Family Ministry: A Comprehensive Guide, By Diana R. Garland alt

Family Ministry

A Comprehensive Guide

Second Edition

by Diana R. Garland

Family Ministry
Ebook
  • Length: 656 pages
  • Published: August 02, 2012
  • Imprint: IVP Academic
  • ISBN: 9780830863297
Other Formats:

  • Voted a 2000 Book of the Year by the Academy of Parish Clergy
In today's fragmented and frenetic world, families face all kinds of pressures. Accordingly, those ministering with families need a multifaceted, well-informed sense of both the Christian purpose of family and the complex world our families inhabit. Writing out of years of experience in the church and academy, Diana Garland here offers just such a broad and comprehensive introduction to this crucially important subject.Family Ministry begins with several chapters placing the family in its modern context, then considers the history of families and their interaction with the church. Having thoroughly contextualized the family and its concerns as they are now understood, Garland dedicates three chapters to biblical understandings of the family. The remaining ten chapters of her book are devoted to the practice of family ministry, including guidance on promoting strong families anddealing with crises such as divorce and spousal abuse.All this, based on careful research and seasoned reflection, makes Family Ministry not only a key text for students of family ministry but also an indispensable guide and resource for pastors and those in the helping professions.

"Family Ministry: A Comprehensive Guide is a gift to everyone in church leadership and ministry with families. Diana Garland accomplishes the almost impossible--blending history, theology, family theory and pastoral practice into one bookthat is a must-have resource for everyone who works with families. Diana's knowledge, experience and wisdom are woven into each chapter of the book. Family Ministry provides congregations with vision and practices for ministry with families in the 21st century."

John Roberto, editor, Lifelong Faith journal, author, Faith Formation 2020: Designing the Future of Faith Formation

"This second edition of Diana Garland's groundbreaking resource for the church, Family Ministry, builds on the qualities that made the first edition so important. It is deeply informed by biblical theology, understanding practical needs of families in local church communities, and ongoing research. Dr. Garland is dean of the Baylor University School of Social Work and has for years led major research studies on families in the church and community ministry. With her husband David Garland, dean of Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor, she is coeditor of The Journal of Family and Community Ministries. Her book is substantive and engaging--full of well-grounded stories and applications for family ministry."

David Sherwood, Ph.D., editor, Social Work Christianity

"If you think you know about family ministry, think again. This handbook on family ministry provides the biblical, historical and research-based approach to family ministry. It is a gem that could serve as the foundation for anyone engaged in family ministry. The book is loaded with compelling research, heart-tugging stories and practical suggestions for implementing and improving church-based family ministry. Don't miss this one!"

Dr. Eric Swanson, Leadership Network, coauthor of The Externally Focused Church and To Transform a City

"Diana Garland uses reasoned, comprehensive methods to put understanding in the context of our personal and casual observations. Sometimes her conclusions confirm that we're on the right track. In other instances, she finds out we're missing the mark and need to change our strategy completely. At each step, she includes personal stories that take the concepts from the research lab to the living room and challenge us to do what we do better, for all the right reasons."

Reggie Joiner,founder and CEO of Orange

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CONTENTS

Introduction

PART ONE: THE CONTEXT FOR FAMILY MINISTRY

Section One: Families Today
1. Families Today
2. Families in Physical Social Space
3. Families Culture

Section Two: The Processes of Family Life
4. Stages Phases of Family Life
5. The Processes of Family Development
6. Power in Family Life
7. Family Identity
8. The Characteristics of Strong Families

Section Three:The History of Families the Church
9. A Socioeconomic History of the American Family
10. The Church's Influence on Family Life

Section Four: Biblical Foundations for Family Ministry Today
11. Biblical Definitions of Family
12. Biblical Roles for the Family
13. Biblical Words for Family Life

PART TWO: LEADING FAMILY MINISTRY

Section Five: Planning Leading Family Ministry
14. Defining Family Ministry
15. Assessing Congregation Community
16. Planning Evaluating Family Ministry
17. Congregational Life as Family Ministry
18. Family Support Programs
19. Family Life Education Programs

Section Six: Ministry with Specific Family Relationships
20. Faith-Families
21. Marriage Divorce
22. Parents Children
23. Families Facing Challenges

Appendix A: Social Justice Advocacy Organizations

Appendix B: Resources for Family Ministry

References

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Diana R. Garland

Diana R. Garland (1950-2015) was inaugural dean of Baylor University's School of Social Work, which now bears her name. She was author, coauthor, or editor of twenty-one books and more than one hundred academic articles. Some of her books includeFlawed Families of the Bible: How God's Grace Works through Imperfect Relationships, Family Ministry: A Comprehensive Guide, and Why I Am a Social Worker: 25 Christians Tell Their Life Stories. She had served as editor of the Journal of Family and Community Ministries since 1993.