Changing Church

Stories of Liberating Ministers

Jann Aldredge-Clanton

• Publisher: Cascade Books
• Year: 2011
• Print ISBN:
  9781610974516
  9781498214087
• eBook ISBN:
  9781621891406
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Theology

Through the fascinating stories of pioneering ministers, this book reveals a unique picture of progressive changes occurring in the Christian tradition. Meeting challenges and overcoming obstacles, these twelve diverse ministers are changing the church as they take prophetic stands on gender, race, interfaith cooperation, ecology, sexual orientation, economic opportunity, and other social justice issues. Believing in the power of sacred symbolism to shape social reality and to provide a foundation for justice and freedom for all people, these ministers lead worship with inclusive language and imagery for humanity and divinity. They include multicultural female and male images of the Divine. Their stories affirm the connection between this expansive theology and an ethic of justice and equality in human relationships. In working from within to change the church, these ministers have risked censure by denominational authorities, loss of opportunities for promotion to larger congregations or to prestigious denominational positions, and even loss of their jobs. They have found creative ways to balance advocating for change and working to support the church, using their positions as ordained clergy to bring liberating change to the church and the wider culture.

Table of contents

• Changing Church
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• 1 / Rev. Stacy Boorn
• 2 / Rev. Dr. Susan Newman
• 3 / Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan
• 4 / Rev. Dr. Isabel Docampo
• 5 / Rev. Larry E. Schultz
• 6 / Rev. Dr. Monica A. Coleman
• 7 / Rev. Marcia C. Fleischman
• 8 / Rev. Virginia Marie Rincon
• 9 / Rev. Paul Smith
• 10 / Rev. Judith Liro
• 11 / Rev. Dr. Rebecca L. Kiser
• 12 / Rev. Dr. Nancy Petty
• Conclusion
• Notes