In biblical terms, a mantle is the equivalent of a legacy. A student and friend of Henri Nouwen for over twenty-five years interprets Nouwen's sacred writings and presents one hundred meditations on his words, in the hope that Nouwen's ministry will continue to thrive. Each encouraging meditation is divided into a portion of Nouwen's writings, a reflection on Nouwen's insights, and a brief prayer.
Though many think of the Bible as monolithic, that is, of a single point of view, the Bible is rather a compendium of viewpoints on a variety of issues. To enter the Bible is like entering any community: there may be some common beliefs, but there is also disagreement. The dialogue of the Bible therefore invites rather than inhibits further conversation. Lesbians and gay men know all too well the experience of having to leave families, friends, hometowns, and even their faith traditions to be blessed as they are. Nevertheless, many still struggle to maintain an authentic faith that also affirms and recognizes their right to joyously celebrate their biblical heritage. Chris Glaser liberates the Bible from those who would hold it hostage to an anti-gay agenda. In this inspiring and moving collection of 365 daily meditations, the Bible's good news "comes out" to meet us all with love, justice, meaning, and hope.
With the removal of sexual orientation as a bar to ordination in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), pending approval of a majority of presbyteries, and the Episcopal Church’s 2009 General Convention calling for the development of theological and liturgical resources for same-sex blessings, sexual orientation—especially with regard to marriage—is a central issue. Secularly, too, the topic is front-page news with the recent California same-gender marriage ruling and subsequent Proposition 8 vote and the update of the Massachusetts same-gender marriage law. This book sets forth the case for religious institutions’ blessing of same-gender marriage, positing that same-gender marriage does not detract from the sacredness of heterosexual marriage, but rather enhances and nourishes the institution. Chapters include: • Claiming the Blessing • Deeper Than Scripture • Traditional Family Values • The Sacred Source of Marriage • Sex and the Body of Christ • Marriage As a Spiritual Discipline “Marriage is a spiritual discipline in which we come to know ourselves as beloved, trustworthy, redeemed, forgiven, and blessed, and at the same time learn how to love, be faithful, redeem, forgive, and bless the partner as well as the community.” —Chris Glaser
Chris Glaser describes his personal journey of coming out to his family, friends, church - and to himself. He tells the story of how the church reacted to his disclosure and his subsequent "uncommon" calling that led him to devote his professional life to reconciliation between the lesbian, gay, and bisexual community and the church. By openly and honestly telling his story, Glaser furthers his calling - demonstrating that lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals are not abstractions, but real people struggling to remain faithful. Gay Christians will recognize elements of their own stories in Glaser's narrative. And the whole church may discover its own uncommon calling to fully welcome all Christians into the family of faith.
In contrast to religious traditions that attempt to shield us from death by promising eternal life or by denying or demeaning physical existence, Glaser looks at death directly and with appreciation for what it teaches us about life. Death is an inscrutable and even stern Zen master ready to teach us, a spiritual director eager to inspire us, a soul-friend reminding us that our lifespan has sacred worth. Glaser writes movingly of the deaths that have shaped his soul, whether those deaths occurred through assassination, murder, suicide, accident, divorce, illness, or AIDS. A few deaths were especially transforming and personal, and all will open readers’ hearts to their own discoveries when facing The Final Deadline.
Environmental Change and Human Development focuses on environmental change and human fortunes. While there is a large and rapidly expanding literature dealing with how people affect the environment, less attention has been given in recent years to how the environment shapes human development. In an ever more crowded world there is a need for anticipatory environmental management, and a crucial input to this is consideration of the interaction between environment and humans. The environment is not as stable, benign or controllable as people like to think. The world population is vastly larger than it has ever been and is still growing, and humans increasingly upset nature through pollution and other activities. While modern communications may help environmental managers, rapid travel also increases the dispersal of diseases and pests. Technological advance and social development is not all beneficial; some innovations have the effect of making people more vulnerable to disruption by natural disaster, and citizens are often less able to cope with changed conditions than people were in the past. Environmental Change and Human Development addresses key issues such as soil degredation, natural climatic variations and volcanic activity, and provides geography and earth sciences students with an essential introduciton to the major debates surrounding this topic.
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