Summer reading, chapter two: the EDS list
The Episcopal Divinity School has responded to a number of requests for reading recommendations by developing a summer reading list. “Throughout the course of the year the EDS faculty receive many requests to make recommendations about books to read in their areas of study,” said the Rev. Dr. Sheryl Kujawa-Holbrook, academic dean. “We regularly receive requests for reading recommendations from persons interested in attending a continuing education class or enrolling in seminary. Other groups who request faculty recommended reading lists are adult education committees, parish discernment
committees, and diocesan commissions on ministry, all of whom are charged with adult formation within the church.”
The 2007 reading list covers a variety of topics including the Millennium Development Goals, reconciliation, the Anglican Communion, classism, racism, sexism, as well as publications that explore the interpretation of the Bible from a feminist or “GenX” perspective.Selected readings include:
- Alkire, Sabina and Edmund Newell, What Can One Person Do? Faith to Heal a Broken World, New York, Church Publishing, 2005.
- Campolo, Tony and Michael Battle, The Church Enslaved: A Spirituality For Racial Reconciliation (Prisms), Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 2005.
- Crossan, John Dominic, Amy-Jill Levine, Dale Allison, The Historical Jesus in Context (Princeton Readings in Religions), Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2006.
- Dawson, Lorne L. and Douglas E. Cowan, Religion Online: Finding Faith on the Internet, New York: Routledge, 2004.
- Guest, Deryn et al. Eds, The Queer Bible Commentary, Norwich, SCM Press, 2006.
- Hassett, Miranda K., Anglican Communion in Crisis: How Episcopal Dissidents and Their African Allies Are Reshaping Anglicanism, Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2007.
- Horsley, Richard, Jesus and Empire: The Kingdom of God and the New World Disorder, Minneapolis: Fortress, 2002.
- Meacham, Jon, American Gospel: God, the Founding Fathers, and the Making of a Nation, Fortress Press, 2007.
- Newsom, Carol A., and Sharon H. Ringe, eds, The Women's Bible
Commentary, Expanded ed. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1998.
- Thompsett, Fredrica Harris and Cynthia L. Shattuck, Confronted by God: The Essential Verna Dozier, New York. Church Publishing, 2006.
- Townes, Emilie M., Womanist Ethics and the Cultural Production of Evil (Black Religion/Womanist Thought/Social Justice), Palgrave, MacMillan Books, 2006.
- Ward, Kevin, A History of Global Anglicanism (Introduction to Religion), Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2006.
- Westerhoff, John W., Will Our Children Have Faith? Rev. Ed. Harrisburg: Morehouse Publishing, 2000.
The full list, complete with links to purchase the books through the EDS Amazon Associates store, is here.

What are your books for summer reading? I am reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Kingsolver, Bass' Christianity for the Rest of Us, any Terry Prachett that comes my way and assorted mysteries (mostly what I read in the summer)
Posted by Ann Fontaine
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June 29, 2007 12:14 AM
Just ordered "Mark as story" by David Rhoades, from the list. It will go nicely with our weekly Bible study of the Gospel of Mark.
Thanks for posting the link.
I just finished Sara Miles' "take this bread" and highly recommend it...very inspirational.
Alice MacArthur
Posted by A MacArthur
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June 29, 2007 2:30 AM
Oops, that's David Rhoads (et al) without the "e"
Sorry!
Posted by A MacArthur
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June 29, 2007 2:35 AM
Just finished Hassett's book. Currently reading "Battle for God" by Karen Armstrong, Harriet Lerner's "Dance of Connection", and "The Episcopal Church in Virginia 1607-2007" by Bond and Gunderson (Vol 115, No 7 of the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography). Also reading "More Sex is Safer Sex: the unconventional wisdom of economics" by Landsburg and "The Soulful Science: what economists really do and why it matters" by Coyle.
Given that it took 2 weeks to read Hassett I'm a little behind....
Posted by John B. Chilton
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June 29, 2007 8:39 AM
I wish wish wish I had time to read!!!
I think I may reread the Harry Potter series this summer. I have more than a passing interest in connecting faith with speculative fiction (i.e., science fiction, fantasy and horror), and I'd like to read it under that lens.
But honestly, what I really want to do this summer? Finish my novel! The one I'm writing!
Posted by Helen Thompson (Gallycat)
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June 29, 2007 8:44 AM
I am working my way through Hassett's book, too, John. I am tempted to read the new Annie Dillard novel because I love her writing, but for one reason or another--too much early exposure ot Updike?--I tend to avoid novels in which adultery is central to the plot.
Posted by Jim Naughton
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June 29, 2007 8:55 AM