Called to Bless
Finding Hope by Reclaiming Our Spiritual Roots
Foreword by Grace Ji-Sun Kim
Imprint: Cascade Books
What does your spiritual DNA look like? In terms of your spiritual identity, where do you come from and where are you going? We live in an age when many Christians have experienced several denominational and religious communities. Many wonder what to do with these experiences. At the same time many congregations are made up of people who come from different traditions, and the question is how to bring these diverse experiences into the life of the congregation in an enriching way. If we take as our starting point, the call of Abraham and Sarah to take a journey to an unknown land with the promise that their descendants would be a blessing to the nations, what might this look like in terms of our spiritual lives? Join with the author as he draws on his spiritual journey that has taken him into several denominational traditions, as well as his experiences as a pastor and historical theologian, to discern values and concepts that can help congregations and individuals make sense of their diverse spiritual experiences, so that together we might fulfill the Abrahamic calling, reaffirmed in Christ, to be a blessing to the nations.
Robert D. Cornwall is Minister-at-Large, having retired as Senior Pastor of Central Woodward Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Troy, Michigan in June, 2021). He is the Editor of Sharing the Practice (Academy of Parish Clergy). He received his PhD from Fuller Theological Seminary in Historical Theology. His books include Religion, Politics and Dissent, 1660-1832, co-edited with William Gibson (2010), Freedom in Covenant (2015), and Unfettered Spirit: Spiritual Gifts for the New Great Awakening, 2nd edition, (2021).
“What does a Bapti-costal, Episco-matic, Presby-vangelical, Disciple of Christ, and Covenanted Follower of Jesus look or sound like? Perhaps a child of Abraham who has inherited the divine mandate of being a blessing to others, even indeed to the ends of the earth. Anyone seeking to make sense of their varied spiritual journey will find Robert Cornwall a sure guide and companion.”
—Amos Yong, Professor of Theology and Mission, Fuller Theological Seminary
“To get at who we are, we must tell stories. Even in the telling, we shape who we might become in the future. In this story-oriented book, Bob Cornwall draws together diverse stories in hopes of explaining our identities. Cornwall’s narration is worth the listening!”
—Thomas Jay Oord, author of The Uncontrolling Love of God, God Can’t, and other books
“This is an insightful book, designed for people who want to examine and explore their faith. It is written by one of the most perceptive pastoral theologians of our time, whose work makes us think deeply about ideas of tradition and continuity of faith in the modern world. It is also a book which draws Christians together rather than divides or separates.”
—William Gibson, Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Director of the Oxford Centre for Methodism and Church History, Oxford Brookes University, United Kingdom
“Bob Cornwall asks, ‘Who am I? Where do I come from? Where am I going? What is my purpose in life?’ Such questions are entrenched in the early twenty-first century. Cornwall points to Abram and Sarai as foreparents who were given the gracious call from God to show the way of blessing to others. By demonstrating the way of blessing, the couple would be blessed. Two things happen. (1) The number of paths to blessing expands as human experience becomes more diverse. (2) Communities lose blessing as life wears them down. Cornwall shows readers how to rediscover the generative power of the founding blessing and to witness to blessing in new forms in new contexts.”
—Ronald J. Allen, Professor of Gospels and Letters, Emeritus, Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis
“This book provides a theologically informed case study, based on the author’s life experiences, that is intended to show individual Christians, pastors, church leaders, and congregations how to find a fruitful balance between their past traditions and their Christian witness for the future while living faithfully in the present. Reflection questions for individuals and congregations following each chapter are designed to help readers as they respond to this challenge.”
—Keith Watkins, Professor Emeritus of Practical Parish Ministry, Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis
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