Date: Mon, 21 Jul 1997 10:34:37 -0400 (EDT)

From:

Dear Friend,

Below please find the e-mail edition of the August 1997 issue of Congregational Leadership Resources. Please distribute this to your co-workers via e-mail or photocopy. Feel free to export the text into your word processor to make a print copy. If you will work with the type-size, the entire issue can be printed on one sheet of paper (front and back). I hope that you will continue to find this newsletter of value.

S. L. Shields, Editor

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August 1997

CONGREGATIONAL LEADERSHIP RESOURCES (e-text edition)

Steven L. Shields, Editor, 6055 East Lake Mead Blvd. #A183, Las Vegas, Nevada 89115-6909. E-Mail:

This newsletter is published quarterly for the use of leaders in the church, and provides reviews and summaries of books, periodicals and other resources that assist in education and leadership development, as well as missional aspects of church life. A print edition and an e-text edition are published with each issue. The e-mail edition is sent free of charge. The print edition is $2.50 annually to cover postage and printing. COPYRIGHT (C) 1997. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Up to 50 copies may be made for use in congregational, district, or regional/national settings. For other usage, please write.

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Arts The Arts in Religious and Theological Studies. 3000 5th Street, NW, New Brighton, Minnesota 55112-2507. Three times annually, $13. You will no doubt notice that in the last year we’ve reviewed a number of religious periodicals that are in some way dedicated to exploring the role of art in the church. It almost goes without saying that anything done by true artists is also of impeccable quality–Arts is no exception. I appreciated the article on artistic performance as one way that some can experience and express spirituality. There was an insightful article on a series of paintings that illustrated spiritual principles–how these are essentially “visual theology”. And architecture also plays a critical role as a symbol of the community.

Arts is a good place to start to become familiar with the whole issue of the arts in religion–and although artists themselves will appreciate the contents, I think a far great audience should be those who are not artistically inclined. Arts promotes an understanding of the important role the arts can play in the church, and should be considered by all pastors and other ministers as yet another method through which the essential purposes of the church can be achieved.

Unexpected Guests at God’s Banquet: Welcoming People with Disabilities into the Church. Brett Webb-Mitchell. The Crossroad Publishing Company, 370 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10017. Paperbound, 194 pp. $17.95. This book has been in print for about three years-I’m only sorry that I didn’t discover it earlier. The author deals with a subject that is very important-yet often can become sensitive and divisive in the church. How do we, in the local congregations, respond to the mentally retarded, the physically impaired, and others? In many respects, this is a heart-rendingly sad book to read.

Webb-Mitchell shares all-too-real stories of how churches throughout the land have rejected persons with disabilities. From the church that didn’t want to bother to build a wheelchair ramp because there was only one member needing it, “and the family might move away anyway” to the story of Jill who was rejected by the new pastor because a few people were bothered by her presence.

But this book is not a condemnation of the church’s past mistakes. Rather, it is a forthright, positive and forward-thinking handbook on how to broaden the fellowship to the point that disabled persons can be welcomed, loved, understood, and nurtured so that they can share the bounty of God’s love with all the others at “God’s banquet” table.

The author helps us understand the kinds of behaviors to anticipate from disabled persons of all kinds, and how to see those behaviors in a loving way. We are led to understand how to become a bit more flexible and to learn to welcome the unpredictable at church.

“Unexpected Guests at God’s Banquet” is a wakeup call to the church throughout the world. All persons are God’s creation. All persons are required to make up the body of Christ in its fullness. The church cannot become whole until it understands how to accept each one as an equal partner in life’s journey and the journey of faith.

What on Earth is the Church? Kevin Giles. InterVarsity Press, P O Box 1400, Downers Grove, Illinois 60515. Paperbound, 310 pp. This book is a well-written, interesting, readable and quite balanced consideration of the understanding of the concept of “church” as portrayed by the writers of the New Testament. Giles is quite objective in his approach, letting the scripture texts speak for themselves and then interpreting the meanings according to usage of Hebrew and Greek terms, other understandings from history, along with some well-considered and thought-provoking “what if’s” and “perhaps” speculations.

This is a particularly important study for persons in the Western world–whose concept of individualism is markedly different from the culture out of which Christianity emerged. Westerners have understood and interpreted the scriptures according to their own cultural heritage, which is not entirely a correct understanding. For to understand the intent and rationale of the New Testament writers, one must also understand their cultural perspective, for words don’t always mean the same thing unless they are contexted in cultural usage and understandings.

Giles carefully guides his readers through each book of the New Testament, giving attention to the time periods in which the various books were produced, and assessing the dynamic growth and movement of the early Christian church as it met the challenges of the society, as it grew in strength and numbers, and as it developed its patterns of worship and leadership.

Included in the book are insightful and thought-provoking chapters on denominationalism and a summary of the theological understanding of the church over the history of Christianity, along with some perspectives for the future.

This book is not just a theological essay. It is a call to the Christian church everywhere to more clearly understand its role in modern society; it is a call to Christian leaders everywhere to rethink their roles and understand how powerful the church could be if we all grasped the intent of the early church and the vision of the New Testament writers. Family Friendly. Steve Thomas. College Press Publishing Company, P O Box 1132, Joplin, Missouri 64802. Paperbound, 217 pp.

A full-time family minister since 1979, Thomas is a delightfully creative writer. He talks about life in the congregation in a very forthright and refreshing manner. He tells his readers that the church is, by design, an extended family. And thus, the church often acts like a family. No one fights, he says, like brothers and sisters. Nor does anyone know how to love like them. Thomas talks about recognizing dysfunction and how to work with it. He talks about church leadership models-and, guess what? Team leadership and small group types of ministries are what really help make things happen.

The world has changed rapidly over the past 30 years or so, but few churches have understood societal change enough to respond to it, and as a result they have become societally irrelevant and have seen a membership decline and in some instances death as an organized unit in the body of Christ. Thomas points out that not only society, but the basic unit of community, the family, is in serious trouble. Churches must respond to this crisis, and Thomas, drawing on his almost 20 years of first-hand ministry in this field, shares how this can be done in almost any kind of congregational setting. He lays out the foundational principles needed to be in place for this to happen, and then shares how to build on those foundations.

Thomas’ focus is on family ministry, rather than youth ministry. Congregations and denominations that focus their energy only on youth ministry, or who have specifically separated out youth ministry, are still operating out of the old paradigm prior to the 1960s. Youth are indeed still very important, but the way to address the issue, says Thomas, is through a holistic approach to ministry focused on the family.

Thomas’ approach to proactivity and his vision for family ministry is contagious, as other reviewers have noted. He is excited about the possibilities, and shares this with his readers. This is an essential volume worthy of the attention of pastors and judicatory leaders everywhere.

A Christian Theology of Religions. John Hick. Westminster/John Knox Press, 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202-1396. Paperbound, 160 pp.

John Hick, a renowned theologian and philosopher of religion, has presented in this small volume and important and time-critical presentation of a topic that should be of concern to Christians everywhere. Just where does Christianity fit into the world-wide scope of religious thought and tradition? Hick attempts to answer this question, and provides some profound considerations to his readers.

There are numerous books introducing readers, notably Christians, to other world religions, such as Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, etc., but these books either maintain objectivity or are written with the purpose of helping Christians understand these other people in order to find ways to convert them to Christianity. Hick takes a completely different approach, and provides the theological matrix for helping us to understand (a) why Christianity felt that it should convert others and (b) how these other religions just may be equally valid approaches to unity with the Divine. While suggesting that Christianity is no longer the “only true religion” Hick also puts forth a defense of Christianity in the context of the global religious perspective.

It is one thing to maintain that Christianity is unique; it is another thing entirely to understand why Christianity is unique and how it can be understood with a sound theological foundation in today’s world.

Each reader will not agree with Hick’s conclusions or suggestions. However, they are worthy of consideration, for no matter how it is viewed, Hick presents the framework for an even stronger faith on the part of the world’s Christians. He also demonstrates that Christianity itself has undergone transformations over the centuries to such an extent that many modern Christians would be repulsed by their church if they could travel back in time. All of this to help underscore the point that one’s faith is more often than not simply an accident of birth and nothing more. This is an important book, especially in today’s pluralistic society where leaders and laypersons alike are seeking hope, guidance and answers to the quest for true world peace and human equality.

Bible Basics: Mastering the Content of the Bible, Duncan S. Ferguson. Westminster John Knox Press, 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202-1396. Phone 800.227.2872. 1995, paperbound, 168 pp.

Bible literacy is a growing problem–or should we say, Bible “illiteracy.” Very few Christians today really know the content of the Bible. In fact, more and more seminary students are earning their degrees, passing the Bible courses they are required to take–but still have a poor handle on the actual contents of each book of the Bible.

Ferguson purposes to help remedy these problems with this fine little guide. He provides suggestions on using his book to work with the Bible, and then presents an excellent essay helping the reader find a means of Bible study that is helpful.

The two major sections of the book are, of course, the Old Testament and the New Testament. But each of these he has divided into the historically accepted sections: Pentateuch, Prophets, Writings, and, gospels, Acts and Pauline epistles, general epistles and Revelation. He explains what all of this is and what is means and how each book of the Bible relates to its own section and to the Bible as a whole. All of this in simple, non-technical language.

For each book of the Bible he writes a brief synopsis, and the provides quick reference charts, with the actual scripture reference, to the people in that book, the main events, the places where the events took place, when the events took place, and the purpose of the book itself, the “why”. Five sample tests, with answer keys, are provided. Each test is 100 questions, and really challenge the interest and knowledge of the student.

An extensive section of maps and charts is included, as well as recommended reference books and commentary for future study.

This is an excellent book that could be of use in youth groups, small groups, Sunday School, etc., as well as personal study.