Stanley Hauerwas William B. Eerdmans, 192 pages Reviewed by Deborah McKinley I am a godmother. Though one wouldn’t know that by my actions. In God’s good providence, by steady, faithful parenting and a congregation that takes discipleship seriously, my goddaughter is now graduated from college and launched into a life of service. She boldly claims the Christian faith around which her life is formed. All without much except prayer from her godmother. This is not a book about how to be a good godparent. Though the book begins with a forward by Samuel Wells, “On Being a Godparent” is a personal book of letters that prominent theologian Stanley Hauerwas wrote to his godson, Laurie, the son of Wells (another well-known writer, pastor and theologian) and Jo Bailey Wells (a bishop in the Church of England). The letters were written annually on the anniversary of Laurie’s baptism, October 27, 2002, and continue through 2016, with an added letter dated January 31, 2017. Each letter … [Read more...]

Louise Erdrich HarperCollins, 288 pages Reviewed by Leslie A. Klingensmith White liberalism. Roman Catholic theology. Native American displacement. Women’s rights. Cross-cultural adoption. Government intrusion. Reproductive choice. Evolution. Science vs. faith. Global warming. Creation spirituality. Motherhood. These are some of the issues that Louise Erdrich addresses – either explicitly or implicitly – in her latest novel, “Future Home of the Living God.” I loved the book. Erdrich’s ability to touch on so many important topics without being self-righteous or pedantic should be the envy of all who aspire to write. She has written a story that somehow manages to be both terrifying and hopeful — and all too possible. Cedar Hawk Songmaker is a woman in her mid-20s, Native American by birth but adopted and raised by white parents. As her story begins, she is in the early stages of pregnancy. She has had the name and address of her birth mother for a while and ignored the … [Read more...]

Carolyn B. Helsel Chalice Press, 128 pages Reviewed by Karen Branan As a pastor and professor of preaching at Austin Seminary, Carolyn B. Helsel understands deeply the anxiety many white people feel when the topic of race comes up. She’s been there herself, but she also knows it’s an issue that can no longer be avoided by white Christians in America. And so she has written a book designed to ease us into the conversation and help us stay there despite our anxiety, guilt and fear. When I began “Anxious to Talk about It,” I thought, “Uh-oh, she’s going to sugarcoat reality so that timid white people can feel good about themselves without actually facing the truth of our national situation.” Helsel quickly proved me wrong. She has written this excellent primer so readers may “reconsider where race continues to operate in our society and in our lives” so that “when the opportunity to act comes, you will know what to do.” Because Helsel has been there (and sometimes still is) and … [Read more...]

Eugene H. Peterson WaterBrook Press, 379 pages Reviewed by Karen R. Dukes Eugene Peterson is known for bringing us “The Message.” He is less well-known as the pastor who gathered and led Christ Our King Presbyterian Church outside of Baltimore for 29 years. From 1962 to 1991, he preached sermon after sermon, Sunday after Sunday. “As Kingfishers Catch Fire” gathers 49 of his sermons on texts from Genesis to Revelation preached in this one place. These sermons are not intellectual essays floating in the ether. They are grounded. They are grounded in the Bible. They are grounded in the geography of Abraham and Peter. They are grounded in Peterson’s personal geography of his native Montana and the church’s location in Maryland. They are grounded in the seven preaching companions that organize these sermons, from Moses to John of Patmos. They are grounded in Peterson’s down-to-earth explorations of the text. They are grounded in Jesus, who walked the earth as we do. Ultimately, they … [Read more...]