Claiming the Courageous Middle - by Shirley A Mullen

About the Book

An intellectual and cultural historian sheds light on the political and church polarization of our day and invites readers to become part of the courageous middle, helping their family, workplace, or church to imagine a hopeful and more grace-filled future.

Book Synopsis

Today's political and cultural polarization has led to suspicion and animosity in our churches, our workplaces, and even our families. It has also led to a false sense that our options are limited to choosing a side. But there is a better way.

Shirley Mullen invites readers to claim the powerful, redemptive potential of the courageous middle. Far from being a place of bland averaging, moral cowardice, wobbling indecisiveness, or lazy indifference, the courageous middle is a place where thoughtful individuals work with urgency to foster attentive rather than dismissive listening in order to garner what is true and praiseworthy even from those with whom they disagree. Their Christian faith, which makes it impossible for them to align themselves fully with one side or the other, uniquely equips them to call their communities to imagine a more hopeful, grace-filled future.

This book offers a Christian theological framework for the work of "middle space" drawn from the Old and New Testaments. It also includes practical advice on how to prepare for this work, examples of those who have called their communities to alternatives beyond binary options, and discussion questions.

From the Back Cover

"This book is hope in the midst of despair."

Today's political and cultural polarization has led to suspicion and animosity in our churches, our workplaces, and even our families. It has also led to a false sense of available options. In this book, Shirley Mullen invites us to claim the powerful, redemptive potential of the courageous middle and imagine a hopeful and more grace-filled future.

"A must-read for pastors, professors, students, and individuals who believe there is an alternative to polarization. This book is hope in the midst of despair."
--Shirley V. Hoogstra, president, Council for Christian Colleges and Universities

"Mullen brings a lifetime of wisdom and experience to this meditation on the courageous middle. An important book full of resources, ideas, and practical steps for Christians seeking to faithfully navigate the deep differences in our society."
--John D. Inazu, Sally D. Danforth Distinguished Professor of Law and Religion, Washington University in St. Louis; author of Confident Pluralism: Surviving and Thriving through Deep Difference

"A call for Christians to find more common ground in response to prolonged, pervasive polarization over race, sexuality, politics, economics, and other current issues. Keeping our biblical balance is not a form of compromise, Mullen demonstrates, but an act of spiritual courage that advances Christian unity as an urgent priority for the church."
--Philip Ryken, president, Wheaton College

"Mullen calls us to live and lead from the courageous middle--not a place of muddled thought and squishy compromise but of curiosity, humility, love for Jesus and others, and a confidence that God is not daunted by our moment."
--Walter Kim, president, National Association of Evangelicals

"I have been waiting for a book like this for a long time. Mullen's call will resonate with anyone troubled by the era of polarization in which we now live."
--John Fea, distinguished professor of history, Messiah University; executive editor of Current

About the Author

Shirley A. Mullen (PhD, University of Minnesota; PhD, University of Wales) is president emerita of Houghton University in Houghton, New York, where she served as president for 15 years. She spent four decades at the forefront of Christian higher education as a professor, administrator, and president. She continues to encourage the next generation of leaders through speaking and mentoring. Mullen also serves on the boards of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), Fuller Theological Seminary, the National Association of Evangelicals, and the 1st Amendment Partnership.