Held in the Love of God - (Studies in Religion, Theology, and Disability) by Phil Letizia (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

Throughout its history, evangelicalism has neglected to consider the spiritual lives of people with profound intellectual disabilities and how their experiences might contribute to a fuller understanding of what it means to follow Jesus. Both the historic and modern constructions of evangelical discipleship have led to particular ministry strategies and practices that rarely consider the presence of people with profound intellectual disabilities.

In Held in the Love of God, Phil Letizia attends to this oversight in the discipleship of the evangelical church by investigating the historical development of evangelicalism and its particular characteristics that, as he argues, make it difficult for the intellectually disabled to be perceived as followers of Jesus. Letizia draws upon a rich cross section of research, stories and firsthand accounts from families of disability, and works from evangelicalism and disability theologians to raise questions requiring reflection on the part of evangelicals. The methods used strive to uncover stories of disability and discipleship while also examining the most common context for evangelical discipleship, the local church.

Employing thoughtful theological reflection, Letizia argues for a broader theology of discipleship within popular evangelicalism that includes the spiritual lives of people with profound intellectual disabilities. This can only be achieved through embracing renewed emphasis on a theology of the cross to address hardship and suffering and the conviction that we are held in the trustful love of God that seals our eternal purpose in the divine kingdom. Held in the Love of God explores the contours of evangelical discipleship in a way that provokes deep theological inquiry, while also leading local congregations, pastors, and lay leaders to consider the implications for ministry within the body of Christ.

About the Author

Phil Letizia is a theologian, pastor, and writer, who holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Practical Theology from the University of Aberdeen. His research interests include theology and disability, qualitative research, Christian discipleship, and medical ethics. He has published in both scholarly and popular publications, and is the author of Held in the Love of God: Discipleship and Disability (Baylor University Press, 2024). Phil also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Knox Theological Seminary in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, leading courses in Practical Theology and Pastoral Ministry. Additionally, in 2024 he became the Editor-In-Chief of the Journal of Disability and Religion.

Phil was born and raised in South Florida. He is married to Jenny and they have two children, Oliver (13) and Jane (11), who was born with Down syndrome and also lives with profound autism. After twenty years of pastoring and church planting, Phil has joined the staff of Anselm House and the Center for Faith and Learning to spearhead a new healthcare initiative focused on leveraging the significant number of committed Christians serving as faculty of the University of Minnesota's healthcare fields, and healthcare students seeking faith support in their studies. The initiative aims to provide intellectual and relational support across the vast Christian healthcare communities in the Twin Cities and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

To learn more about Anselm House's Healthcare Initiative, or meet Phil, reach out to him via email or online at pl@anselmhouse.org or @PhilLetizia.