologia crucis and his practice of lament into existing Pentecostal theology and praxis. Consideration of literature on trauma studies, Pentecostal theology, and Luther's theology of the cross and his practice of lament are utilized to highlight the need and the suggested remedy.
Life at the Center: Haitians and corporate catholicism in Boston (2024 ebook) by
"For years the Catholic Church, Catholic Charities, and the Haitian Multi-Service Center in Boston have helped Haitian refugees and immigrants attain economic independence, health, security, and citizenship in the United States. In Life at the Center,Erica Caple James traces this aid work and discovers at its heart a fundamental paradox, arising from what she calls "corporate Catholicism": social assistance produces and reproduces structural inequalities between providers and recipients, which can deepen aid recipients' dependence and lead to resistance to organized benevolence. James documents how institutional financial deficits harmed clients and providers, yet also how modes of philanthropy that previously caused harm can be redeployed to repair damage and rebuild "charitable brands." The culmination of over a decade of advocacy and research on behalf of the Haitians of Boston, this groundbreaking work exposes how Catholic corporations strengthened-but also eroded-Haitians' civic power"-
Centering Discipleship : a pathway for multiplying spectators into mature disciples (2023) by 
Dementia and the Church: Memory, Care, and Inclusion (2023) by 
Welcoming the stranger: Abrahamic hospitality and its contemporary implications. by
Embracing hospitality and inclusion in Abrahamic traditionsOne of the signal moments in the narrative of the biblical Abraham is his insistent and enthusiastic reception of three strangers, a starting point of inspiration for all three Abrahamic traditions as they evolve and develop the details of their respective teachings. On the one hand, welcoming the stranger by remembering "that you were strangers in the land of Egypt" is enjoined upon the ancient Israelites, and on the other, oppressing the stranger is condemned by their prophets throughout the Hebrew Bible.These sentiments are repeated in the New Testament and the Qur'an and elaborated in the interpretive literatures of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Such notions resonate obliquely within the history of India and its Dharmic traditions. On the other hand, they have been seriously challenged throughout history. In the 1830s, America's "Nativists" sought to emphatically reduce immigration to these shores. A century later, the Holocaust began by the decision of the Nazi German government to turn specific groups of German citizens into strangers. Deliberate marginalization leading to genocide flourished in the next half century from Bosnia and Cambodia to Rwanda. In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, the United States renewed a decisive twist toward closing the door on those seeking refuge, ushering in an era where marginalized religious and ethnic groups around the globe are deemed unwelcome and unwanted.The essays in Welcoming the Stranger explore these issues from historical, theoretical, theological, and practical perspectives, offering an enlightening and compelling discussion of what the Abrahamic traditions teach us regarding welcoming people we don't know.Welcoming the Stranger: Abrahamic Hospitality and Its Contemporary Implications is available from the publisher on an open-access basis.
The Routledge Companion to Christian Ethics by
The Routledge Companion to Christian Ethics brings together two different but related disciplines; the first is contemplative or theoretical, asking what are the beliefs or doctrines that characterize Christianity, whilst the second is practical, asking what are the ethical practices that attend its teachings. The movement between the theoretical and practical aspects is not, however, one way, as doctrine and life are mutually informing. In this comprehensive volume, leading scholars address key topics, problems and debates in this hotly debated topic within a truly global context. Comprising over 35 chapters by a team of international contributors, the handbook is divided into three parts based on the three persons of the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Within these sections, cutting-edge issues are examined, including: God and genetics War, peace, and violence White supremacy Creation and sexuality Digital ethics Transgender studies Climate change Immigration and refugees Adopting a practical approach that must consider new concerns that have arisen with recent social, political, and cultural shifts, The Routledge Companion to Christian Ethics is essential reading for students and researchers in Christian ethics, religious ethics and Christianity studies. The handbook will also be very useful for those in related fields such as ethics and philosophy.
Churches, Cultures, and Leadership: a practical theology of congregations and ethnicities by
We live in a culturally diverse society. As the church continues to heed Christ's call to reflect the multiethnic character of his people, pastors and lay leaders need to gain skills and competencies to serve in multicultural contexts, both inside and beyond their congregations. With this book, Mark Lau Branson and Juan F. Martínez equip leaders to create environments that make God's reconciling initiatives apparent in church life and in missional engagement with their neighborhoods and cities. Drawing on courses they've taught at Fuller Theological Seminary, Branson and Martínez take an interdisciplinary approach that integrates biblical and theological study with sociology, cultural anthropology, leadership studies, and communications. The result is a rich blend of astute analysis and guidance for the practical implementation of a deeper intercultural life for the church. Case studies, Bible studies, and exercises for personal and group reflection address real-life challenges and opportunities that arise in multiethnic contexts. Churches, Cultures, and Leadership offers not a static model but a praxis of paying attention, study, and discernment that can lead to genuine reconciliation and shared life empowered by the gospel. This new edition is updated throughout to address current trends and sources, particularly emphasizing the continuing power of racism and how churches should respond.
Let this radicalize you : organizing and the revolution of reciprocal care by 
Corpse Care : ethics for tending the dead by
Corpse Care relates the history of death care in the U.S. to craft robust, constructive, practical ethics for tending the dead. It specifically relates corpse care to economic, environmental, and pastoral concerns. Death and the treatment of the dead body loom large in our collective, cultural consciousness. The authors explore the materiality and meaning of the dead body and the living's relationship to it. All the biggest questions facing the planetary human community relate in one way or another to the corpse. Surprisingly, Christian communities are largely missing in the discussion of the dead, having abdicated the historic role in care for the dead to the funeral industry. Christianity has stopped its reflection about the body once that body no longer bears life. Corpse Care stakes a claim that the fact of embodiment, this incarnational truth, this process of our bodily becoming, is a practical, ethical, and theological necessity.
In Deep Waters: spiritual care for young people in a climate crisis by
The starting point for In Deep Waters: Spiritual Care for Young People in a Climate Crisis is not news: the world as we know it is shifting. Several millennia of climate stability have come to an abrupt end. But, observes Talitha Amadea Aho, the young people of today do not remember stability. They see the world through crisis-colored glasses. Climate change is creating a spiritual emergency that is hitting their generation harder than any other. Today's climate crisis calls people of faith to a communal spiritual practice of care, especially for those who are more vulnerable because of their youth--the children, youth, and young adults of Generation Z. We must learn how to offer spiritual care that is informed by the spiritual-ecological crisis of their generation. This book will help you keep young people at the center of your community and listen to the troubles they have to share. Whether you are a Gen Z peer or a caring adult of any other generation, In Deep Waters will show you how to offer ecologically informed spiritual care. We all need to do it today; we cannot wait until one of today's youngest generations grows up.
Preaching the word : contemporary approaches to the Bible for the pulpit by 
