An Introduction to Ministry

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

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction 1

Section One Exploring the World of Ministry 5

1 Sensing the Call 7

2 The Imperative of Training 19

3 Church Dynamics: Exploring Congregational Culture 30

Section Two Cultivating the Skills for Effective Ministry 45

4 Worship and Mainline Ritual 47

5 Reading Scripture Thoughtfully 58

6 Connecting the Theological Dots 68

7 Church History 81

8 Preaching the Word 92

9 Ethics in the Mainline 110

10 Pastoral Presence 122

11 Christian Education and Formation 135

12 Music and Hymnody 150

Section Three Leading the People of God 167

13 Prophetic Leadership and Social Justice 169

14 Evangelism and Church Growth 182

15 Leading through Change and Conflict 198

16 The Business of the Church 210

17 Stewardship 225

18 Christian Apologetics 237

19 Ministerial Integrity 253

Glossary 263

Index 277

Ian S. Markham is Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary. He has been in ministry all his life and is active as a Priest Associate at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Alexandria, VA. He is the author and editor of numerous books, including Truth and the Reality of God (2000); A Theology of Engagement (Wiley-Blackwell, 2003); Do Morals Matter (Wiley-Blackwell, 2006); Understanding Christian Doctrine (Wiley-Blackwell, 2007), Liturgical Life Principles (2009), and Against Atheism (Wiley-Blackwell, 2010).

Oran E. Warder is Rector of St. Paul's Church in Alexandria, Virginia. An experienced parish priest, Oran also served for seven years as the Canon to the Ordinary of the Diocese of Delaware. Among other things, this diocesan role included the care, support, and deployment of clergy; the care, support, and development of congregations, including the mediation of conflict; as well as the oversight of an array of diocesan programs and institutions. In addition to serving as rector of St. Paul's, Oran is also an adjunct instructor of liturgics at the Virginia Theological Seminary.

The Ministry Textbook is a comprehensive guide to ministry for seminarians, ministers, pastors, and priests that make up the mainline denominations in the United States. Written by two highly experienced authors, the book provides a grounded account of ministry, aimed at a renewal of leadership and congregational life, and drawing particularly on the Methodist, Episcopalian, Lutheran, United Church of Christ, and Presbyterian traditions.

Touching on all the main components of the Master of Divinity curriculum, this inclusive guide is divided into three sections. The first unit explores the world of vocation and the challenge of serving in a leadership role in a congregation. The second discusses the skills necessary for an effective ministry, and the final section examines the issues of congregational leadership. Drawing on the growing consensus in Congregational Studies literature, this section looks at church growth, church administration, and congregational vitality. Each chapter provides a helpful overview of the topic and ends with an annotated bibliography offering an indispensable gateway to further study.

This invaluable text provides seminarians, individuals considering ministry, and those with limited access to formal training with an ecumenical introduction to ministry and church leadership. It also supports the work of those responsible for teaching in the various denominations throughout the United States.

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