Faithful Yet Changing: The Church in Challenging Times

by Mark S. Hanson, Karen C. Richards

"I have a passion for the gospel of Jesus Christ, a love for the people of God, and an ache for the brokenness of the world," declares Mark S. Hanson, newly elected presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Here he sets forth his vision for the church-a church faithful to the Scriptures and its tradition, yet changing to meet the new challenges of our diverse, fragmented world. Bishop Hanson issues an urgent call to mission marked by witnessing, worshiping, engaging, equipping, inviting, connecting, changing, and praying. The book invites congregations, pastors, and lay leaders into a "holy conversation" to envision the future of the church and its mission.

82 pages, Paperback

First published March 31, 2002

About the author

Rev. Mark S. Hanson, M.Div (Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York, 1972; B.A., Sociology, Augsburg University, 1968) served as the third Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, 2001–2013, as well as 11th President of the Lutheran World Federation, 2003-2010.

Following his 1974 ordination and terms as pastor of Prince of Glory Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota (1973–1979), Edina Community Lutheran Church, Edina, Minnesota (1979–1988, and University Lutheran Church of Hope, Minneapolis (1988–1995), he was twice was elected Bishop of the Saint Paul Area Synod of the ELCA. Rev. Hanson was a Merrill Fellow at Harvard University Divinity School in 1979, and holds numerous honorary degrees.

Reviews

[Jocelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very quick and easy read. Would be great to read together and discuss with a church council, committee, or study group. Includes discussion questions at the end of each chapter.