This fascinating book talks about storytelling and why we need to tell stories to help us understand life; the author then looks at the various parts of the Bible and shows how practice of storytelling can change the way we understand the stories of the Bible. It is a very helpful look at the Bible and how we respond to it. The final chapters talk about how we tell “our” stories in relationship to the stories of the Bible. The book itself is full of stories in each chapter and section; it is thoroughly delightful to read.

Anglican Diversity – Patricia Bays; Anglican Book Centre, Toronto, Ontario; 2001

Looks at the Episcopal Church today and shows how diversity is its strength; topics include living the gospel in contemporary culture, coping with conflict, affirming incarnational theology, and other topics of controversy. Contains extensive bibliography

The Doctrines of the Apostles’ Creed – Forward Movement Publications, Cincinnati OH

A series of six pamphlets on different parts of the Apostles’ Creed. This is old material by some of the major theologians from the late 40’s and early 50’s, but very clear, concise, and quite readable.

The pamphlets:

God the Father Almighty by Chad Walsh

Jesus Christ, God’s Son our Lord by W. Norman Pittenger

The Holy Spirit by Frederick W. Dillistone

The Holy Catholic Church by Theodore O. Wedel

The Forgiveness of Sins by Hughell E. W. Fosbroke

The Resurrection of the Body and The Life Everlasting by Carroll E. Simcox

Always Open, Being an Anglican Today – Richard Giles, Cowley Publishing, Cambridge MA; 2004

Always Open is a good introduction to Anglican beliefs and practices; it explains the essentials of the Anglican approach to authority, the Bible, social and moral questions, dialog with people of other faiths and more. It’s fun to read! However Giles, as a Brit, offers some pictures of the ECUSA that don’t always ring true, especially in our diocese. But it is still a good introduction to the Anglican Church with its very strong emphasis on the Via Media-the middle way.

The Next Christendom – Philip Jenkins, Oxford University Press, 2002

A look at how Christianity is “exploding” in the southern hemisphere and some predictions about how this southern Christianity will affect Christianity as we know it today.

Awakening Grassroots Spirituality – Edwin M. Leidel Jr, iUniverse, Inc, NYC; 2004

Subtitle: A Celtic Guide for Nurturing and Maturing the Soul; the book is about spirituality that is accessible to everyone; it’s about growing in God’s Presence in community.

Facing Terrorism, Responding as Christians – Edward LeRoy Long Jr, Westminster John Knox; 2004

Long looks at what terrorism is, giving several definitions, and what might cause it. He then looks at how we respond again looking at several possibilities. His final chapter talks about being faithful in uncertain times. An interesting book and fairly easy to read it makes us truly think about what we believe and how we respond to terrorism.

The Power of God and the gods of Power, Daniel L. Migliore; Westminster/John Knox Press; 2008

Migliore talks about our concepts of God and how those concepts will make us react to ideas about God. He speaks of a God whose power is found in the crucifixion of Jesus and who is close to all. The most helpful parts of the book are the last two chapters where first he speaks about God’s power in our day to day life and then about the Christian-Muslim dialogue in the face of a crucified savior. There are discussion questions at the end of each chapter, and a brief bibliography at the end of the book.

(Video) Mourners or Midwives? Choices for the 21^st Century – Herbert O’Driscoll, Lifetime Scholars, Logos Productions; 1999

The Challenge of Tradition – John Simons, ed. Anglican Book Center, Toronto Canada; 1997

In 1994 a large group of Canadian Anglicans gathered to look at what they considered were the “essentials” to being Anglican in Canada. This book is a series of articles to start discussion on these “essentials”. It looks at the authority of scripture, global mission and tradition in that area, women in the church, liturgy, etc. The articles are interesting to read and challenging to think about.

A Christian Response to the New Genetics – David H. Smith and Cynthia B. Cohen, eds. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. Lanham MD, 2003

A series of papers exploring a variety of topics about genetics, medicine, and society from a religious viewpoint; sponsored by the Episcopal Church, but this is not an official statement of the Church.

The Great Emergence - Phyllis Tickle; Baker Book House, Grand Rapids; 2008

Tickle proposes that approximately every 500 years there is a change the culture/social constructs /politics/religion etc, and that we are living in one of these “hinges of history” today. She explains these hinges briefly and then goes on to compare our time with the time of the Reformation, showing some of the key events leading up to the Reformation and what followed. She then explains what events she sees leading to the Great Emergence; finally she shows what is happening today and how we might respond to some of these things. It is a fascinating proposition, clearly written, and a fairly quick read.

See also:

In Christian Formation-Adult Education

Focus on the Prayer Book: An Adult Study – Nancy Dering Martin, Morehouse, Harrisburg PA; 2004

A study of various prayers and phrases from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979; there are 6 volumes, each with 6-8 lessons on a specific subject, all based on prayers found in the BCP. Each lesson is self-sustaining and can be done within a one hour period.

Available for preview are study guides 5 & 6: Wise Words-Alliteration in the Liturgy, and Symbolic Language in the Liturgy.

For more information or to borrow a particular item, contact Marnie Bash,

Coordinator, Ministries Resource Center: mpbash@ameritech.net or 989-839-9364.