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Mentoring: Biblical, Theological, and Practical Perspectives
Positive mentoring relationships are held to be essential to the formation of strong Christian leaders—but why? How can theological and biblical insights inform mentoring relationships? And what do these vital relationships look like across a range of Christian experience?
Opening multiple angles of vision on the practice of mentoring, Dean K. Thompson and D. Cameron Murchison here present a group of eminent scholars who explore mentoring from biblical-theological perspectives, within the context of diverse national and international communities, and across generations.
David L. Bartlett Walter Brueggemann Katie Geneva Cannon Thomas W. Currie Cristian De La Rosa Jill Duffield Elizabeth Hinson Hasty Luke Timothy Johnson Kwok Pui Lan Thomas G. Long Melva Lowry Martin E. Marty Rebekah Miles D. Cameron Murchison Camille Cook Murray Rodger Nishioka Douglas Ottati Alton B. Pollard III Cynthia L. Rigby Dean K. Thompson Theodore J. Wardlaw
Opening multiple angles of vision on the practice of mentoring, Dean K. Thompson and D. Cameron Murchison here present a group of eminent scholars who explore mentoring from biblical-theological perspectives, within the context of diverse national and international communities, and across generations.
David L. Bartlett Walter Brueggemann Katie Geneva Cannon Thomas W. Currie Cristian De La Rosa Jill Duffield Elizabeth Hinson Hasty Luke Timothy Johnson Kwok Pui Lan Thomas G. Long Melva Lowry Martin E. Marty Rebekah Miles D. Cameron Murchison Camille Cook Murray Rodger Nishioka Douglas Ottati Alton B. Pollard III Cynthia L. Rigby Dean K. Thompson Theodore J. Wardlaw
258 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 7, 2018
If we're honest, we all have mentors, people who have helped guide us on the path of life. They might be a parent, professor, pastor, colleague. None of us makes through life on our own, without some help along the way. This is especially true in ministry. While education is important, there are many things to learn after we're finished with our initial schooling. I have three degrees, all of which helped form me, but it was the relationships with others who helped me grow in my faith and work as a pastor. I continue to be mentored, even as I engage in mentoring relationships. One thing I have discovered is that such relationships can often be mutual learning experiences, when they are part of a collegial relationship.
This particular book, edited by Dean Thompson and Cameron Murchison invites us to consider the nature of the mentoring relationship through a series of essays covering biblical, theological and practice perspectives (as the subtitle suggests). As the editors write, "the mentoring context frequently involves an intimate, committed, continuous, developmental, and reciprocal relationship' (p. 1). I appreciate that they point out that this relationship is continuous, ongoing, and that it is reciprocal, for that is how I have experienced it.
The book is composed of fourteen chapters, divided into four parts or sections. The opening section is composed of two chapters on biblical perspectives. The first was written by Walter Brueggemann and focuses on mentoring in the Old Testament. Brueggemann notes that while mentoring is a relatively new idea, the actual practice is very old, for from ancient times persons of wisdom and experience have passed on their knowledge and experience to others. David Bartlett, who died as the book was in process, writes of mentoring in the New Testament. He notes that the idea of Jesus as mentor sounds a bit odd, considering the business models of our day, and besides it "can seem a little tepid compared to the more common descriptions of him as Lord, Savior, Redeemer, King, and Master." (p. 23). Thus, he turns to Paul, before turning to the Gospels. Looking to Jesus, however, he notes that in the Gospel of John, we discern the "kind of relationship for which every mentee hopes and toward which every mentor should aim: Jesus and those who follow him are friends" (p. 36).
With the biblical foundations set, we move to the theological Thomas Currie speaks of the theological-pastoral aspects, Thomas Long of the preacher as mentor, Rebekah Miles speaks to the ethical perspectives, and finally Cynthia Rigby offers a perspective on "expanding the perimeters of feminist mentoring." The question here is what makes mentoring feminist. Rigby writes that "Feminist mentoring also acknowledges power differentials, but is less focused on helping individuals gain more power and influence in already established systems than in helping individuals negotiate, defy, and transform systems that depend on their being less than who they really are" (p. 88).
From the Theological we move in Part 3 to "Diverse National and International Communities of Mentoring." Alton B. Pollard III speaks of "mentoring magnificent men" from an African American perspective. Kate Kannon speaks to Womanist mentoring, again an African American perspective, but of a feminist kind. Luke Timothy Johnson looks at the Roman Catholic Tradition. Finally there are chapters by Christian De La Rosa on "mentoring new generations of Latin@ Leadres" and Mentoring Perspectives from East Asia by Kwok Pui-Lan. These chapters remind us that mentioring has cultural contexts that differ from one to the next -- thus nothing is monolithic.
Finally in Part 4 we look at Generational Mentoring in three chapters. The first chapter speaks to mentoring of youth by Rodger Nishioka and Melva Lowry, Douglas Ottati and Elizabeth Hinson-Hasty look at "mentoring toward a humane disposition, attitude, and imagination, while Theodore Wardlaw and Camilele Cook Murray look at Cross-Generational Mentoring.
Taken as a whole these chapters allow the reader to look at the mentoring role from a variety of perspectives. What you will note is that they do not write from a business model, which churches seem to gravitate toward. While the business model is not present, the academic model is present in several of the essays.
The book which begins with a brief foreword by Jill Duffield is brought to a close by Martin Marty's Afterword. Marty summarizes each of the essays, organizing them a bit differently, so as to highlight connections across sections. Marty notes that he was impressed "at how at ease the authors were to observe and comment on models from the shared text, the Scripture" (p. 237). Perhaps that is what makes this a most useful book for clergy, students, and for all who engage in mentoring relationships in a Christian context.
This particular book, edited by Dean Thompson and Cameron Murchison invites us to consider the nature of the mentoring relationship through a series of essays covering biblical, theological and practice perspectives (as the subtitle suggests). As the editors write, "the mentoring context frequently involves an intimate, committed, continuous, developmental, and reciprocal relationship' (p. 1). I appreciate that they point out that this relationship is continuous, ongoing, and that it is reciprocal, for that is how I have experienced it.
The book is composed of fourteen chapters, divided into four parts or sections. The opening section is composed of two chapters on biblical perspectives. The first was written by Walter Brueggemann and focuses on mentoring in the Old Testament. Brueggemann notes that while mentoring is a relatively new idea, the actual practice is very old, for from ancient times persons of wisdom and experience have passed on their knowledge and experience to others. David Bartlett, who died as the book was in process, writes of mentoring in the New Testament. He notes that the idea of Jesus as mentor sounds a bit odd, considering the business models of our day, and besides it "can seem a little tepid compared to the more common descriptions of him as Lord, Savior, Redeemer, King, and Master." (p. 23). Thus, he turns to Paul, before turning to the Gospels. Looking to Jesus, however, he notes that in the Gospel of John, we discern the "kind of relationship for which every mentee hopes and toward which every mentor should aim: Jesus and those who follow him are friends" (p. 36).
With the biblical foundations set, we move to the theological Thomas Currie speaks of the theological-pastoral aspects, Thomas Long of the preacher as mentor, Rebekah Miles speaks to the ethical perspectives, and finally Cynthia Rigby offers a perspective on "expanding the perimeters of feminist mentoring." The question here is what makes mentoring feminist. Rigby writes that "Feminist mentoring also acknowledges power differentials, but is less focused on helping individuals gain more power and influence in already established systems than in helping individuals negotiate, defy, and transform systems that depend on their being less than who they really are" (p. 88).
From the Theological we move in Part 3 to "Diverse National and International Communities of Mentoring." Alton B. Pollard III speaks of "mentoring magnificent men" from an African American perspective. Kate Kannon speaks to Womanist mentoring, again an African American perspective, but of a feminist kind. Luke Timothy Johnson looks at the Roman Catholic Tradition. Finally there are chapters by Christian De La Rosa on "mentoring new generations of Latin@ Leadres" and Mentoring Perspectives from East Asia by Kwok Pui-Lan. These chapters remind us that mentioring has cultural contexts that differ from one to the next -- thus nothing is monolithic.
Finally in Part 4 we look at Generational Mentoring in three chapters. The first chapter speaks to mentoring of youth by Rodger Nishioka and Melva Lowry, Douglas Ottati and Elizabeth Hinson-Hasty look at "mentoring toward a humane disposition, attitude, and imagination, while Theodore Wardlaw and Camilele Cook Murray look at Cross-Generational Mentoring.
Taken as a whole these chapters allow the reader to look at the mentoring role from a variety of perspectives. What you will note is that they do not write from a business model, which churches seem to gravitate toward. While the business model is not present, the academic model is present in several of the essays.
The book which begins with a brief foreword by Jill Duffield is brought to a close by Martin Marty's Afterword. Marty summarizes each of the essays, organizing them a bit differently, so as to highlight connections across sections. Marty notes that he was impressed "at how at ease the authors were to observe and comment on models from the shared text, the Scripture" (p. 237). Perhaps that is what makes this a most useful book for clergy, students, and for all who engage in mentoring relationships in a Christian context.
September 5, 2019
I finally found the book on mentoring that I've been looking for! This is a wonderful collection of essays that help the mentor and mentee think about the Biblical, ethical and practical implications of mentoring. Perhaps, this book would be more helpful for a discussion among mentors or for educators and I would like to see it paired with another resource on more questions / kinds of conversations to have in a mentoring relationship. However, I found the theological focus of the book extremely helpful and challenged my thinking to see mentoring as not just something that benefits two people but as an essential part of health for the whole community. This book challenges us, as mentors and mentees, to see how we are part of a much larger "network of belonging."
January 30, 2025
Helpful to have some Biblical and theological perspectives around mentoring.
Once it get to parts 3 & 4 where mentoring moves into specific cultures some are less relevant from me than other but it does inform my thinking about mentoring in culture. IT also allows insights into those cultures that may be encountered during mentoring
Once it get to parts 3 & 4 where mentoring moves into specific cultures some are less relevant from me than other but it does inform my thinking about mentoring in culture. IT also allows insights into those cultures that may be encountered during mentoring
January 7, 2020
Hard to rate overall as an essay compilation.
Some of the chapters were very helpful in regards to the specific topics given.
Some of the chapters were very helpful in regards to the specific topics given.
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