So I was a no-show at a lunch meeting yesterday.
The editor and a couple of board members for Independent Denominational Magazine had asked to meet with a group of young (young-er? young-ish?) pastors to talk about how their magazine might be more useful, interesting, or appealing to the next generation of clergy. I think they are genuinely interested in this question, by the way—I don’t think it’s just about their bottom line—and I’m glad they’re asking about it.
I got pulled into another conversation over lunch at presbytery and never made it up to the focus group. But I felt it was for the best because, despite having thought about this question a lot over the past few weeks, I had no idea what I would have suggested.
The thing is, I read IDM regularly. I don’t read every article, but I skim every issue I receive. I have even been a subscriber more years than not. My affection for the magazine dates back to R’s grandmother, who was a Presbyterian through and through and a big believer in the IDM. She sent letters to the editor and would wring her hands when she felt the publication was moving in a “less independent” (read: more conservative) direction. I think that an independent source of news in the church (and in the denomination, even in this post-denominational era) is very important.
And every possible suggestion I came up with made young clergy sound really flaky: shorter articles, more “relevant,” more practical, edgier… what do those things even mean? Some of the articles are long, much longer than most people will read; is that a problem with the magazine, or indicative of our general impatience with thoughtful, unhurried analysis? They also hit some deep and, dare I say, un-sexy topics. But theology matters. I do believe this. So… I was at a loss.
However, I did chuckle a bit when I received the May 28 issue today. There is a feature, “Summer reading,” in which various pastors and leaders throughout the denomination were asked to list books on their summer reading lists.
Oh. My. Goodness.
This is what the leadership in the church is reading?
Here’s a summary based on my unscientific analysis:
- There were 63 books listed in all, submitted by about 19 individuals (each listed 3 or so).
- Fourteen of those 63 books could be classified as fiction, literature, or “fun,” e.g. two books of poetry, a couple of memoirs of famous writers, several novels… and two people listed Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. God bless our denomination’s moderator, who listed a book by Dave Barry!
- Thirteen more books could be classified as non-church-related nonfiction, e.g. The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time, Dwelling Place: A Plantation Epic.
- The remainder of the books—more than half—dealt with church administration, church culture, or theology. (Christianity for the Rest of Us, God’s Potters: Pastoral Leadership and the Shaping of Congregations, The Making of American Liberal Theology)
- None of the books on anyone’s list was on today’s New York Times bestseller lists for fiction or nonfiction, paperback or hardback.
Now, one might draw a few possible conclusions from all this:
- Perhaps IDM asked respondents to focus on churchy books because it thought that’s what its readers would want. Or it asked a certain cross-section of people who naturally gravitate to such books.
- Or, perhaps there were no parameters, but the respondents felt the need to focus their lists on churchy books and heavy nonfiction, with only a smattering of fiction and “fun,” either because they thought that’s what IDM and its readers would want, or so they would appear serious and scholarly. One of the people who listed Harry Potter also listed “portions of Calvin’s Institutes—the 500th anniversary of his birth is approaching fast.” I am certainly all for academic rigor, but really? The Institutes? For summer? Kicking back on the beach? Was he worried that HP would damage his scholarly street cred? [wink]
- There are so many books to read these days, more than we could ever read, and let’s face it, religious presses do a great job of marketing to clergy. We receive catalogs all the time, right to our offices, with all sorts of good-looking churchy books that appeal to our desire to be the Best Pastor We Can Be. They’re easy to find and easy to order, as opposed to the obscure but life-changing novel, or the transformative book of poetry, that doesn’t have the “GOD” stamp prominently on its cover.
- Perhaps there are plenty of other leaders and pastors in the PCUSA who are reading what people outside the church are more likely to be reading—they were just not invited to contribute to the list.
And now for the questions:
- What does it say about a church, and its ability to do outreach to an increasingly “foreign” culture, that its leaders spend their time reading and recommending such a high concentration of church-related stuff?
- I wonder, if the question had been asked of pastors and leaders under 40, or under 50, whether the results would have been the same. What say the internets? Those of you in the church, do you find yourself reading a lot of churchy stuff? (I must admit that I do.)
- Is this the genesis of some feedback I might offer to IDM about their publication? The thing is, I think the list represents where the denomination is right now—it’s not about IDM, it’s about the PCUSA—they’re merely reporting the state of things. On the other hand, perhaps there are counter-narratives going on all around us that don’t get reported. I am reading Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell right now, and he claims that despite the phenomenal growth in his congregation, he has never attended a church growth seminar or, if I recall correctly, even read a book on the subject. So what might we learn from him? Are there similar stories in our own denomination? I’m not just talking about church growth, I’m talking about people doing innovative ministry outside the traditional boundaries.
And finally, two statements:
- I am sure that every single one of those 63 books has value. Many of them I have read; many of them I would like to read. And conversely, I’m sure there are books on the NYT bestseller list that are of dubious value. And one of the gifts the PCUSA offers to the world, I believe, is a community and clergy that value learning and serious engagement with the world. The nonfiction selections on the list are evidence of that, and we shouldn’t lose that.
- However, it got me thinking about the books I gravitate to. One of the reasons I read poetry is I can dip in and out between work and kid commitments. Churchy administration/spirituality stuff is similar—much of it is common sense anyway, and it’s easy to read it with a bunch of other stuff going on. SO, because I am all about experiments and resolutions these days, I wonder what it would be like to declare a moratorium on all churchy books this summer. No Subversive Orthodoxy, no Christianity and Ecology. What would it be like to commit to reading fluff and fiction for an entire summer? Isn’t that what most of the world reads?
32 Responses to “what presbyterians are reading this summer”
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I think you are very right about the PCUSA and the IDM.
I also love the idea of not reading any churchy books all summer….that would definitely require me getting a library card!
Maybe just a moratorium on churchy books outside of church? I sometimes take mine home so I can read with my kitties…but I wonder what it would be like to restrict myself to reading church stuff at church.
on my “open and reading” list right now: Velvet Elvis, A Generous Orthodoxy, Mary Queen of Scotland (by margaret george–more novel than history!), Galileo’s Daughter, A Way of Living (from Lindisfarne), and the Male-Female Church Staff.
I should probably cut back. LOL!
I am planning a Harry Potter re-read beginning around June 1, so I’ll be ready.
I’m going to think more about this…thanks for bringing up that, literature-wise, we might be out of touch. (though when I was at the airport, delayed and looking for a new book, I found that I’d read about 90% of the stuff in the airport bookstore…I don’t know what that means…)
I’m done now. And I’m going home. Without any of those church books, because who are we kidding: I’m going to watch Angel tonight.
PS…Calvin’s Institutes? give me a freakin’ break. I didn’t even read those when they were required for class. I got the outline.
well I’m not a big fan of fluff but a whole summer of poetry and fiction would be a wonderful adventure. how about collecting a list here and of friends, of poetry and fiction for the summer. I’d be curious what came up. For instance, I’m just got a new biography of Billy the Kid and can’t wait for my copy of Annie Dillard’s new novel to arrive. Upon the recommendation of a friend in a book group I’m reading an amazing novel called, The Thin Place, by Kathryn Davis.
And so on. I think a great question to ask one another is, “so what are you reading?”
I am reading HP and trashy vampire romance novels!! (even when I go to Bible study)
I, for one, commit to reading at least 20 pages of the institutes every day.
Together with passages from Leviticus.
I never read churchy books. I bought Velvet Elvis ‘cuz I was feeling guilty about this, and other than admiring the opening visual, I haven’ gotten far. I guess I’m just too practical of a person to enjoy practical books. It always seems so practical to me. I have shelves and shelves of such unread books. Frankly, I’d rather read the institutes than the purpose driven church.
But what I’d really rather read is tons of fiction and memoir and lots of trashy mystery novels.
Hmmm . . . timely post. I made my ‘pilgrimage’ to Cokesbury last weekend. I purchased four books: one having to do with pastoral care, one on leadership, one on Bible, and one on preaching. I also bought Velvet Elvis and A Generous Orthodoxy at a discount bookstore last week. All of these fall in the professional realm of reading, something I try to be disciplined about because it would be very easy in my current call to get lazy about such things.
I’m also reading a nonfiction book by Barbara Kingsolver: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. Interesting reading, but still definitely a “big girl” book.
I have two books by Ron Rash in my summer pile. I am waiting on the release of the new Harry Potter.
While I haven’t considered changing my reading habits for the summer, I have seriously considered making a movie a week a part of my schedule. I am so out of touch with what so many people see and do that I think I could almost call it work - or maybe cultural education?!
The college where I teach has an outdoor pool for faculty and staff and their families to use in the summer. My kids are of an age where I pull up a nice Adoirondack chair in the shade and read while they splash themselves silly. Colleagues are always curious what colleagues are reading. I’m pretty unabashed at what I read (which ranges from the Stephanie Plum mysteries to quantum chemistry to John of the Cross), but I wonder if colleagues edit what they toss in their pool bags?
Maybe someone needs to do a Friday Five where we all confess to 5 books we are REALLY reading? Or we could riff on an old Benedictine tradition where the abbess and prioress would pick a book for each nun to read during Lent/Advent? Recommend 5 “relaxing” books everyone should read!
Thank you RM. Great thoughts.
I think it is very important in order to understanding the “pulse of the people” that we know what is being read inside and outside the church.
I am re-reading the Harry Potter series in preparation for the seventh book.
A woman at Karate class, in response to seeing my Harry Potter book, shared that her children were reading the “children’s version” of the “Left Behind Series”. Oh. My. Gosh. Tell me it isn’t true!
Kite Runner (Hosseini) is my favorite read this year. A Fine Balance (R. Mistry)runs a close second. Summer reading will include the Harry Potter re-read and final book.
I have no idea what the “Velvet Elvis” book is about. I am definitely out of it when it comes to the current clergy reading list, and have to say I am not missing it!
I am most disappointed to know that I will be out of town for ALL three Harry Potter sermons. Bummer. Can you post your manuscripts?
I am not a rev, but I hate reading my professional stuff. I find myself keeping a running checklist: know that, know that, know that, hmm might work, know that, what crap etc etc.
It does drive be nuts when the clergy in our parish only seem to read brainy stuff. I mean, come on, I know you have down time too.
On the other hand, if you have found something wonderful to read that isn’t on the NYT best seller list, please share the title with you congregation. If we want the folks in the pews to feel that they don’t have to check their brain at the door, we need to offer alternatives to Oprah’s list.
And I must have checked my typing brain at the door. I meant me not be and your not you.
I occasionally read the reverendmother blog along with many other Presbyterian blogs. I normally do not take the time to comment on blogs, even if I disagree with them. However, today’s post on the subject of what Presbyterian pastors read got my attention and piqued my curiosity. As a Presbyterian elder and as a man, I am interested in knowing what some of our Presbyterian female pastors are reading and/or have read that help provide the foundations for their theological worldviews.
Instead of asking what some of the readers of this blog intend to read, I would be interested in knowing if any Presbyterian female pastors have read books and essays by Dr. Jean Bethke Elshtain, “the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Professor of Social and Political Ethics in the University of Chicago Divinity School; and, also in the Department of Political Science and the Committee on International Relations”.
I found her book in 2003 entitled “Just War Against Terror: The Burden of American Power in A Violent World” to very interesting and was wondering what Presbyterian female pastors might think about the intellectual and moral approach she expresses in that book.
“Jean Elshtain is a political philosopher whose task has been to show the connections between our political and ethical convictions. Her books include Public Man, Private Woman: Women in Social Thought; The Family in Political Thought; Meditations on Modern Political Thought; Women and War; Democracy on Trial (a New York Times “Notable Book” for 1995); Augustine and the Limits of Politics; Real Politics: At the Center of Everyday Life; New Wine in Old Bottles: Politics and Ethical Discourse; and Who Are We? Critical Reflections, Hopeful Possibilities, for which she received the Theologos Award for Best Academic Book 2000 by the Association of Theological Booksellers.”
Any Presbyterian female pastors out there who have read any of Elshtain’s writings? If so, would you like to comment on the theology and moral foundations of her writings?
I was at the IDM meeting, and there was not a flaky person in the room. I assure you (except maybe me…). Here are some answers to your questions:
“Is that a problem with the magazine, or indicative of our general impatience with thoughtful, unhurried analysis?”
“Shorter” pertained to online vs. print. The group said that an online issue should have shorter articles because it’s a strain to read long ones on a computer screen, but they were happy to read longer ones in print (the longer ones are the perfect length for reading “on the toilet!”).
“What do those things even mean?”
I never heard the word “edgier” mentioned. The topics listed for “relevant” and “practical” were family leave and housing. What’s fair for the church and for the minister? Many of us have certainly had to go through long negotiations about these things….
So I was excited by the meeting. I have some great colleagues, and you would have been a wonderful addition, RM.
A few months ago, my husband, a software designer, was part of a group taken to lunch by a consultant who was seeking to explore the habits of some of the company’s top employees, wondering how those habits might be communicated to others.
No one in the group spends free time reading work-related material. They all work very hard and very productively — my husband probably works a minimum of 60 hours a week, and I doubt that he wastes a minute of that time — but in their free time, they pursue other interests entirely. (My husband reads novels, history, and politics; coaches (and reads about coaching) soccer, and is on a hands-on nonprofit board (and reads about Nicaragua, where he is going ina few weeks).)
The consultant was dumbfounded, but it seemed obvious to us that the most effective people in a field would be those who free their minds completely for other things on a regular basis.
I bought “A Generous Orthodoxy” and “Velvet Elvis” about six months ago, they languish unread beyond the first 5 pages. But I am rereading Anne LaMotte’s “Bird by Bird” right now and have ordered 3 new novels, all of which are up for Christy Awards, to see what the world of “Christian fiction” feels is award-worthy. Since I try to write fiction, for me that qualifies as work, doesn’t it? But I don’t believe anybody who reads Calvin’s Institutes for relaxation is anybody I want to sit next to on a cross-Atlantic flight, let me put it that way. Much less listen to them distill the Good News into 15 interesting, powerful and relevant minutes each and every Sunday. RM — Calvin College/Reformed Worship folks have a conference for clergy each year — that basically leads them through fiction reading that will enrich their preaching — reminding them of the importance of narrative, and how God works through narrative.
what are Rev Gals reading this summer. That’s what I’d like to know.
For me part of the problem is that I don’t know ahead what books I will read (Other than Harry Potter) OTHER THAN reading I have to do before the next seminary session.
I will read all kinds of stuff - most of which I will enjoy but forget the name and possibly even the author - because for me that’s part of what reading for pleasure is. If a book is really good then yes I’ll try to remember it (to read something else by the same author or to recommend it to others) but it’s nearly always after the fact.
School’s out next weekend and I have no idea what I will be reading. And that’s fine with me - but of no possible use to your magazine. I mean who’d want to read that I don’t know unless it’s followed up with a statement that I will read - a lot - and how I do end up choosing books.
just some thoughts - and not terribly well thought out at that (sorry)
You know, a couple of years ago I made a resolution to always be reading at least one of the books on the NYTimes list. I still work on it, but have fallen away a bit. Thank you for reminding me.
Wow RM,
I just picked up reading fiction again, after a long (years long… very little fiction during my seminary years) hiatus. I am currently re-rereading C.S. Lewis’s Space Trilogy. I am finding my literary imagination stretched and my theological imagination stretched. This is good for the preaching imagination.
I don’t think that preachers/pastors/ministers should ignore what is on the NYT list, because likely our people are reading it. Got to have an idea of what the congregation is engaged in. When I was a field ed. student, my supervisor was reading “Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren. He said that when he visited the lapsed members, this book was on many bookshelves and coffee tables. We eventually did it as a whole congregation–it led to a lot of grumbling and complaining, but we also were able to have great conversation about who we were theologically and how we differed from what Warren proposes.
Kelley, I just read a review of Hosseini’s new book, A Thousand Something (can’t remember) in the Sunday Post, and the reviewer said, “You’re all wondering whether this new book is as good as The Kite Runner. I have to say: No. It’s better.”
I got two chapters into Kite and stopped. Maybe I’ll pick it up again, or just read the new one. I also want to read Eat Pray Love, and ditto on re-reading Harry Potter. I’d like to pick up Animal Vegetable Miracle as well, though I’m contemplating fiction-only this summer, simply because I have read almost NONE for so many years, like mamaS.
PP, I’m glad the meeting went well. I might send some of the IDM folks a link here for some unofficial feedback.
i’m just finishing listening to east of eden (22 cds!!!) and have found it has been so worth the investment of time!
novels like this one can contain so very much psychology, theology, and holy nudges!
and on the subject of kite runner—i’ve read it once ;and listened to it twice and i’m not sure that’s enough. it’s deep and wide (as is e.o.e.). in consider it a “must read.”
and i’m about to start nouwen’s the return of the prodigal son and zorba the greek (both for book groups). i’ve read prodigal before and tried to read zorba before but never got through it. since i have to lead the discussion on it, i’ll probably make it through this time.
Good God. I really have to start reading blogs closer before I respond. I’ll just blame it on the afore-mentioned strain and flakiness. I’ll just say your suggestions and the ones at the meeting were a lot alike!
As for reading fluff, I think I reign as the trash lit queen, at least in this crowd! I just finished the Nanny Diaries, and picked up Steve Martin’s Shopgirl…and Armistead Maupin’s
Tales of the City. Although, I’m not sure I’d admit all of this to IDM.
I am part of a book club that I love, partly because I am the only pastor in the group, and partly because it’s a group of some super smart women. I prioritize whatever book club is reading that month, and then fill in from there. Recent readings that I recommend from our group include Gilead, Blind Assassin, Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight, Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night, Interpreter of Maladies, and Looking for Alaska. I almost never read churchy books, except as they relate to sermon prep. The relentlessness of churning out a sermon every week takes most of the intellectual space in my life these days, and I find that leaves little time or energy for all of the other things I might pursue.
I would tweeze my nose hairs before I would spend a week at the beach with Calvin’s Institutes.
What’s the breakdown of male to female in this article? Men tend to read nonfiction related to their professions or hobbies, if they read at all. Something like 90% of the fiction market is female.
I keep coming back to this post, thinking I should have something intelligent to add. Under 35, female, PCUSA minister. I think I’m who they’re asking about, except I enjoy the magazine too. I don’t read every single word, but I do read it, usually online.
I love to read, but mostly fiction. As I confessed elsewhere yesterday, for pure hobby purposes, I do enjoy the occasional trashy novel with no redeeming value whatsoever. A steady diet of them, however, loses my interest pretty quickly. “Real” fiction, usually of the contemporary variety (I mean not necessarily “classics”) will keep me happily occupied for long stretches. In the nonfiction category, I will every once in a while enjoy something of the Anne Lamott category (maybe she deserves her own category), a memoir, or something like that.
For church-related nonfiction, it’s something I really have to talk myself into reading. I think that for so long, a professor told me what to read and when to read it, that I have had to learn what I need to read and when to read it. It definitely feels like work and not fun. Christianity for the Rest of Us was my latest. I also need the follow-up discussion if I am to remember anything I read, especially in the work realm.
I have no idea if this was helpful or not. The Institutes are carefully placed on my shelves, preserved in their seminary state, survivors of many moves, yet I’m pretty sure the covers would creak if I tried to open them.
I’m actually kind of taken aback at what people are calling “trashy.” Is it just an apology for not having CRIME AND PUNISHMENT and the complete works of Khalil Gibran casually bookmarked on the coffee table?
Keith: Yes.
This is centuries of Protestant work ethic being confronted and exorcised, or not. Even our leisure must be productive.
(For the record, I didn’t use the term trashy, though I guess fluff is along that line.)
OK, how about a sort of opposing view.
I don’t tend to read a lot of fiction. Reading stuff from the NY Times fiction best seller list would be “work” not fun for me.
What’s not “work” for me to read? Well…..
I am reading “Christianity for the Rest of Us” and I am enjoying it.
I just finished reading “To Live’s To Fly” a bio of Townes Van Zandt and “Savage Kingdom” (about early years of Jamestown) and the new Ann Lamotte.
Earlier this year I read:
*All of Frank McCourt’s books (Teacher Man, Angela’s Ashes, ‘Tis)
*Team of Rivals (about Lincoln and his cabinet)
*1776
*The Dark Side of the Moon: The Making of Pink Floyd’s Masterpiece
*The Children in Room E4: American Education on Trial
*A Seaprate Peace (fiction but a reread of something I read 35 yrs ago)
And….. I would think about taking the institutes or a volume of Barth’s Dogmatics to the beach. The idea of having 4 or 5 uniterrupted hours to be immersed in reading them appeals to me….. of course the possibilty exists that about 30 minutes in I would fling the book into the ocean and go listen to some Townes….
For a number of years now, I try to read ONLY fiction or books I REALLY REALLY want to read and some poetry in the summer. And keep up with IDM and other work-related publications that help inform what I do at Crusty Ol’Seminary as I think you call it, RM.
The fiction is often “lighter” than the little bit I squeeze in the rest of the year - this was true even before seminary - still do so even tho am doing year-round reading for adv. degree work….so far have read the last of the Mitford series (Light in Heaven I think), a retelling of a Celtic myth, Angus (can’t recall the author - Canongate series - good!), and have an Anne Rivers Siddons novel up next.Want to read newest Anne Lamott too…will add some of the titles suggested in this thread.
And - I must admit to enjoying reading good cookbooks - often vegetarian ones (reading Crescent Dragonwagon’s Passionate Vegetarian at present)…and I’m not even (all the way) vegetarian….
I love Anne Lamott, but I admit that I wish the person who birthed ROSIE would knock it off with the essays and write another novel.
I’m so glad other people read cookbooks!
RM, I read fiction during the summer and have for years. Whatever I want to read, I read. Nothing serious unless I find the topic tantalizing. I keep up with my sermon prep. reading throughout the summer but I READ BEST SELLERS AND BEACH READS.
I’m reading a Brad Metzger trash read right now.