LITMIR.BIZ

      To that cloud of steadfastly faithful witnesses—also, alas, those who have fumbled and stumbled along the way as even fragmentary partakers of “the Way” with and for urban ministries—you are the salt of the earth: your flavor sustains.

      Contents

      Foreword by Tim Dickau · vii

      Preface and Acknowledgements · vii

      Chapter 1—Proposal of Hopeful Realism · vii

      On Realism: Finitude, Ignorance and Sin · vii

      On Hope: Pressing the Limits · vii

      Hope and Realism Combined: Leaven of a Just Realm beyond Our Eager but Meager Strivings · vii

      Hopeful Realism for Urban Ministry: Animating Contrast Awareness · vii

      Framing Urban Ministry via a Triad: Grounded, Hopeful Realism · vii

      Discerning Key Elements in Urban Ministries · vii

      Chapter 2—Urban Ministry and Theology’s Enduring Themes · vii

      Survey of the Field and Actors · vii

      Anthologies, Urban Training and Action Research · vii

      Smouldering Embers · vii

      Critical and New Faithful Responses · vii

      Summary Conclusion · vii

      Chapter 3—Urban Ministry Dynamics and Triad Intimations · vii

      In the Midst of Despair, Hope Intimated · vii

      In the Midst of ‘Endless’ Charity, Justice Intimated · vii

      In the Midst of ‘Heroic’ Weariness, Prayer Intimated · vii

      Search for Theological Containers and Anchorages · vii

      Venture of Crossovers and Hybrids · vii

      Inspiring, Sustaining and Renewing Themes · vii

      Triad, Critical Responses and Hopeful Realism · vii

      Summary · vii

      Chapter 4—Hope via Moltmann and Urban Ministry Intimations · vii

      Introduction · vii

      Moltmann’s Theology toward Hope · vii

      What Brought Moltmann to Hope · vii

      Long-Haul Resources via Moltmann’s Theology of Hope · vii

      Hoping Justice Prayerfully Intimations and Urban Ministry Implications · vii

      Summary · vii

      Chapter 5—Justice via Niebuhr and Urban Ministry Intimations · viii

      Introduction · viii

      Niebuhr’s Understanding and Implications of Justice · viii

      Love Is Not Enough: What Brought Niebuhr to Justice · viii

      Long Haul Resources for What Kept Niebuhr Committed to Justice · viii

      Praying Justice Hopefully, Intimations, and Urban Ministry Implications · viii

      Summary · viii

      Chapter 6—Prayer via Merton and Urban Ministry Intimations · viii

      Merton’s Theology of Prayer · viii

      Long Haul Resources for Merton’s Theology of Prayer · viii

      Just Prayer Hopefully, Triad Intimations and Urban Ministry Implications · viii

      A Summary Triad: Grounding Reflection · viii

      Chapter 7—Longhouse Ministry and Networking · viii

      Introduction · viii

      Indispensable Networks · viii

      On Cases: Intrinsic and Instrumental · viii

      Enduring Responses and the Help of Response Ethics’ Criteria · viii

      Longhouse Ministry Nourishment · viii

      The Triad, Realism, and the Longhouse · viii

      Longhouse Ministry and Network Comparisons · viii

      Triad’s Conjunctive in the Service of Hopeful Realism · viii

      If Only Justice Is Present · viii

      If Only Prayer Is Present · viii

      If Only Hope Is Present · viii

      If Two Discipline Terms Are Present but Not the Third · viii

      Summary Conclusion · viii

      Chapter 8—Summary Considerations and Conclusions · viii

      Introduction · viii

      A Singular Prayer in Focus · viii

      The Original Serenity Prayer Clause-by-Clause · viii

      Grace Hi-lighted · viii

      Conclusion · viii

      Appendix A: The Merton and New Monasticism Check and Balance · viii

      The New Monastics’ Vocation and Challenge · viii

      Probing a Constructive Criticism · viii

      The Praying Justice Hopefully Triad · viii

      Steadfast Insights and Guidance · viii

      Appendix B: Networks’ Viva Voce Testimonies and Inducing Central Story Line · ix

      From the Streams of Justice (SoJ) network’s co-founders: · ix

      From Metro Vancouver Alliance (MVA): · ix

      From A Community Aware (ACA) by way of co-founder Terry Patten, with Mary Etey and Ken Lyotier: · ix

      A Concluding note from FNSP student researcher Andrea Reid: · ix

      Inducing a compact story-line via a brief application of grounded theory · ix

      Bibliography · ix

      Index · ix

      Foreword

      Urban ministry, especially when it is going “well”, can often be exhilarating and exciting. Sticking with urban ministry through congregational, neighborhood, and cultural transition, when the church is struggling for survival, is often painstaking and tedious. With thankful exceptions, most books on urban ministry seem to be written by those for whom things are going “well”, for folks who seem to be a cut above other practitioners in their entrepreneurial and charismatic leadership. Most of those books leave the rest of us in urban ministry feeling less of ourselves and our churches.

      This book is different. This book is written by a man who has persisted in a three-decade long obedience while being honest about his own struggles. This book is written by someone who has continued to pursue a hopeful and prayerful justice in the face of numerous obstacles. This book is written by someone who has continued to look outwards, learning from and synthesizing into his own ministry the challenging vision of theologians and cultural critics. This book is written to encourage you.

      Barry and I began working in our neighboring parishes at about the same time. I have watched, observed, admired, confided in, complained to and collaborated with Barry over the years. What I appreciate most about Barry is that he continues to work with what is in front of him. He starts where

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