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Theology and Your Congregation

The origin of the word theology means the science of God. Indeed, theology was considered the queen of all the sciences for a long time. Congregations are about theology just as schools are about education. Theology includes doctrines and creeds. Theology also includes a way of life, particular practices, seeing things more deeply, asking questions about life, death, meaning, values, love, forgiveness, and much more. Perhaps your and other congregants seek resources that will support holy conversations about such matters. Talking and thinking aren't the only ways to shape a God-focused congregation. Yet, theological reflection is like self-reflection. After all, there is a connection between self-knowledge and knowledge of God. Consider the resources below as possible starting places to think about God so that the divine markers of creation are more visible in your congregational life. If you aren't sure where to start, let us recommend one of the videos: Bonhoeffer or Backs Against the Wall

Resources

5 Resources
From the Staff From the Staff
Theologian of the Year
I know a pastor who chooses a theologian to study in-depth every year. In 2013, he chose...
book
Life Together and Prayerbook of the Bible
Influenced by the author's experience as part of Finkenwalde Seminary, an underground seminary...
book
You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit
This resource invites readers to align their faith and beliefs with their behaviors.
media
Bonhoeffer
This documentary about theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer explores his life and asks viewers to...
media
Backs Against the Wall: The Howard Thurman Story
This hour-long film tells the life story of pastor and theologian Howard Thurman, a...

Contributor

Contributor
Tim Shapiro

Tim Shapiro is the Indianapolis Center’s president. He began serving the Center in 2003 after 18 years in pastoral ministry. For 14 years, Tim served Westminster Presbyterian Church in Xenia, Ohio. Prior to his pastorate at Westminster, he was pastor of Bethlehem Presbyterian Church in Logansport, Indiana. He holds degrees from Purdue University and Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary.

Tim’s interest in how congregations learn to do new things is represented in his book How Your Congregation LearnsAfter his extensive work on the Center’s Sacred Space initiative, Tim co-authored the book Holy Places: Matching Sacred Space with Mission and MessageHe has also authored several articles, including Applying Positive Deviance and The Congregation of Theological Coherence.

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