PERHAPS A GIFT VOUCHER FOR MUM?: MOTHER'S DAY
Doug Strong is Paul T. Walls Professor of Wesleyan Studies and the History of Christianity at Seattle Pacific University. He was the founding dean of Seattle Pacific Seminary. Jess Bielman is the Associate Director of Innovation with the Greater Northwest Area of the United Methodist Church. He was formerly a professor and campus pastor at Warner Pacific University in Portland, Oregon.
In Workshop of the Holy Spirit, Strong and Bielman offer a much-needed reorientation to the church's task of theological education. Their pastoral wisdom, scholarly knowledge, and compassionate experience practicing the craft frame authentic and substantial rationale. This is a must-read for students, pastors, and ecclesial scholars eager to reimagine and reclaim theological education's participation in the Holy Spirit's work. --Laceye C. Warner, Duke Divinity School Strong and Bielman challenge trends that separate theological education and ministry preparation from the church's vital role in vocational and spiritual formation. They call us back to a historical framework that offers a fresh look at how theological education could be a cooperative, rather than competitive, endeavor. Further, they invite students, church leaders, and theological educators to return to a more holistic understanding of ministry in which the Holy Spirit shapes faithful leaders for contemporary challenges. --Estrelda Alexander, president, William Joseph Seymour Foundation A beautifully crafted book for theological students to envision their studies through the powerful metaphor of a 'workshop for the Holy Spirit.' Moving beyond debates about curricula and method, Strong and Bielman beautifully illumine the journey of theological learning as an ongoing process of being mentored into intimacy with God. --L. Gregory Jones, president, Belmont University
