Prophetic Preaching: The Hope or the Curse of the Church?

by Ian S. Markham PhD (Editor), Crystal J. Hardin (Editor)

Overview

A collection of provocative, inspiring, and thoughtful essays about the place of politics in the pulpit.

This book is the first collection of essays to explore the question: is there room for politics from the pulpit? In response to an increasingly polarized society, preachers grapple with the call to witness a unifying Truth in a world where truth appears subjective. While many congregations respond positively to social and political themes in sermons, others do not. Episcopalians in the conservative minority may be uncomfortable with political-themed preaching, while liberal Episcopalians demand a political message from the pulpit. What is a preacher to do when the Episcopal Church is no more immune to the temptation of polarization than the secular world?

Contributors to this volume serve in a variety of contexts and bring with them their own distinct styles and visions. Anyone with an interest in the practical implications addressing the current political climate from the pulpit will find these essays provocative, inspiring, and thoughtful.

Contributors: Samuel G. Chandler, Sarah T. Condon, Alex Dyer, Crystal J. Hardin, Ruthanna Hooke, Mark Jefferson, Russell J. Levenson Jr., Ian Markham, Phoebe Roaf, Stephanie Spellers, Samuel Wells

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781640652200
Publisher:	Church Publishing, Incorporated
Publication date:	03/17/2020
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Ian S. Makham is the Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary and a Professor of Theology and Ethics. He is the author of numerous books, including Against Atheism and An Introduction to Ministry (co-written with Oran Warder). His awards include the Robertson Fellow; Claggett Fellow attached to Washington National Cathedral; Frank Woods Fellow at Trinity College, Melbourne; and F. D. Maurice Lectures at King’s College, London. He lives in Alexandria, Virginia.

CRYSTAL J. HARDIN is the Assistant to the Rector at Christ Church at Georgetown in Washington D.C. She graduated from Virginia Theological Seminary and from the University of Alabama School of Law where she was named a Hugo L. Black Scholar. After graduating, she clerked for the Honorable William M. Acker, Jr. on the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Alabama.

Table of Contents

Introduction Ian S. Markham Crystal J. Hardin v

Chapter 1 Preaching Politics: Not Yes or No, but How Crystal J. Hardin 1

Chapter 2 The Dangerous Potential of the Prophetic Pulpit Sarah Condon 15

Chapter 3 Addressing Power Phoebe Roaf 29

Chapter 4 Remember Jesus: The Purpose of the Pulpit Russell J. Levenson Jr. 40

Chapter 5 Reclaiming the Prophetic Pulpit Alex Dyer 57

Chapter 6 Preaching the Jesus Movement Stephanie Spellers 71

Chapter 7 The Political Work of the Church: Go for the Underlying Issues Ian S. Markham 79

Chapter 8 Prophetic Preaching as Sacrament: Finding and Using a Political Voice Ruthanna Hooke 91

Chapter 9 Getting the Basics Right Samuel Wells 109

Chapter 10 What Succeeds in Preaching: The Way of Blessing Samuel G. Candler 122

Chapter 11 Last Word: Reimagining Prophetic Preaching Mark Jefferson 137

Acknowledgments 143

Contributors 145