El. knyga: Forming Leaders for the Public Church: Vocation in Twenty-First Century Societies

Forming Leaders for the Public Church is a fitting testimony to the illuminating and piercing work of Professor Gary Simpson. Like the book's dedicatee, the essays in this volume reflect a fierce love for the gospel, a deep concern for those on the margins, and a clarion summons for the church to help build a more just and fruitful world. -- Michael J. Chan, Concordia College Nothing honors the career and creativity of Dr. Gary Simpson better than this salute to a true visionary from his former students, colleagues and friends. A collection edited with great love and respect, Forming Leaders for the Public Church lights up the theological depth and the manifold dimensions of Garys passion to send forth the church into public life. But its the personal anecdotes scattered among the chapters that remind us that a mentors deep love, affection, and sacrifice is key to forming leaders for missional vocation. -- Gregory P. Leffel, past-president, the American Society of Missiology, and author of Faith Seeking Action: Mission, Social Movements, and the Church in Motion This excellent collection of essays by students and colleagues of Professor Gary Simpson carries forward his important teaching and scholarship on the theology and vocation of being a public church. The trinitarian theology that informs Simpsons understanding of the public church as missional church is evident in these clear, well-written, and well researched accounts. Representing a variety of domestic, global, and cross-cultural congregational contexts and reflecting Simpsons emphasis on the congregation as the center of the public church, the essays offer a variety of practical approaches to the churchs participation in civil society that are integral to the gospel centered worship life and witness of the congregation. Simpsons gracious pastoral presence and love of the church, echoed throughout, has been infectious in the lives of these contributors and will shine through for readers as well. This is a treasure trove of insightful and innovative resources for leaders and leaders to be who aspire to the vocation of the public church. -- James M. Childs, Jr., Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capital University