Preaching and Social Issues
Tools and Tactics for Empowering Your Prophetic Voice
1st Edition
Published on 8. October 2024
278 pages
978-1-5381-8762-3 (ISBN)
Description
Preaching and Social Issues: Tools and Tactics for Empowering Your Prophetic Voice equips preachers to craft sermons that help congregations talk about topics of public concern based on strong ethical, biblical, and theological foundations as well as prudent sermonic strategies. Informed by years of research with clergy and congregations, Leah D. Schade provides practical and pastoral guidance for preachers to find their prophetic voice for their context with integrity and wisdom.
Preaching and Social Issues offers an assessment tool for gauging risk and capacity for preaching about social issues and suggests three approaches-Gentle, Invitational, and Robust. This book includes case studies and sermons that illustrate different approaches for preaching about contemporary topics.
Preaching and Social Issues offers an assessment tool for gauging risk and capacity for preaching about social issues and suggests three approaches-Gentle, Invitational, and Robust. This book includes case studies and sermons that illustrate different approaches for preaching about contemporary topics.
More details
Edition
1. Auflage
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Illustrations
7 BW Photos, 17 Textboxes
ISBN-13
978-1-5381-8762-3 (9781538187623)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
11/2024
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
€78.80
Shipment within 3-4 weeks
Persons
The Rev. Dr. Leah D. Schade is the associate professor of Preaching and Worship at Lexington Theological Seminary in Lexington, Kentucky. An ordained Lutheran minister (ELCA) for more than twenty years, she has pastored three Pennsylvania congregations in suburban, urban, and rural contexts. Her book, Preaching in the Purple Zone: Ministry in the Red-Blue Divide (Rowman & Littlefield, 2019), explores how clergy and congregations can address controversial social issues using nonpartisan, biblically-centered approaches and deliberative dialogue. She is also the author of Creation-Crisis Preaching: Ecology, Theology, and the Pulpit, as well as For the Beauty of the Earth, a Creation-centered Lenten devotional. She is co-editor and author with Margaret Bullitt-Jonas of Rooted and Rising: Voices of Courage in a Time of Climate Crisis (Rowman & Littlefield, 2019), and co-author with Jerry Sumney of Apocalypse When?: A Guide to Interpreting and Preaching Apocalyptic Texts. She is the lead author, with Elizabeth Askew and Jerry Sumney, of Introduction to Preaching: Scripture, Theology, and Sermon Preparation (Rowman & Littlefield, 2023). Rev. Dr. Schade is also the EcoPreacher blogger for Patheos.
Content
- Cover
- Half Title
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Praise for Preaching and Social Issues
- Dedication
- Contents
- Foreword
- Acknowledgments
- Chapter 1: Preaching and Social Issues: Introduction and Overview
- What Do We Mean by "Social Issues"?
- Ministry in the Midst of Political Volatility
- My First Experience with Navigating a Social Issue in a Purple Congregation
- Where I Stand Now
- What Does It Mean to Empower Your "Prophetic" Voice?
- Overview of Preaching and Social Issues
- Notes
- Chapter 2: The Challenges of Preaching and Social Issues: Findings from Surveying Preachers in the Red-Blue Divide
- Surveying Preachers and Congregations in the "Purple Zone"
- Increasing "Brittleness" in Congregations
- The Types of Preachers We Surveyed and the Congregations They Serve
- Denominations
- Ministry Status, Setting, and Worship Attendance
- Differences in Political Leanings between Clergy and Congregations
- Preaching in the Red-Blue Divide Since 2016
- Perceptions of Divisiveness Increase
- Prophetic Courage and the Realities of Vulnerability
- Barriers and Negative Pushback When Preachers Engage in Social Issues
- Where Are Preachers Finding Support for Engaging Social Issues?
- What Do Parishioners Say about Engaging Social Issues at Church?
- Conclusion: Parishioners Are Already Talking about Social Issues-So Let's Meet Them There
- Notes
- Chapter 3: What's Your Path to Prophetic Preaching? An Assessment Tool
- How the Assessment Tool Was Developed
- The Preacher's Vulnerability, Risk, and Capacity for Addressing Social Issues
- The Effects of Social Privilege-or Lack Thereof
- Personal and Professional Factors
- Congregation Characteristics and Community Context
- Congregational Health and Vitality
- The Role of Gender and Sexual Orientation
- The Role of Race and Culture
- The Relationships between Pastor and Congregation and among Congregation Members
- Gauging "Brittleness" and Resilience
- The Role of Conflict and Church Governance
- Relational and Deliberative Well-Being within the Congregation
- It's a Matter of Trust
- Caveats and Cautions for the Assessment Tool
- Summary of Three Approaches to Addressing Social Issues in Preaching
- Questions for Reflection and Discussion on the Assessment Tool
- Notes
- Chapter 4: Gentle, Invitational, and Robust: Three Approaches to Addressing Social Issues in Preaching
- The Gentle Approach: Strategies for Preaching about a Social Issue in a Low-Trust/High-Stress Congregation
- Exercise: Gentle Approach for Addressing Immigration Using Leviticus 19:33-34
- The Invitational Approach: Strategies for Preaching about a Social Issue in a Medium-Trust/Medium-Stressed Congregation
- Exercise: Invitational Approach for Addressing Environmental Issues Using Romans 8:18-25
- The Robust Approach: Strategies for Preaching about a Social Issue in a High-Trust/Low-Stress Congregation
- Exercise: Robust Approach for Addressing Gun Violence Using Matthew 26:47-56
- Tips and Advice for Preparing to Preach on Social Issues
- Spiritual and Relational Preparation
- Pragmatic Preparation
- Conclusion: Speak the Truth in Love
- Notes
- Chapter 5: Ethical Foundations for Preaching and Social Issues
- The Loss of a Moral Center and the Need for Moral Formation
- Frank A. Thomas-Moral Worldviews and Working Gospels
- The Two Moral Worldviews
- Strict Father Worldview
- Nurturant Parent Worldview
- Working Gospels
- The Complicated Relationship between Working Gospels and Moral Worldviews
- Jonathan Haidt: Understanding Morality, Politics, and Religion
- Humans Are "Groupish"
- The Six Moral Foundations
- The Role of Religion and Moral Foundations
- The Necessity of Building Moral Capital
- Preaching Social Issues Can Help Build an Ethical Community
- Conclusion
- Notes
- Chapter 6: Why the Church Needs to Address Social Issues: Biblical and Theological Foundations
- Historical-Critical Exegesis: Jesus-and the Bible-Are Political
- The Bible and Latino/a16 Hermeneutics
- Latinxs,22 the Bible, and Migration
- Womanists' Interpretations of Scripture
- Jacquelyn Grant
- Delores Williams
- Wilda C. Gafney
- Interpretive Questions for Reading Biblical Texts
- Conclusion
- Notes
- Chapter 7: Homiletical Conversation Partners for Addressing Social Issues
- Four Ethical Approaches to Preaching
- Communicative Ethic
- Witness Ethic
- Liberation Ethic
- Hospitality Ethic
- Conversational and Collaborative Preaching: Communicative and Hospitality Ethics
- Preaching in the Red-Blue Divide
- The Prophetic Aspect of Conversational and Collaborative Preaching
- African American Preaching Perspectives
- Tyshawn Gardner's Social Crisis Preaching: Communicative and Liberation Ethics
- Lisa L. Thompson's Womanist Homiletic: Liberation and Witness Ethics
- Postcolonial Homiletics: Liberation and Witness Ethics
- HyeRan Kim-Cragg's Linguistic Homiletic
- Lis Valle-Ruiz's "Burlesque-esque" Homiletic
- Conclusion
- Notes
- Chapter 8: Three Social Issues for Applying Ethics, Scripture, and Theology for Preaching
- Immigration, Systemic Racism, and Christian Nationalism
- Using Moral Foundations and Sermon Approaches for Preaching about Immigration
- Gentle Strategies for Immigration
- Invitational Strategies for Immigration
- Robust Strategies for Immigration
- Using Moral Foundations and Sermon Approaches to Preach about Systemic Racism
- Gentle Strategies for Addressing Racism
- Invitational Strategies for Addressing Racism
- Robust Strategies for Addressing Racism
- Using Moral Foundations and Sermon Approaches for Preaching about Christian Nationalism
- Gentle and Invitational Strategies for Christian Nationalism-Pamela Cooper-White
- Red Light-STOP!
- Yellow Light-Tread Lightly
- Green Light-Go Deeper, Gently, and Wisely
- Strategies for Sermons on Christian Nationalism
- Conclusion
- Notes
- Chapter 9: Two Sermons on Social Issues Based on Philippians 2:1-13
- Exegesis of Philippians 2:1-13
- Two Sermons Addressing a Social Issue Based on Philippians 2:1-13
- "One Mind in a Divided Church: Giving Ourselves for the Good of Others" -Jerry L. Sumney's Sermon and Analysis
- Background and Questions for Analysis
- Sermon: "One Mind in a Divided Church: Giving Ourselves for the Good of Others"
- Analysis of the Sermon
- "Cleaning Up and Clearing Out"-Emily Askew's Sermon and Analysis
- Background and Questions for Analysis
- Sermon: "Cleaning Up and Clearing Out"
- Analysis of the Sermon
- Conclusion
- Note
- Chapter 10: Case Studies of Preachers Addressing Social Issues
- A Case Study of a Gentle Approach
- Mills's Sermon Excerpt and Analysis
- A Case Study of a Gentle to Invitational Approach
- Hill's Sermon Excerpt and Its Analysis
- A Case Study of a Gentle to Invitational Approach
- Langeh's Sermon Excerpt
- Sermon Analysis
- A Case Study of an Invitational to Robust Approach: A Sermon on Revelation 3:14-22
- Birch's Sermon Excerpt
- Sermon Analysis
- Case Studies in Invitational to Robust Approaches
- Queen Vashti Example 1: Inspiring the Moral Agency of Women in a Patriarchal Society
- Newell's Sermon Excerpt
- Sermon Analysis
- Queen Vashti Example 2: "A Displaced Crown"
- Elery's Sermon Excerpt
- Sermon Analysis
- Conclusion
- Notes
- Chapter 11: Practical Advice for Preaching and Social Issues
- Advice for Avoiding Pitfalls and Strengthening Relationships for Preaching about Social Issues
- Unforced Errors in Preaching about Social Issues and How to Avoid or Remedy Them
- Spiritual, Liturgical, Collegial, and Pastoral Practices to Support Preaching about Social Issues
- How to Respond to Negative Pushback to a Sermon about a Social Issue
- Twelve Steps for Responding to Criticism about a Sermon Regarding Social Issues
- What to Do When It All Falls Apart
- Are We Really Supposed to Be One Big, Happy Family?
- Threat Multipliers
- Remember Your Ordination and Baptismal Vows
- When Parishioners Leave, Sometimes It Opens Room for New Growth
- Drawing Boundaries and Pruning the Vine
- Should I Stay or Should I Go?
- Final Thoughts and Words of Inspiration
- Conclusion
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Scripture Index
- Topical Index
