Ministry Matters: Pastors, Their Life and Work Today - Hardcover

by Michael Plekon (Author), Tim Vivian (Foreword by)

Congregations are shrinking and in decline. Fewer people are part of communities of faith. Michael Plekon's previous book, Community as Church, Church as Community, traced the factors behind this as well as the resurrection of parishes that have reimagined themselves in diverse ways. Pastors have played essential roles in such transformation. But where are the ordained today? Ministry Matters is a sustained meditation on the vocation, lives, and work of pastors today. We listen to an ecumenical group of exceptional pastor-theologians on how pastors live and serve. These include George Keith, Nicholas Afanasiev, Barbara Brown Taylor, C. Andrew Doyle, Andrew Root, Sarah Coakley, Samuel Wells, Rowan Williams, Henri Nouwen, Pope Francis, David Barnhart, and Will Willimon, with commentary from Michael Plekon, who has served as priest in both western and eastern churches for over forty years. Many years of pastoral experience are shared here, providing a feast of reflection on the shepherds of God's flock.

Author Biography

Michael Plekon is professor emeritus of the City University of New York, Baruch College. He has served as a priest for over forty years in both western and eastern churches and has authored numerous publications including Community as Church, Church as Community; The World as Sacrament; Uncommon Prayer; Saints as They Really Are; Hidden Holiness; and Living Icons.