An Introduction to Ministry: A Primer for Renewed Life and Leadership in Mainline Protestant Congregations - Softcover

This really is an "introduction to ministry." Everything is in here and it is well-organized and well-said. This will become a standard for those considering professional ministry and others who want to understand the pastorate. Markham and Warder have point of view, but it is gentle and apparent and appreciative of ministry in diversity and complexity. David McAllister-Wilson, President, Wesley Theological Seminary Markham and Warder have boldly gone where no-one has quite gone before; writing a genuine introduction to ministry itself, not just pastoral care or liturgy or management, but about the extraordinary, messy and wonderful whole. This introduction is full of insight and wisdom. While it does not answer every question, it answers many of them, and it will provoke better questions and richer answers than readers might otherwise have obtained. It is also written from a fundamentally optimistic viewpoint, and gives a hopeful and faithful picture of how the "mainline" can not only survive but flourish amid changing realities. Andrew McGowen, Yale Divinity School

An Introduction to Ministry is a comprehensive and ecumenical introduction to the craft of ministry for ministers, pastors, and priests that make up the mainline denominations in the United States. Ecumenically-focused, It offers a grounded account of ministry, covering areas such as vocation, congregational leadership, and cultivation of skills for an effective ministry. * Covers the key components of the M.Div. curriculum, offering a map and guide to the central skills and issues in training * Explores the areas of vocation, skills for ministry, and issues around congregational leadership * Each topic ends with an annotated bibliography providing an indispensable gateway to further study * Helps students understand both the distinctive approach of their denomination and the relationship of that approach to other mainline denominations * Advocates and defends a generous understanding of the Christian tradition in its openness and commitment to broad conversation