Publications

Peace Skills Series

An Indonesian Approach to Terrorism
Christian Ethics
Globalization of Theological Education
Pastoral Theology 
Changing the Way Seminaries Teach

Human Rights
Pedagogies for the Non-Poor
Intro to Christian Theology
Transforming the City
Casebook for Christian Living

Peace Skills Series (Jossey Bass)

Community Conflict Transformation (CCT) training helps communities and parties bogged down in what often seem to be irresolvable conflicts to build skills, achieve new levels of respect and empowerment, and develop mutually beneficial agreements. The Peace Skills Set (which includes the Leaders' Guide and Manual for Community Mediators) is based on the experiences and insights of mediators and trainers from four continents. The Leaders' Guide provides community leaders the tools and information they need to lead CCT training sessions and includes

• Examples and guidelines for using case studies to develop mediation skills

• Sacred and authoritative texts that promote moral, spiritual, and cultural values for building peace with justice.

• Models and designs of training workshops that effectively engage citizens in addressing their conflicts, restoring relations, and reforming structures

The Peace Skills: Manual for Community Mediators is a hands-on resource for leaders who seek to be agents of reconciliation by responding proactively to painful differences within their communities. 

An accompanying 30 minute video, Peace Skills in Action, is available from Plowshares for a $5 contribution.  This film conveys the origins of the Conflict Transformation approach, the goals of the curriculum and workshops, and includes interviews with participants who share the impact of CCT training. Available from Plowshares

Peace Skills: Leaders' Guide Buy at Jossey-Bass; Amazon.com
Peace Skills: Manual for Community Leaders Jossey-Bass; Amazon; B&N

Transforming the City: Reframing Education for Urban Ministry (Eerdmans)

Experience teaches that traditional approaches to ministry education do not work well in the ever-changing climate of the city. The dynamic, complex nature of inner-city life demands that we begin to think differently about urban ministry and how we develop leaders. Transforming the City offers a new way to look at ministry training and presents a number of informative case studies that can help in equipping people to minister effectively in the urban context.

The book is built around six case studies that chronicle very different examples of urban theological education and that highlight both the challenge and the promise of creative approaches to education for ministry in multicultural urban locales. Commentaries by noted urban educators and church leaders point to the pitfalls and opportunities of urban ministry. Also included are helpful background notes and suggestions for how to teach each case study. "Purposely designed for a variety of educational settings, Transforming the City is the best resource now available for exploring the task of urban ministry." Eerdmans; Amazon; B&N 

Human Rights: A Dialogue Between the First and Third Worlds (Orbis Books)

Eight in-depth international case studies and teaching notes are followed by thoughtful commentaries by internationally known theologians such as Rubem Alves, Kosuke Koyama, Johann Metz and Jürgan Moltmann.  The text differentiates between "First," "Second" and "Third World" concepts of human rights. "The best volume on human rights for teaching I have seen, and the one most provocative for the church's mission."  Larry Rasmussen, Union Theological Seminary, NY. Amazon; B&N; Plowshares

Christian Ethics: A Case Method Approach, Second Edition (Orbis Books)

Critical commentaries analyze the ethical dilemmas in sixteen contemporary case studies and develop historical Christian normative, contextual, and relational moral resources.  While this book is used extensively in college and seminary ethics courses, it has proven to be equally effective in congregations.  This fully revised edition focuses on ethical dilemmas faced by today's Christians such as low income housing, sustainable agriculture, oil exploration and indigenous peoples, and teen pregnancy.  The authors offer no "solutions" but raise principles to guide Christians struggling with similar situations. Orbis; Amazon; B&N

Pedagogies for the Non-Poor (Orbis Books)

Eight case studies of peace and justice educational models raise the challenges of and most effective approaches to educating the "non-poor" - those in the world who have low infant mortality, high life expectancy, and access to the basic necessities of life, that is, most North Americans.  The volume is in dialogue with noted Brazilian educator Paulo Freire, author of Pedagogy of the Oppressed.  "An outstanding application of Freire's work that should be read by anyone interested in liberational pedagogy."  Henry Giroux, Miami University, Oxford. Amazon; B&N

The Globalization of Theological Education (Orbis Books)

Designed for seminary educators and church leaders, this collection of twelve case studies highlights the central issues facing North American theological educators as they prepare congregations and ministerial candidates for ministry in the twenty-first century.  Probing topical essays and commentaries  by twenty-six prominent international educators, scholars, seminary administrators, and church leaders focus on the emerging challenges of global interdependence.  "All of theological education is being shaped and reshaped by the issues highlighted in this book." Barbara Brown Zikmund, Hartford Seminary. Amazon

Introduction to Christian Theology: A Case Method Approach (Westminster Press)

This book was designed for church confirmation and new member classes.  Four case studies focus on young people.  The book was accepted by Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant Christian educators as accurately and simply describing the most important basic tenets of Christian faith.  A resource guide suggests critical questions and exercises for lively study of the text.  Because the book was written for high school level readers, it has been useful in international courses taught in English.  Amazon; Available from Plowshares

Pastoral Theology from a Global Perspective (Orbis Books)

The fifteen cases and teaching notes, gathered from five continents, focus on central themes of pastoral ministry: the role of women in church and society, economic justice and ecology, empowering marginalized people, reconciliation and peacemaking, and caring for human needs;  The challenging commentaries address the commonalities as well as the diversity of contextual issues facing parish pastors throughout the world.  “This book explodes our narrower assumptions about pastoral concerns.”  Gaylord Noyce, Yale University Divinity School. Amazon; B&N 

Changing the Way Seminaries Teach: Globalization and Theological Education (Hartford Seminary)

“The timing of this book could not be better.  Just as the Association of Theological Schools votes its new accreditation standards including “globalization” as a core value.  Here is a comprehensive report on how twelve diverse seminaries worked for five years to embody “globalization” in their institutional practices. It is a wonderful resource.  Not only does it contain a rich description of the issues with which these twelve schools struggled—theological, pedagogical and organizational.  And not only does it contain concrete description of the courses, practices and policies with which they responded.  It also provides a provocative description of the bridges and barriers to institutional change.  The implications make this book important reading for any seminary confronting any planned change effort.”  William McKinney, President, Pacific School of Religion. B&N; Available from Plowshares for a $5 contribution

Casebook for Christian Living: Value Formation for Families and Congregations

Twelve well-tested case studies focus on family and congregational issues such as death and dying, generational conflicts, divorce, and abortion.  The study guide and application of Christian principles which accompany each case make this book a useful tool for youth, adult, and intergenerational classes.  All of the cases are short--between two and three pages--and can be read by a group in one-hour discussion sessions. B&N; Available from Plowshares