Lost in the Middle. Claiming an Inclusive Faith for Christians Who Are Both Liberal and Evangelical
Wesley J. Wildman, Stephen Chapin Garner
There exists a deep and broad population of Christians who feel the labels of "liberal" and "evangelical" both describe their faith and limit their expression of it. By working to reclaim the traditional, historical meanings of these terms, and showing how they complement rather than oppose each other, Wesley Wildman and Stephen Chapin Garner stake a claim for the moderate Christian voice in today’s polarized society.
Lost in the Middle? guides readers through a process of diagnosis and articulation, offering complementary perspectives on the phenomenon, problem, and promise of Christians with both liberal and evangelical instincts. The authors show how individuals and institutions alike can reclaim and celebrate the highest virtues of both liberal and evangelical Christianity, and how doing so can lead to the creation of authentic and vibrant communities of faith.
Pastors, congregational leaders, seminarians, and all thoughtful Christians will learn how truly moderate Christianity can unite the compassionate openness and social activism of liberal Christianity with the magnetism and spiritual fervor of evangelical Christianity. You may feel lost in the middle, but you are not alone there. The middle may be the place where you find yourself living most authentically.
Praise for the Book
“In this important new book, Wildman and Garner have done a real service to all people of faith who are looking for an alternative to the worn-out and unhelpful polarities of liberal and conservative. They describe a middle way is not a bland compromise but a vital and alluring expression of the Christian faith.” —Martin B. Copenhaver, Senior Pastor, Wellesley Congregational Church
“It is tremendously comforting to pick up this book and discover companions—other liberal evangelicals who have felt lost in the contemporary church. And it is thrilling to see that some wise predecessors have found their way and charted a path for others to follow. Wildman and Garner have laid out a trail of bread crumbs that not only lead but provide nourishment along the way.” —Brandon Daniel Hughes, Publisher of LiberalEvangelical.org
“From the perspective of a clergyperson who has worked with church groups grappling with current issues, I have found that Lost in the Middle? gives moderate, thoughtful Christians a position from which to speak, as well as a great sense of relief to find that theirs is a definable stance that characterizes many Christians. Finding that their positions have strong historical precedents adds legitimacy and power to their voices.” —Vaughan McTernan, Priest-in-Charge, St. David of the Hills Episcopal Church, Woodland Park, Colorado
About the Authors
Wesley J. Wildman is Associate Professor of Theology and Ethics at Boston University. His research and writing focuses on interdisciplinary topics connecting religion with the natural and social sciences. He is ordained in the Uniting Church in Australia and has seven years full-time parish experience in moderate Christian churches.
Stephen Chapin Garner is the senior pastor of the United Church of Christ in Norwell, Massachusetts. He has just completed his DMin in homiletics focusing on the role of first-person narratives in sermons.
ISBN# 978-1-56699-372-2
Alban No. AL372
paper, 180 pages
2008
In stock
$18.00
($14.40 for members)
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