We have added eight newly-published books to the Media Center to increase your understanding of discipleship, leadership, church growth, sabbath, minority experiences, collegiate ministries, and the UMC Way Forward. Read about these books below and request to borrow them.
Embracing the Wideness: The Shared Convictions of The United Methodist Church by Kenneth H. Carter Jr., Foreword by Stanley Hauerwas and Will Willimon; Abingdon Press, 2018.
Bishop Ken Carter, recently elected President of the Council of Bishops for 2019, has written a framework to understand the UMC Way Forward as a generous orthodoxy based on healing, instead of dividing, the church body. Carter explains two views on church and holiness: a separatist view and an activist view. He maintains that these different, scriptural views can be held together in one church. This short book is an important read for anyone concerned with the future of The United Methodist Church.
All the Colors We Will See: Reflections on Barriers, Brokenness, and Finding Our Way by Patrice Gopo; W. Publishing Group, 2018.
Patrice Gopo is the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, and she grew up in Alaska. She lived in South Africa when she married, and currently makes her home in North Carolina. It is from these experiences that she reflects on identity, belonging, race relations, immigration, marriage, beauty, and faith in this beautifully written collection of essays. See her read an excerpt from the book in this video by the The Charlotte Post.
8 Virtues of Rapidly Growing Churches
by Matt Miofsky and Jason Byassee, Foreword by Jacob Armstrong;
Abingdon Press, 2018.
These two United Methodist ministers have both led large and growing congregations, but in this book, they studied several other highly successful church plants and discovered eight characteristics that they all shared. This quick read unpacks qualities such as believing in miracles, integrating new people, elevating giving, teamwork, and more. The conclusion explains how a pastor can apply these common practices of church planters.
Stride Participant Book: Creating a Discipleship Pathway for Your Life
by Mike Schreiner and Ken Willard; Abingdon Press, 2018.
A participant book is now available for 2017’s Stride: Creating a Discipleship Pathway for Your Church by these two United Methodist pastors. If you are creating a discipleship plan in your church (which you should be), then your leaders need to be disciples themselves. So, gather your church leaders into a small group and undertake this study that teaches how to apply nine spiritual practices of prayer, scripture-reading, service, generosity, worship, sabbath, community, witness, and presence. Don’t think your church needs a renewed focus on disciple-making? Review the authors’ 16 signs to see if you’re right.
Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory
by Tod Bolsinger; InterVarsity Press, 2018.
Winner of Outreach Magazine’s Resource of the Year in Leadership, this book shows leaders how to use new navigational tools to lead in an unfamiliar context. Leadership coach, pastor, and university professor Bolsinger recognizes that culture is rapidly changing, and he uses his experience to help churches adjust their strategies to minister within this new context. Read this interview with the author to discover more about the book such as why the Lewis and Clark metaphor referenced in the title is relevant to today’s leaders.
We Pray With Her: Encouragement for All Women Who Lead
edited by Emily Peck-McClain, Danyelle Trexler, Jen Tyler, J. Paige Boyer, and Shannon Sullivan; Foreword by Ginger Gaines-Cirelli; Abingdon Press, 2018.
All women are leaders in some respect, and this book makes it clear. Nearly 70 United Methodist clergywomen from all across the country contributed the devotions and prayers in this important and inspiring book. Arranged around themes of call, struggle, courage, resistance, and persistence, the book offers 100 short devotions for daily use along with prayers for specific life moments related to parenting, work, health, fertility, marriage, and the emotions that come with so many responsibilities. Royalties from the book will fund scholarships through the General Board of Higher Education & Ministry for young women pursuing a seminary education.
Subversive Sabbath: The Surprising Power of Rest in a Nonstop World
by A.J. Swoboda; Brazos Press, 2018.
A.J. Swoboda is a staff member of Sabbath Living, a ministry of Blessed Earth, that has been very active in the North Carolina Conference. In this book, he presents new ideas about sabbath-keeping: how sabbath is both a spiritual discipline and a form of social justice, connecting Sabbath-keeping to local communities, and how God may actually do more when we do less. Read an extensive review of the book by following this link and scrolling to the bottom of the page or read an excerpt to see if this is just the book on sabbath that you have needed all along.
Benedict on Campus: Eight Spiritual Disciplines for Collegiate Ministry
by David E. MacDonald; Foundery Books, 2018.
The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of The United Methodist Church just published this excellent book of great use to all college campus or young adult ministers. United Methodist pastor and college chaplain David E. MacDonald adapts the spiritual practices of St. Benedict for college students. The eight spiritual practices include communal prayer, lectio divina, contemplative prayer, service, spiritual direction, pilgrimage, intentional community and hospitality. Read this article for more insight into the benefits of this book for your ministry.
Request These Resources
These books can be borrowed by anyone associated with the North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church, free of charge. We can even mail them to you! All you need to do is fill out the Resource Request Form.