The study of lived religion is an enterprise which attempts to elucidate how 'ordinary' men and women in all times and places draw on religious behavior, media, and meanings to make sense of themselves and their world. Through the influence of liberation theology and postmodernism, pastoral theologians_like other scholars of religion_have begun more closely to examine the particularity of religious practice that is reflected through the rubric of lived religion. Pastoral Bearings offers up ten studies that exemplify the usefulness of the lived religion paradigm to the field of pastoral theology. The volume presents detailed qualitative research focused on the everyday beliefs and practices of individuals and groups and explores the implications of lived religion for interdisciplinary conversation, intercultural and gender analysis, and congregational studies. Reflecting upon the utility of this approach for pastoral theological research, education, and pastoral care, the studies collected in Pastoral Bearings demonstrate the importance of the study of lived religion.
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize: The definitive biography of Martin Luther King Jr. In this monumental account of the life of Martin Luther King Jr., professor and historian David Garrow traces King’s evolution from young pastor who spearheaded the 1955–56 bus boycott of Montgomery, Alabama, to inspirational leader of America’s civil rights movement. Based on extensive research and more than seven hundred interviews, with subjects including Andrew Young, Jesse Jackson, and Coretta Scott King, Garrow paints a multidimensional portrait of a charismatic figure driven by his strong moral obligation to lead—and of the toll this calling took on his life. Bearing the Cross provides a penetrating account of King’s spiritual development and his crucial role at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, whose protest campaigns in Birmingham and Selma, Alabama, led to enactment of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965. This comprehensive yet intimate study reveals the deep sense of mission King felt to serve as an unrelenting crusader against prejudice, inequality, and violence, and his willingness to sacrifice his own life on behalf of his beliefs. Written more than twenty-five years ago, Bearing the Cross remains an unparalleled examination of the life of Martin Luther King Jr. and the legacy of the civil rights movement.
A timely book, written by a pastor's wife, who has taken up the challenge to give a voice to other pastor's wives that are struggling through some of the difficulties inherent in supporting their husbands who have been called to pastor a church, and to lead God's people from the wilderness to the promised land. In her book, the author not only highlights the crosses that pastor's wives must bear, but she also provides hope to the pastor's wife by providing recommendations on how to bear these crosses without compromising their relationship with their husbands, their relationship with God and His people, and their relationship with themselves. This is a book that every pastor's wife should read, and keep in their library or pass along to other pastor's wives as a source of daily encouragement and support. Mrs. Deloise C. Thorne is a native of Peachland, North Carolina. She is a graduate of Fayetteville State University in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and received her Doctorate in Counseling and Christian Education from Trinity School of Religion in Hinesville, Georgia. She retired after 30 years of Federal Government service currently substitutes as a teacher for the Liberty County Board of Education in Hinesville, Georgia. She faithfully serves the First Calvary Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of her husband, Pastor Sinclair L. Thorne, as a Sunday school teacher, teacher for Youth Evangelism Explosion, Coordinator for the Tutoring program, choir member, Missionary Ministry instructor and Program Coordinator, and President of the Minister's Spouse's Ministry. She also currently serves as the Youth Director for the Ludowici District, Tattnall Baptist Association in Southern Georgia, the Secretary and the Coordinator for the Women of Excellence, First District of the Georgia Missionary Baptist Convention, and the Dean of the Tattnall Baptist Association, Congress of Christian Education.
A unique introduction to the developing field of Theology and Qualitative Research In recent years, a growing number of scholars within the field of theological research have adopted qualitative empirical methods. The use of qualitative research is shaping the nature of theology and redefining what it means to be a theologian. Hence, contemporary scholars who are undertaking empirical fieldwork across a range of theological subdisciplines require authoritative guidance and well-developed frameworks of practice and theory. The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Theology and Qualitative Research outlines the challenges and possibilities for theological research that engages with qualitative methods. It reflects more than 15 years of academic research within the Ecclesiology and Ethnography Network, and features an international group of scholars committed to the empirical and theological study of the Christian church. Edited by world-renowned experts, this unprecedented volume addresses the theological debates, methodological complexities, and future directions of this emerging field. Contributions from both established and emerging scholars describe key theoretical approaches, discuss how different empirical methods are used within theology, explore the links between qualitative researchand adjacent scholarly traditions, and more. The companion: Discusses how qualitative empirical work changes the practice of theology, enabling a disciplined attention to the lived social realities of Christian religion and what theologians do Introduces theoretical and methodological debates in the field, as well as central epistemological and ontological questions Presents different approaches to Theology and Qualitative research, highlighting important issues and developments in the last decades Explores how empirical insights are shaping areas such as liturgics, homiletics, youth ministry, and Christian education Includes perspectives from scholars working in disciplines other than theology The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Theology and Qualitative Research is essential reading for graduate students, postgraduates, PhD students, researchers, and scholars in Christian Ethics, Systematic Theology, Practical Theology, Contemporary Worship, and related disciplines such as Ecclesiology, Mission Studies, World Christianity, Pastoral Theology, Political Theology, Worship Studies, and all forms of contextual theology.
What is it about the concept of “home” that makes its loss so profound and devastating, and how should the trauma of exile and alienation be approached theologically? M. Jan Holton examines the psychological, social, and theological impact of forced displacement on communities in the Congo and South Sudan and on indigenous Batwa tribespersons in Uganda, as well as on homeless U.S. citizens and on U.S. soldiers returning from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. She draws on ethnographic work in Africa, extensive research in practical theology, sociology, and psychology, as well as on professional work and personal experiences in America and abroad. In doing so she explores how forced displacement disrupts one’s connection with the home place and the profound characteristics it fosters that can help people lean toward flourishing spiritually and psychologically throughout their lifetime. Displacement invites a social alienation that can become deeply institutionalized, threatening the moral well being of us all. Longing For Home offers a frame for understanding how communities can respond to refugees and various homeless populations by cultivating hospitality outside of their own comfort zones. This essential study addresses an urgent interreligious global concern and Holton’s thoughtful and compelling work offers a constructive model for a sustained practical response.
The aim of this book is to help every believer and minister of the Gospel to boldly speak about their painful past with the intent to positively impact lives through their respective testimonies and ministries that were born out of their past miseries. Thus, 'My Ministry Is Where My Misery Was.' Some of us are conscious of the genesis of our calling and the correlation between our painful past and present ministry, some may not. However, through these difficulties of life came our present ministries. There are many of such ministries out there, probably including yours. The ministry of Tim Ryan to whom I dedicated this book to, is one of such ministries that has touched my life in many ways. Tim shares his personal testimony of liberation from addiction with many today. us, his present ministry was his past misery. The book further discussed how we respond to God's call, the challenges associated with the call and how to overcome them and thrive in ministry. 'But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive' (Gen. 50:20, NKJV). Joseph's past misery became his ministry that liberated an entire nation to the glory of God.
Bearing the unbearable: trauma, gospel, and pastoral care -- Rooted and grounded in love: compassionate witnessing -- Christian forgiveness: healing the emotional wounds of childhood -- Keeping an open heart in troubled times: self-empathy as a Christian spiritual practice -- Prayers of lament: "How long, O Lord?"--Practicing Koinonia: life together -- Members of one another: building a restorative church -- Appendix 1. Criteria for PTSD: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 -- Appendix 2. Professional Quality of Life Scale: Compassion Satisfaction and Fatigue Subscales--Revision IV.
Thousands of congregations are in serious trouble. Children are not being taught the faith. Disciples are not being made. Lives are not being transformed. The poor are not being blessed. Communities are not being redeemed. These congregations know something is terribly wrong. And in most cases, the problems have little to do with the pastor's prayer life or whether the pastor takes weekly Sabbath time. In fact, in many of these churches members deeply respect their pastors as sincerely spiritual people of utmost personal faith and integrity. But they need more from their pastoral leaders. They need leaders who define ministry in terms of fruitfulness as well as faithfulness. They need pastors and lay leaders who ask about the outcomes of any given ministry or program, not just its process. Mostly, they need a vision of ministry that focuses on changing people’s lives. Absent that vision, ministry will fail. In this helpful volume, Lovett Weems and Tom Berlin provide readers with the tools they need to assess the fruit their ministry bears in the lives of their congregations, their communities, and the world.
