About this item
Highlights
- Called To and From is a memoir by Dick Hamm, former General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), reflecting on faith, leadership, and cultural change in the mainline church at the end of the 20th century.
- Author(s): Richard L Hamm
- 350 Pages
- Religion + Beliefs, Christianity
Description
About the Book
Called To and From is a memoir by Dick Hamm, former General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), reflecting on faith, leadership, and cultural change in the mainline church at the end of the 20th century.
Book Synopsis
Called To and From is a memoir by Dick Hamm, former General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), reflecting on faith, leadership, and cultural change in the mainline church at the end of the 20th century.
Review Quotes
"Thinking about the value that his appraisal will undoubtedly have for future generations of Disciples engaged in various forms of religious leadership, I am especially struck by Hamm's characterization of his own leadership style. Inspired by a wide variety of historic and contemporary Christian theologians, he found himself motivated by 'the search for effective and faithful organization' of those theological ideas. He constantly asked himself, 'How can the church as an organization be helped to understand these truths and to incorporate them into their way of being and doing?' ... The reader should quickly recognize that the first section of the book is not merely biographical background. It raises questions for the reader about the emergence of various leadership forms from our personal life experiences and our changing social context. The second section of the book appraises the distinctive task of orchestrating the institutional life of a complex set of voluntary organizations in pursuit of goals that face immediate circumstances but are part of a much longer journey toward transcendent goals. In an era when American citizens are suspicious of leaders and skeptical about institutions, Hamm's memoir of leadership has remarkable potential, and I hope other leaders of the church will be invited to join in his critically reflective journey." -W. Clark Gilpin, Margaret E. Burton Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of the History of Christianity and Theology in the Divinity School at the University of Chicago
"An essential resource for understanding the trajectory of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) at the turn of the twenty-first century. This memoir offers a rare glimpse into the inner life of denominational leadership during a time of profound change in American religion. Hamm helps us see not only what happened in the church, but how and why-with honesty, clarity, and hope." --Joel A. Brown, President and Historian, Disciples of Christ Historical Society