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Tending Soul, Mind, and Body: The Art and Science of Spiritual Formation
Throughout his ministry, Jesus consistently demonstrated his concern and love for the whole person: soul, mind, and body. That concern is carried forward today by pastors and church leaders, who are called to care for people in the midst of individual circumstances as well as seismic cultural shifts. How might that calling be informed by recent developments in psychology? How should the church attend to matters of mental health? How might psychology and counseling aid us in our spiritual formation? Based on the 2018 Center for Pastor Theologians conference, this volume brings together reflections by pastors, theologians, and psychologists who explore the relationships among three fields of study--theological anthropology, spiritual formation, and modern psychology. The result is a vibrant whole-person theology that can aid the church today in its centuries-old call to care for the soul, mind, and body.
- GenresTheology
225 pages, Paperback
Published October 29, 2019
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About the author
Gerald L. Hiestand
16 books10 followersGerald L. Hiestand (PhD candidate, University of Reading) is the senior associate pastor at Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park, Illinois, and the cofounder and director of the Center for Pastor Theologians. He is coauthor of The Pastor Theologian: Resurrecting an Ancient Vision and coeditor of Becoming a Pastor Theologian and Beauty, Order, and Mystery.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 14, 2020
Summary: A collection of papers from the 2018 Center for Pastor Theologians Conference drawing from a variety of perspectives to consider how as whole persons we are formed in Christ.
The editors observe that there were three threads to the papers presented at the 2018 Center for Pastor Theologians conference on spiritual formation. Spiritual formation is an art. Spiritual formation is a science. And spiritual formation is a work of the Spirit forming us in the image of God in the likeness of the risen Christ. The pastors and theologians who contribute the bulk of the papers were joined by a couple of psychologists who add scientific perspectives to the discussion.
The papers were grouped in two parts. The first was on biblical, theological and historical perspectives on spiritual formation. It begins with a study of the first letter to the Corinthians from a civic and cultural formation perspective, inculcating the wisdom and vision to see themselves as a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit, counter to their culture. Several other essays that stood out in this section were Kevin Vanhoozer's essay on the formation of our human spirit in the character of Christ, Rachel Stahle's mining the riches of Jonathan Edwards' thoughts on sanctification, and a particularly insightful essay drawing on Dietrich Bonhoeffer on spiritual misformation. He observes Bonhoeffer's counter-intuitive insight that conscience reflects, not the inner voice of God, but rather the self curved in upon itself that is the consequence of the fall, that is a defense against God. Vincent Bacote closes out this section with a study of the rich resources of formation in African-American Christianity with its emphasis on lament and embodied spirituality.
The second group focuses on practical wisdom. Todd Wilson leads off exploring how it is possible for pastors and leaders to be both godly and dysfunctional. He observes this comes of not taking either the body or the brain (our psyches with their wounds and scars) seriously and from the lack of interpersonal communion. Cherith Fee Nordling takes Eugene Peterson's two word description of spirituality--"practice resurrection" and marvelously expands what this means for embodied Christians living in the hope of the resurrection. Andrew Schmutzer writes with candor that arises from experience of abuse and ministry with the abused. William Struthers offers a provocative essay on "neuropharmacoforation" exploring how we navigate a culture increasingly at ease seeking spiritual experience through chemical means.
I've touched on the essays that most caught my attention, but as in other proceedings from these conferences, what marks this collectiongvd is theologians, pastors, and other specialists working at the intersection of theology and pastoral care, where theology is informed by and connected with the care of people and pastoral care is informed by rigorous theological thinking in service of the people of God. What is heartening in this collection is to note the greater diversity of women and theologians who are persons of color. This is a great gain, and a model of the whole church learning from and instructing the whole church.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
The editors observe that there were three threads to the papers presented at the 2018 Center for Pastor Theologians conference on spiritual formation. Spiritual formation is an art. Spiritual formation is a science. And spiritual formation is a work of the Spirit forming us in the image of God in the likeness of the risen Christ. The pastors and theologians who contribute the bulk of the papers were joined by a couple of psychologists who add scientific perspectives to the discussion.
The papers were grouped in two parts. The first was on biblical, theological and historical perspectives on spiritual formation. It begins with a study of the first letter to the Corinthians from a civic and cultural formation perspective, inculcating the wisdom and vision to see themselves as a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit, counter to their culture. Several other essays that stood out in this section were Kevin Vanhoozer's essay on the formation of our human spirit in the character of Christ, Rachel Stahle's mining the riches of Jonathan Edwards' thoughts on sanctification, and a particularly insightful essay drawing on Dietrich Bonhoeffer on spiritual misformation. He observes Bonhoeffer's counter-intuitive insight that conscience reflects, not the inner voice of God, but rather the self curved in upon itself that is the consequence of the fall, that is a defense against God. Vincent Bacote closes out this section with a study of the rich resources of formation in African-American Christianity with its emphasis on lament and embodied spirituality.
The second group focuses on practical wisdom. Todd Wilson leads off exploring how it is possible for pastors and leaders to be both godly and dysfunctional. He observes this comes of not taking either the body or the brain (our psyches with their wounds and scars) seriously and from the lack of interpersonal communion. Cherith Fee Nordling takes Eugene Peterson's two word description of spirituality--"practice resurrection" and marvelously expands what this means for embodied Christians living in the hope of the resurrection. Andrew Schmutzer writes with candor that arises from experience of abuse and ministry with the abused. William Struthers offers a provocative essay on "neuropharmacoforation" exploring how we navigate a culture increasingly at ease seeking spiritual experience through chemical means.
I've touched on the essays that most caught my attention, but as in other proceedings from these conferences, what marks this collectiongvd is theologians, pastors, and other specialists working at the intersection of theology and pastoral care, where theology is informed by and connected with the care of people and pastoral care is informed by rigorous theological thinking in service of the people of God. What is heartening in this collection is to note the greater diversity of women and theologians who are persons of color. This is a great gain, and a model of the whole church learning from and instructing the whole church.
________________________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
November 16, 2021
As with most works of this kind, the chapters/articles are uneven. There are a few that standout, though.
Socialization and Sanctuary: The Arrangement of 1 Corinthians as a Strategy for Spiritual Formation, by Daniel J. Brendsel is a good overview of the epistle and would be an excellent read in preparing a sermon series or study.
“That’s the Spirit!” Or, What Exactly Does Spiritual Formation Form? By Kevin J. Vanhoozer is good, but I expected a little more out of it.
The Integrated Pastor: Toward an Embodied and Embedded Spiritual Formation, by Todd Wilson is another excellent read. This one’s worth a look.
Practice Resurrection, Live Like Jesus, by Cherish Fee Nordling is very well done.
Shepherding Survivors of Sexual Abuse, by Andrew J. Schmutzer was the real standout for me! Excellent and a much needed read. I’m eager to read more of his works.
Socialization and Sanctuary: The Arrangement of 1 Corinthians as a Strategy for Spiritual Formation, by Daniel J. Brendsel is a good overview of the epistle and would be an excellent read in preparing a sermon series or study.
“That’s the Spirit!” Or, What Exactly Does Spiritual Formation Form? By Kevin J. Vanhoozer is good, but I expected a little more out of it.
The Integrated Pastor: Toward an Embodied and Embedded Spiritual Formation, by Todd Wilson is another excellent read. This one’s worth a look.
Practice Resurrection, Live Like Jesus, by Cherish Fee Nordling is very well done.
Shepherding Survivors of Sexual Abuse, by Andrew J. Schmutzer was the real standout for me! Excellent and a much needed read. I’m eager to read more of his works.
February 21, 2022
I thought all of the chapters were at least good, some very good, and some excellent. I think Vincent Bacote’s chapter will stick with me for a long while, as I seek to follow the advice he gives related to learning from African American Christian formation.
October 26, 2022
Some very good essays here. Some very disappointing ones as well.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews