Comments on: Single-book ministry, church admin, theology?

By: Scott Wells

Scott Wells — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:37:28 +0000

For an into to Christian history and theology, I recall liking Linwood Urban’s A Short History of Christian Thought more than any other single volume. Might have to look at it again to see if I exteem it the same way.

See http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780195093483-11

By: Benjamin

Benjamin — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:25:13 +0000

This might not answer the question you’re asking, but the one book I would recommend — not for the church I see, but for the one I want to — would be “Doing Justice” by Dennis Jacobsen, which is an introduction for pastors and churches to working prophetically and powerfully in their own communities.

(I think this is especially valuable for religious liberals, not because we’re more interested in doing justice–our protestations to the contrary, we’re not, at least in my experience–but because we so often confuse “prophetic” with “having-a-chip-on-my-shoulder,” and mistake being annoyed and being annoying for righteous, holy anger.)

I have a bias, since I’m a community organizer, but I definitely see myself as working for the Church, if not for a church, so maybe this counts as an introduction to lay ministry. An easy read, but a rich one, and highly recommended.

By: Peregrinato

Peregrinato — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 05:24:20 +0000

You’ve got me really wondering what I would recommend as an introduction to Christian spirituality. hmmm.

By: Anna Belle

Anna Belle — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:12:46 +0000

Great question! Hope you get some great answers. In my field (webmastery), the answer is easy: “Don’t Make Me Think.” I sure hope that’s not the answer for theology.