(Larger Image)
|
Clerical Failure
by Donald D. Hook
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Unlimited Publishing (2004-01-15)
ISBN: 1588320987
EAN: 9781588320988
Dewey Decimal #: 200
Paperback: 240 pages
SKU: 72908000042
Condition: Fine
Comments: 1588320987 New, never read, may have minor wear on cover.
|
Editorial Reviews
|
Product Description
Hook's third book on American churches since 1991. Many of today's clergy exemplify "clerical failure." They fail to promote the Christian faith, attend parishioners' personal needs, lead exemplary lives, or uphold denominational principles. Target audience: 48 million disillusioned Christians!
|
Customer Reviews
|
"On the Money"
Rating  (5)
Date: 2004-05-17
4 out of 4 customers found this reveiw helpful
Dr. Hook has an extraordinary grasp of the world of contemporary religion, complete with all its warts, wusses, and waffling. He advances the notion, quite correctly in my view, that if religion is to be meaningful in one's life, a return must be made to the concept that divine revelation is the instrument whereby God speaks the truth to humankind. Today's religious observance too often has it the other way around---human beings attempting to con God and each with outrageous political correctness.
|
|
Timely, Important Advice For All Who Love Their Churches
Rating (5)
Date: 2004-04-24
3 out of 3 customers found this reveiw helpful
We've been inundated with information about business and accounting scandals in the past several years with subsequent calls for obeying all laws, and improving business ethics and accountability. Dr. Hook's new book is about a quite similar and definitely important crisis in our churches in America, with the dominant theme being the unfortunate failures of many clerics and their clerical leaders. Although in his Dedication and Acknowledgments, he stresses that there are many excellent ministers that adhere faithfully to their denomination's various canons, creeds, and regulations, he then proceeds to accurately catalog many clerics whose egregious actions have seriously jeopardized their local parishes, or in some cases their regional or national denominations. His book is thus a clear and compelling wake-up call to all Americans who love their churches, and want their churches to continue their important, vital work of winning souls to Jesus Christ. Dr. Hook's book offers many useful recommendations for improvements in this situation. These are directed toward Seminary students, Parish Ministers, those in supervisory positions within the churches, and importantly all lay leaders like myself. I would sincerely hope that this thoughtful book, and the issues it discusses, would be read and seriously debated in all seminaries across America---it deserves to be. It obviously should be of interest to all clerics and their supervisory leaders who are dedicated to improving the status quo, and preventing future problems as described by Dr. Hook in this well-documented book. Finally, all lay leaders who see the problems that Dr. Hook discusses should move quickly and assertively within their denominations to insure that these problems are addressed and corrected. We owe the author a sincere debt of gratitude for his complete, discerning discussion of these critical issues that our beloved churches must recognize and take serious action on at this time.
|
|
The Demise of a Vocation
Rating (5)
Date: 2004-04-15
4 out of 4 customers found this reveiw helpful
Since 1991 Dr. Hook, Professor emeritus at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, has written three books addressing problems in American churches. "Clerical Failure" is the third of his thoughtfully written works. The author cites numerous media sources and adds personal experiences to support his position that "Christians must face up to the realization that clergy have largely become like everybody else - a group interested primarily in itself, intent on living well, acquiring power, and demanding all the individual rights it can acquire." (p22) He addresses such topics as divorce, cohabitation, abortion and homosexuality and warns the reader on the danger of ignoring important beliefs, traditions, morality and precepts.
Although the title suggests this book is written for the clergy, Dr. Hook directs its content to lay people. More importantly, he empowers lay people with answers on effecting change. The author reminds his readers that a church cannot exist without the financial support of its parishioners. He states that, "It is hard to withhold contibutions to an institution that one has belonged to for a lifetime..., but it is the only effective way to get the attention of those in charge." (p63)
Because Dr. Hook was an Episcopalian before converting to Roman Catholicism, many of his examples come from both the Episcopal and Roman Catholic church. However, he includes enough material from other Christian religions that the book should appeal to the 48 million disillusioned Protestants and Roman Catholics in the United States.
"Clerical Failure" should be required reading not only for the laity but also for every seminary student, seminary professor, clergyman, bishop, archbishop, cardinal and the Pope. Dr. Hook, thank you for having the faith and courage to examine the erosion of the standards of Christian belief and reminding the reader that, "We are to imitate Christ, not man." (p48)
|
|
|