Renounce, Resist, Rejoice

The election of Donald Trump as the forty-fifth president of the United States was a watershed moment in American history. In this book, Michael Coffey reflects on major social and religious issues leading up to and following the election. Coffey addresses the political issues of the day, not from a partisan position but from the question of what it means to be faithful as church now. Rather than pit left against right or Republican against Democrat, Pastor Coffey seeks to explore fundamental issues of Christian commitments centered in love of God and neighbor. Coffey shares his personal responses to the events surrounding the election while exploring central biblical and theological themes that have shaped and challenged the church in every age. This book confronts conservative and liberal Christian assumptions and creates space for dialogue about what it means to prioritize the Gospel message of compassion and mercy over partisan politics, nationalism, and ideology. Church leaders will find resources for leading conversation. Church members will find a rich and challenging resource for dialogue. Those outside of religious communities who are politically engaged will find insight for understanding how people of faith live out their commitments in the public realm.

Auteur
Michael Coffey is pastor of First English Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas, a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He is the author of Mystery without Rhyme or Reason: Poetic Reflections on the Revised Common Lectionary (2015). He is a contributing writer to Sundays and Seasons and Sundays and Seasons: Preaching (Augsburg Fortress). His blog can be found at www.ocotillopub.org.