Many of our members (both individual and organizations) have created materials that are helping us serve God through the arts!
Jeremy Begbie, founding director of Duke Initiatives in Theology and the Arts, has authored three books and edited three collections exploring the relationship between theology and the arts, with a particular focus in his own writing on theology and music. They include Beholding the Glory: Incarnation through the Arts, a collection of essays exploring the incarnation through seven different art forms, and Resounding Truth: Christian Wisdom in the World of Music.
Comment is an opinion journal that serves Christian leaders and culture makers with rooted, fresh ideas for the faithful practice of North American public life. As part of this work, Comment celebrates and explores the role that art plays in offering a vision of human flourishing.
“Arts Through the Ages,” written by Vivian Doublestein, is an online arts education program which allows families or schools to choose materials from six different time periods of the arts and relate the arts topically to their study of history, literature, science or other topical plan. Each lesson includes the historical background, an art lesson and a music lesson, as well as tie-ins to core academic subjects. For more info, email vivian@mafa.net
Taking it to the Streets: Using the Arts to Transform Your Community was co-written by Dr. J. Nathan Corbitt and Dr. Vivian Nix-Early of Eastern University‘s Urban Studies program’s Arts in Transformation Concentration. The authors provide numerous examples of the arts being used to minister to people in urban settings, as well as models to help artists implement initiatives in their own communities.
International Arts Movement founder and Creative Director, award-winning painter Makoto Fujimura, has written two books. Refractions: A Journey of Art, Faith, and Culture is a conversation and meditation on culture, art, and humanity; River Grace is an autobiographical look at his early career as an artist in Japan, and how his newfound faith became the cornerstone of his art, marriage, and life. Order both here.
Val Lieske is the author of Ex Deo – Creation out of the Being of God, a manual/workbook for the arts leader including sections on “Finding Your Calling,” “Inspiration,” “Story,” “Mandate/Mission,” and “Creating Community.” Creative teams and leaders of an effort to break up the songs/announcements/sermon status quo of the church service will benefit from this resource. Get more info and order copies by emailing val@fireexit.ca.
Manuel Luz is the author of Imagine That: Discovering Your Unique Role as a Christian Artist (Moody Publishers), an exploration into a practical theology of the arts as experienced through his twenty years as a creative arts pastor, working musician, writer, etc. Manuel also blogs and has a number of CDs for sale.
The Arts Ministry of Redeemer Presbyterian Church (NYC) has a blog as well as numerous audio recordings. From their Gospel & Culture Lectures: Creating Power (Andy Crouch), Art Matters for God’s Sake (Adrienne Chaplin), and Culture As Liturgy (James K. A. Smith); and from their quarterly InterArts Fellowship: Why Tell Stories? (Timothy Keller), Art, the Spirit, Fig Trees and the Problem of Abundance (W. David O. Taylor), and People of the Presence (Gordon D. Fee).
Ruminate is a quarterly literary arts magazine that engages the Christian faith through poetry, prose, and visual arts. The magazine been recognized in publications such as Sojourners, NewPages, and ByFaith.
Dale Savidge is co-author of Performing the Sacred: Theology and Theatre in Dialogue. The book is “the first book-length exploration of the intersection of theatre and theology, illuminating the importance of preserving live performance in a virtual world.”
W. David O. Taylor is the editor of, and author of an essay in, For the Beauty of the Church: Casting a Vision for the Arts. The book includes articles by Eugene Peterson, Lauren Winner, Andy Crouch, and more. David is also the author of a blog, Diary of an Arts Pastor.
