Craig Dykstra

A deadly pandemic. Civic unrest. Economic uncertainty. The years between the 2016 and 2020 Presidential Elections exposed the vulnerability of our institutions-and ourselves-like never before. In the wake of uncertainty, the authors in this volume offer wisdom to make sense of the changes brought by these past four years. Reflecting how faith and philanthropy converge, they imagine alternative economies for faith communities, academia, and nonprofits, while also marking the unshakable encounter with grief and crisis. Authors linger in the space between what was and what will be to ask: what do we leave behind, what do we bring with us, and what possibilities exist where crisis and care converge? Their words and wisdom kindle philanthropic imagination in this moment of transition and change.

A deadly pandemic. Civic unrest. Economic uncertainty. The years between the 2016 and 2020 Presidential Elections exposed the vulnerability of our institutions--and ourselves--like never before. In the wake of uncertainty, the authors in this volume offer wisdom to make sense of the changes brought by these past four years. Reflecting how faith and philanthropy converge, they imagine alternative economies for faith communities, academia, and nonprofits, while also marking the unshakable encounter with grief and crisis. Authors linger in the space between what was and what will be to ask: what do we leave behind, what do we bring with us, and what possibilities exist where crisis and care converge? Their words and wisdom kindle philanthropic imagination in this moment of transition and change.

What if everything you need is already there? Many Christian churches and related institutions in the United States are struggling or, in some cases, facing imminent crisis, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Attendance is down. Funding is harder to come by. People are no longer drawn to traditional church services and programming in the ways that they once were. Often, we feel broke and powerless to do much about it. We settle for doing more with less: Less money. Fewer people. Fewer churches. But if we reexamine our perceived limits and our assumptions about how resources are supposed to be used, then something remarkable and beautiful comes into view: we aren't broke at all but have enormous resources at our disposal. Church and missional organizations nationwide own billions of dollars of prime property and investment assets, which, when combined with social enterprise and new expressions of mission, can be put to work for innovation and transformation. And these resources are often available to us right now. This book is an invitation to envision a different way of putting God's gifts to work in the world. It draws upon a remarkable story of rebirth at a Presbyterian affiliated campus ministry center at the University of Wisconsin, along with profiles of other creative social enterprises, to describe how church property and investment assets can be put to work for innovation, transformation, and financial sustainability. Theologically rooted but practically minded, it provides guidance and tools for church and nonprofit leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors of all kinds who are seeking new ways to fund and participate in God's work in the world.

How can we reconcile the ideal church described by theology with the broken church that we see in the world? In this book Joseph Small argues that the church's true identity is known somewhere in the tension between the two. Small revisits familiar ecclesiological concepts-including the body of Christ, communion of saints, and people of God- but rather than focusing on theological abstractions or worldly cynicism, he evaluates the church in its scriptural, historical, theological, and social contexts. After stripping away the marketing and shallowness that characterizes much of contemporary church life, Small finds hope that the church's faith, nature, and mission can be lived out within God's calling. Both sociologically honest and theologically discerning, Flawed Church, Faithful God offers a constructive Reformed yet ecumenical ecclesiology for the real world.

In Teaching and Christian Practices several university professors describe and reflect on their efforts to allow historic Christian practices to reshape and redirect their pedagogical strategies. Whether allowing spiritually formative reading to enhance a literature course, employing table fellowship and shared meals to reinforce concepts in a pre-nursing nutrition course, or using Christian hermeneutical practices to interpret data in an economics course, these teacher-authors envision ways of teaching and learning that are rooted in the rich tradition of Christian practices, as together they reconceive classrooms and laboratories as vital arenas for faith and spiritual growth.

""Craig Dykstra has done it: he has written a readable, engaging book which does justice to the complex texture of moral existence as we experience it. His exposition shows the real but limited usefulness of cognitive theories of moral development and education. In a simple, penetrating prose, rich in narrative quality, he sets forth an account of visional ethics and a corresponding ethics of character. After helping us see clearly what moral growth means, he offers one of the most truly humane and inspiring approaches to Christian moral education you will encounter. This is a superb book for any thoughtful reader. No professional in ministry or religious education can afford to be without it."" --James W. Fowler, Emory University ""For Christian educators this book is going to mark the end of the Lawrence Kohlberg era in moral education and open up a fresh understanding of how repentance, prayer, and service nourishes moral development."" --C. Ellis Nelson, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary ""Dykstra emphasizes the formative role of revelation and imagination, of the spirit of repentance, prayer, and service, as well as the intentional direction of the Church community and the teacher in the dynamic of Christian education. Drawing on insights from literature, psychology, and experience, his work is at once informative and inspirational."" --Berard L. Marthaler, Catholic University of America ""Vision and Character is a book for which I have been waiting and longing. Character, value, and moral education have long been concerns of religious educators. Today's literature is dominated by developmentalism and the work of Kohlberg. . . . Here, at last, in this thoughtful, readable, useful book is a true alternative. Dykstra has provided us with the best foundation for Christian moral education to date."" --John H. Westerhoff III, Duke University ""Dykstra is one of today's new group of brilliant young Christian education thinkers, and this is his first book. Dykstra is a person to hear carefully both now and in the future."" --D. Campbell Wyckoff, Princeton Theological Seminary Craig Dykstra is Vice President for Religion for the Lilly Endowment, Inc. He previously taught Christian education at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (1977-84) and served as Thomas W. Synnott Professor of Christian Education at Princeton Theological Seminary (1984-89), where he was also editor of the journal Theology Today. An ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), Dykstra is a graduate of the University of Michigan (BA) and Princeton Seminary (MDiv, PhD). Dykstra is also the author of Growing in the Life of Faith: Education and Christian Practices (1999, 2005), and has published over 100 monographs, chapters of books, articles, editorials, and other commentaries.

In this new edition of his popular book, Craig Dykstra explores the contributions of the traditions, education, worship practices, and disciplines of the Reformed Christian community in helping people grow in faith. In doing so, he makes the case that the Christian church, in its own traditions, has a wealth of wisdom about satisfying spiritual hunger and the desire to know God deeply--wisdom that offers coherent, thoughtful guidance in such diverse settings as congregational life, families, youth groups, and higher education.