By the Rivers of Babylon: Blueprint for a Church in Exile

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments It is fitting that a book on communities living in exilic conditions would only be possible through frequent and generous expressions of hospitality. Dr. Jeffery Bullock, president; Dr. Bradley Longfield, dean; and the Board of Trustees of the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary gave me a semester-long sabbatical for research and writing. My colleagues at UDTS provided stimulating conversation as the book moved through its different stages. Across the street, Wartburg Theological Seminary offered me office space as well as a forum to talk about my work as it was in progress. Each of these communities offered me gifts of hospitality in the form of sabbatical, physical space, intellectual collegiality, and sympathetic hearings, all of which helped to bring the work to completion. Seminary students, too, played their part, particularly in worship classes, where they listened patiently as their sometimes-scattered professor knit together ideas, images, and implications for the life of the church in the twentyfirst century. Their questions and open minds provided fertile and playful space for me as I spoke out loud what eventually would find its way into print. Significantly, I began writing this book around the same time I began a DMin cohort, serving alongside Dr. Jin S. Kim, pastor of the Church of All Nations in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. The cohort included Revs. Enna Antunez, Maggie Hayward, Matthew Reeves, Ryan Mills, Tracy Edwards, Harlan Gillespie, Joo Kim, and Jennifer Jennings. The cohort not only read early drafts of the manuscript but also helped me to continue to digest themes represented in this book within a larger field of pastoral concern and scholarly labor. While many despair of the life and witness of the church in North America, this small but gifted community of pastors gives me ample reason to feel hope for our future life together. Unlike many books, this one does not primarily depend on citing published works (although it does) but instead partakes of the cup and fellowship of living communities, communities that graciously opened their “chapters and seasons” to my reading eye and listening ear. They were also unfailingly generous as they, in turn, read and responded to what my “listening ear” had tried, imperfectly, to share as a story for others. As a writer, I felt on the one hand deeply blessed to be a guest in such communities but also on the other a deep burden to represent the wisdom and vii richness of their respective vocations. These communities included the pastor of Church of the Indian Fellowship in Puyallup, Washington, Rev. Irvin Porter, and the Talmaks Nez Perce Presbyterian Camp Fellowship near Craigmont, Idaho; the community of Frontera de Cristo in Douglas and Agua Prieta, along the border between the United States and Mexico, especially Rev. Mark Adams and Miriam Adams, two people for whom the night is always young; Rev. John Fife, pastor emeritus of Southside Presbyterian Church in Tucson, Arizona, who introduced me to the spirituality of the Altar Valley and the migrant path; and the community at Cherith Brook Catholic Worker, Kansas City, Missouri, particularly Eric and Jodi Garbison, their children, Henri and Diana, and Nick Pickrell, Josh Armfield, Jeffrey New, Elisabeth Rutschman, Paul Newman, and Allison Rozga. I often felt like an infant among giants in the faith as each one gave witness to God’s shalom with joy, courage, humility, and zest. I feel honored to be able to say that I was a student in these classrooms and that they, as well as many others I don’t have space to name, were my teachers. With a student’s heart, I say to each of them, named and unnamed, “Thank you.” I would be remiss if I did not mention David Lott, a good friend and fine editor, who shepherded the early stages of this book. I am also grateful to the careful editing of the team at Fortress Press. There is nothing quite like having one’s work considered and mentored by a group of very smart and exceptionally well-read people. Their patience with my questions as well as the sometimes slow progress of writing is something for which I will continue to give thanks. Finally, and not least, I give thanks to Rebecca, my best friend in life. You bore two babies during the time that it took me to write this book. You listened as I returned home frustrated with my writing or, alternatively, exulting in a good day. You read many, many versions...