Faculty Books Released in the Summer of 2014

We, here at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, have an incredible faculty of devoted scholars whose research and writing shape theological conversation. We are proud to announce the publication of the following faculty work: 

Mark Teasdale, E. Stanley Jones Associate Professor of Evangelism and director of the Doctor of Ministry Program, published Methodist Evangelism, American Salvation: The Home Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 1860-1920 (Pickwick Publications, 2014). Teasdale explores how the Methodist Episcopal Church combined evangelism with the “American gospel,” which he defines as “the good news of how others could experience the best quality of life possible, premised on the values and patterns of life held by white, middle class, native born Americans.” The book traces the movement through the American South, West, the cities, and through the First World War. Teasdale hopes the study will help The United Methodist Church to understand its present identity in light of its history. He writes, “The historical account in this offers students the best and worst of how a denomination defines itself and engages in mission.” 


Osvaldo Vena, Professor of New Testament Interpretation, published Jesus, Disciple of the Kingdom: Mark’s Christology for a Community in Crisis (Pickwick Publications, 2014). Vena studies the Gospel of Mark in an attempt to recover the pre-Christian and pre-canonical concept of Jesus’ identity and mission, which he posits is that of disciple of the kingdom of God more so than teacher or Messiah. The study was prompted by Vena’s own struggle to answer Jesus’ question in Mark, “Who do you say that I am?” Through careful study of the Gospel of Mark’s Christology, Vena intends to demonstrate that all Christologies “are born not in busy minds detached from the real problems of the world, but in busy hands engaged in a praxis that tries to change the world.” 



Jack L. Seymour, Professor of Religious Education, recently published Teaching the Way of Jesus: Educating Christians for Faithful Living (Abingdon Press, 2014). Seymour looks at the state of Christian religious education in light of historical scholarship and theological reflection on what it means to follow Jesus. Divided into three major sections, Seymour grounds the book in practical theology. Section one, “Christian Faith in Public,” explores the purpose and practice of Christian education in community. Section two, “Christian Learning Approaches,” explores the strengths and weaknesses of three different types of scholarship: community of faith, instruction, and mission. The third and final section, “Into the Future: Teaching the Way of Jesus,” engages the missional and formative aspects of pedagogical approaches in community.

Diane Capitani, Affiliate Professor and Director of the Writing Center, co-authored and published Research and Writing in the Seminary: Practical Strategies and Tools with Garrett-Evangelical alum and current doctoral student, Melanie Baffes (2007 and 2010) (McFarland and Company, Inc., Publishers, 2014). Intended as a practical handbook, Capitani and Baffes draw on their own experience as students and as editors to explain the basic types of assignments in seminary (one per chapter including: book reviews, exegetical papers, essays, reflections, research papers, sermons, and journal articles). Each chapter contains examples from Garrett-Evangelical students and alumni.