A New Day for Family Ministry

Praise for the Book

“A New Day for Family Ministry offers an alternative Christian voice to that of the Christian right. It is a voice that seeks to clarify rather than demonize differences in perspectives on family. Olson and Leonard tackle the questions, often stridently raised by proponents of so-called 'family values,' about what is a family, gender roles, marriage, and sexuality. Rooting their argument in scripture, reason, social science findings, and pastoral experience, they insist that 'family values' derived from the gospel must address the social and economic realities that impact families toay. Olson and Leonard outline a prophetic and pastoral response to all kinds of families: 'traditional nuclear families,' of course, but also dual breadwinner families (the dominant family form today), single parent families, blended households and those often marginalized by the church, singles, cohabitating couples, and gay and lesbian families. The book is rich in suggestions for ministry and honest in its struggle with challenging issues.” —The Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbell

“Church leaders beware! If you wish to remain uniformed, unchallenged, and uninspired, don't read this book. For Olson and Leonard not only bring us up-to-date on the personal and cultural realities of family life, they appropriately and successfully challenge long-standing perceptions—largely based on cultural myth and Biblical literalism—about so-called family values, and set about to present 'a new paradigm for family ministry' for the church rooted in the realities of family life and the promises of hope and renewed life at the heart of the Christian Gospel. This is a book about making the church fit for families. And it engages church leaders in a necessary dialogue about the most sensitive of family issues, while making specific proposals for getting at family ministry through the church's primary outpost, the congregation. This book is a serious threat to 'ministry as usual.' So, read with care!” —Dr. C. Raymond Trout