Books published by Abingdon Press

The author describes the four main groups of people churches can reach with their ministries: those in the pews, those who walk in, friends and family of current members, and those who live in the neighborhood. He then provides short-term steps and long-term strategies for reaching out to these groups, drawing them into the church, and helping them grow into disciples of Jesus Christ. "Your Church Can Thrive helps readers focus the development of the ministries and programs of the church on those whom the church is trying to reach.

In his introduction to the core habits, beliefs, and ways of looking at the world that distinguish the people called Methodist, Carter contends there are six essential practices in the United Methodist tradition: - Searching the Scriptures- Generosity with the poor- Testimony- Singing- Holy Communion- Christian conferencing

This is the third volume of the Standard Sermons of John Wesley, transcribed into today's English. These volumes accurately transcribe their eighteenth-century language into a form suitable for today's reader. This volume contains the last twenty sermons, in which Wesley deals with questions and concerns facing the Methodist movement in its early days: the balance of faith and works; the charge that the Methodists were enthusiasts; tolerance (catholic spirit) among believers; Christian perfection; new birth; and others. Other volumes can be purchased separately: John Wesley on Christian Beliefs #9780687052967 John Wesley on the Sermon on the Mount #9780687028108

Pastoral Care and Counseling has changed radically since the publication of "The Dictionary of Pastoral Care and Counseling." Rapid changes have occurred in theological, social, and medical contexts broadening the understanding of care. The shift from the "living human document" to the "living human web" both enriches and challenges the study and practice of pastoral theology. Just as the "Dictionary of Pastoral Care and Counseling" defined the field of Pastoral Care, this volume brings the field current. Essays by Nancy J. Ramsay, Joretta L. Marshall, Emmanuel Y. Lartey, Christie C. Neuger, Bonnie J. Miller-McLemore, and Loren L. Townsend. Topics include: Pastoral Theology; Public Theology; Power and Difference; Globalization, Internationalization, and Indigentization; Training in Clinical Ministry; Methodology.

In the Methodist lexicon, 'conference' refers to a body of preachers (and later, of laity as well) that exercises legislative, judicial and (to some extent) executive functions for the church or some portion thereof. But 'conference, ' Richey argues here, defined the Methodist movement in more than political ways: On conference hinged religious time, religious space, religious belonging, religious structure, even religiosity itself. Methodist histories uniformly recognize, typically even feature, conference's centrality, but describe that in primarily constitutional and political terms. The purpose of this volume is to present conference as a distinctively American Methodist manner of being the church, a multifaceted mode of spirituality, unity, mission, governance, and fraternity that American Methodists have lived and operated better than they have interpreted.

A Spanish-English worship tool for use in Hispanic congregations and other congregations developing ministries with Hispanics, with general services; acts and services for Advent, Epiphany, Lent, Pentecost, and Las Posadas {a frequently requested Hispanic service); services for special days for the United Methodist Church; and other services such as Healing, Thanksgiving, and Wedding Anniversary.

A how-to book for the church musician desiring further training, Handbell Helper offers basic, practical help to church music directors. * Offers basic information which assumes no prior handbell knowledge * Provides examples for concepts presented * Written in an easy-to-read and easy-to-understand style and format * Helps eliminate some of the intimidation of beginning a bell choir * Gives new directors a higher level of confidence in working with a handbell group * Gives music directors something to give to potential handbell choir leaders

Transformational leaders know how to build on their church's identity. They know how to make the story of change the next chapter in the book of the congregation's life, rather than throwing the book away and trying to start over. An astute student of management and leadership theory, Weems offers congregational leaders essential insights into how they can bring about authentic and faithful growth. Includes congregational case studies, visual illustrations of key ideas, and insights from other leadership experts.

In What to Expect in Seminary, Virginia Samuel Cetuk looks at the various facets of theological education - the call to ministry, classroom learning, community life, field education, financial realities, time management challenges - through the lens of spiritual formation. In each chapter she challenges the reader to view the particular topic as an avenue to spiritual growth rather than an obstacle. Offering the reader the conceptual tool of reframing, she draws upon psychology, scripture, and her many years of experience in theological education to help the reader see both the challenges and the rich opportunities of theological education related to ministry and spiritual formation.

It is possible, contends C. David Grant, to be a Christian and take modern and postmodern thought seriously. In the first half of his book, Grant explores three major intellectual revolutions of the past two centuries that fundamentally changed the way we think: the emergence of historical consciousness, the discovery of the evolutionary character of the natural world, and the postmodern recognition of diversity and pluralism. Suggesting that these revolutions set the context for all our thinking today, Grant turns in the second half of the book to suggest how they can be integrated into a viable contemporary faith by exploring their impact on Christians' thinking about the Bible, Jesus Christ, and God. He argues that we must accept the human origins of the Bible, the limitations of our historical knowledge about Jesus, and the conceptual character of all our talk about God. Within these parameters, the author sets forth a positive case for a constructive liberal theology, arguing that such an approach is both viable and vital for many contemporary Christians who seek intellectual integrity in their faith. By thinking through the concepts, ideas, and images we use in our faith, we actually come to appreciate and see God's grace as that fundamental mystery that lies at the horizons of our thought and experience.

"With generative wisdom, Gerkin moves beyond the predominance of the psychotherapeutic paradigm in pastoral care to a dynamic, interactive process which balances faith, culture, community, and individual well-being. . . . Gerkin's history of pastoral care is skillful. . . . His analysis of the current transitions in the field of care will make this book a classic."--Jeanne Stevenson Moessner, Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, and the Georgia Association for Pastoral Care "Out of the abundance of his many years as a pastoral caregiver and theologian, Gerkin introduces readers to the history, theory, and practice of pastoral care. This book represents the best of Protestant liberal pastoral theology and fills a long-standing gap. . . . The narrative-hermeneutical paradigm which Gerkin offers holds and works with many of the complexities of pastoral care in postmodern times."--Carrie Doehring, School of Theology, Boston University "Gerkin's Introduction to Pastoral Care breaks new ground for an introductory text in its emphasis on care as 'the central metaphor of life in the Christian community.' Thus the scope is much larger than the more usual focus only on individual and family needs. He is deeply sensitive to both individual and community dimensions through his quadrilateral nexus of tradition, individuals and family, community, and cultural context."--James N. Lapsley, Princeton Theological Seminary "The formula appears simple: take the very best of pastoral care theory and research of the past, build upon it the best of contemporary literature and practice in the pastoral arts and sciences, season it with rich experiences of a pioneer in the pastoral care, counseling, and education movement, and you have a solid bridge to the 21st century. Gerkin has proven the formula. . . . [Gerkin] articulates a pastoral care for the 21st century."--Orlo C. Strunk, Jr., Pastoral Psychotherapist at The Coastal Samaritan Center, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Grounded in social research, Rural Ministry evaluates the diminishing establishment of the church in rural America, which is linked to the fifty-year-old crisis in rural ministry. It names the primary issues for leaders of Protestant and Catholic churches to ponder: the graying of the population; the closing of schools, hospitals, and factories; and the corporate buyout of farms during the 1980s. In addition to retelling the history of this crisis, Shannon Jung and the other contributors to this volume offer a set of Christian principles that respond to social problems in rural life. The situation is so intense that the book offers examples from around the heartland of cooperative or collaborative parishes that blend denominational and theological differences across the Protestant and Catholic spectrum. Key Benefits: Offers a vision of nationwide renewal in rural America; Advocates true ecumenical solutions to issues confronting the rural church in America; Sidebars feature examples and illustrations; Informs new rural ministers of the culture and issues about to confront them, allowing them to better handle the challenges and opportunities of the rural environment; Motivates congregations to activate ministries in new and provocative ways, insuring the spread of the gospel; Can help troubled churches survive.

The sixth book in Abingdon's series of how-to books for church musicians desiring further training, How Does Your Choir Grow? treats the subject of recruiting and maintaining choir members, a key task in the role of church music leadership. The area of choir recruiting is a time-cosuming, often frustrating task, particularly in light of the many other aspects of the job. Designed to help directors develop a concrete plan for growth, this book deals with choir recruitment at all age levels. David Donathan has written an easy-to-read, easy-to-understand treatment of concern faced by all choir directors in their ongoing ministry. Any choir director, no matter the number of years of their leadership, will find this book to be a valuable resources. * Helps choir directors develop an organized program of recruitment * Contains practical, useful information on getting and keeping choir members * Written in an easy-to-read, easy to understand style * Written by someone who has conducted numerous workshops in this area

"This study explores the meaning of justification in the framework of Latin American theology of liberation, which is a particular way of doing theology welcomed by both Catholics and Protestants. In this theology, the poor, 'oppressed and believing, ' constitute the privileged locus of theology. That is to say, theology is done from their reality of oppression-liberation and their experience of God. Every great theological theme, every biblical reading, must be reexamined from that angle of vision." (from the Introduction, by Elsa Tamez)