Let's Talk about Truth: A Guide for Preachers, Teachers, and Other Catholic Leaders in a World of Doubt and Discord

by Ann M. Garrido

Overview

Winner of a second-place award in the church professional category from the Catholic Media Association.

The mere mention of “truth” will often start arguments, even among the best of friends and the closest of family members. To avoid conflict, Church leaders often side-step the topic altogether. In Let’s Talk about Truth, Ann M. Garrido shares practical ways that preachers and others charged with moral and spiritual leadership in the Church can stop backing away from the topic and instead help Catholics recover the practice of truth as a way of life.

In Let’s Talk about Truth, award-winning author and associate professor of homiletics Ann M. Garrido shows Catholic preachers, teachers, and other leaders ways to approach the contentious topic of truth with confidence that the Church’s intellectual and pastoral traditions are squarely on their side. She explores truth as a multifaceted reality that serves four foundational roles in the Christian life. Truth:

• equips us to see the world as it actually is
• informs our opinions and assists us with making judgments
• shapes the way we communicate with each other
• enables us to build long-lasting relationships with one another

Garrido’s clarity and conviction inspire confidence and the practical homiletic tools she offers are readily applicable to teaching and other forms of Church leadership. Sample preaching texts illustrate key points and show readers how to understand truth as a way of life that the Christian must pursue. Each chapter includes a summary of key insights, a list of practical takeaways, and probing questions for self-reflection or group dialogue. Garrido also provides a five-point assessment tool for preachers in a brief appendix to facilitate their willingness and growth toward better preaching about the practice of truth in the Christian life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781594719622
Publisher:	Ave Maria Press
Publication date:	03/06/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	192
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Ann M. Garrido is associate professor of homiletics at Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri, where she previously directed the school’s Doctorate of Ministry in Preaching program. Garrido has served as the Marten Faculty Fellow in Homiletics at the University of Notre Dame. She is the author of multiple books, including the award-winning Redeeming Administration, Redeeming Conflict, and Let’s Talk About Truth. She travels nationally and internationally helping communities discuss the topics they find toughest to talk about—conversations that often involve questions of power.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

1 Truth as a Way of Seeing the World 19

2 Truth as a Way of Forming Good Judgments 49

3 Truth as a Way of Communicating with Others 93

4 Truth as a Way of Being in Relationship 131

5 Truth, Next Steps 161

Thank You 165

Preaching Assessment Tool 167

Notes 169

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Ann Garrido, a remarkably entrepreneurial theologian, writes of truth as seeing the world, forming good judgments, communicating with others, and being in relationship. In four concise chapters, she shows us what each looks like in the particularities of preaching, teaching, and other types of Church leadership. Garrido dares to look truth in the face, and to preach about it!” —Rev. Gregory Heille, O.P., Professor of Preaching and Evangelization, Director, Doctor of Ministry in Preaching, Aquinas Institute of Theology

“Ann Garrido has done it again: taken an old topic that might seem abstract or well-worn and injected it with new life. Garrido takes the reader on an adventure which shows us that ‘truth’ contains some exciting inner dynamics for the preacher and hearer to explore together. In our post-truth milieu, this is a timely, needed, and fresh approach to a mainstay of Christian faith." —Rev.Michael Connors, C.S.C., Director of the John S. Marten Program in Homiletics and Liturgics, University of Notre Dame

“An essential read for any minister who is trying to reclaim truth as a fundamental human and explicitly Christian value. Garrido challenges preachers, teachers, and other Christian leaders to see the world as it is, seek a sound basis for judgments, speak honestly, and be faithful in relationships.” —Sr. Theresa Rickard, O.P., President of RENEW International

“We who have the mission to preach, teach, and lead must confront our post-truth culture directly and help others to do so in their everyday lives. I applaud Ann Garrido’s work in Let’s Talk about Truth. She masterfully speaks to the truth of things within the mystery of creation and Creator.” —Most Rev. David P. Talley, Bishop of Memphis

“Once again, Ann Garrido offers a thoughtful and practical contribution to thinking about ministry. In Let’s Talk about Truth she cautions ministers from using truth as a cudgel and instead shows us how to speak authentically about truth in ways that those who hear us will understand. I happily recommend this book to leaders of the Church at every level.” —Rev. Gerard Olinger, C.S.C., Vice President for Mission Engagement and Church Affairs, University of Notre Dame

“With wit and wisdom, Ann Garrido provides a master class in explaining not only how we can address the surprisingly contentious topic of truth as Catholic leaders, but also why now, more than ever, we must do so with passion, clarity, conviction, and care. Let’s Talk about Truth is a brilliant look at why the words we say—including those we type on screens and blast out into cyberspace—must give witness to the Church’s understanding of truth as a way of life as well as our ultimate end.” — Katie Prejean McGrady, Author of Follow and Room 24

“During this era of deep division both inside and outside of the Church, Ann Garrido provides anyone of good will with the encouragement and tools needed to profess the goodness, truth, and beauty of the Good News of Jesus Christ in all that we do.” —Justin McClain, Theology teacher at Bishop McNamara High School, Forestville, Maryland

“Ann Garrido offers accessible, scriptural, and well-researched insights on the thorny topic of truth that will prove useful to preachers, teachers, other leaders—or just those looking for guidance on how to navigate conversations about religion or politics over Thanksgiving dinner with family members who have varying perspectives. With well-organized content and a conversational and non-scholarly tone, the text is a must-read for anyone seeking to live out a spirituality of truth. It will be of particular interest to members of the Order of Preachers or others connected to Dominican schools, parishes, or other ministries.” —Sr. Rhonda Miska, O.P., Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters/Dominican University