In The Struggle To Be Free, Dr. Wayne Oates reflects on his struggle to be free to decide his own destiny; to choose his own direction; to express his own thoughts; to work in his own way; and to put... More > into action what he perceived as God’s destiny for him. At the same time, he leads readers to understand the spiritual dimensions of their own lives so that they might set themselves free from poverty, feelings of inferiority, regimentation, loneliness, helplessness, and compulsive work.< Less
The poems and meditations gathered here grow out of a long struggle with hope in the face of immense struggles; with sense of self, with painful losses, and with the despair of clinical depression.... More > But as the words struggled forth through the tension between memory and despair to find their place on a page, they have nurtured and been nurtured by an enduring thread of hope.
Several of these have been submitted for prior publication and have found their way into the pages of The Christian Century, Journal of Pastoral Care, and anthologies such as People Hold Balloons Softly. A couple of these, such as “Emeritus,” were submitted without finding the right place until now. Quite a few of these have been used as parts of sermons and other writings by friends. Many of these were first written as gifts honoring special occasions and celebrations.< Less
We are in a real sense, our stories. Who we are, what we think, and how we act are all shaped by the many large and small stories that make up the discourse embedded in our multi-sensory social... More > experience. It is this postmodern understanding of identity and reality that has prompted the authors to fashion a new way of thinking about doing research in faith communities today, particularly through a Doctor of Ministry program. It is our belief that, in order for faith communities to define themselves and to know what to do in ministry, they must first understand the multiple stories which intersect with a given ministry situation in their specific context.< Less
In The Care of Troublesome People Wayne Oates combines family systems theory with insightful analysis of five types of behavior that frequently create conflict in congregations. Dr. Oates provides... More > biblically based approaches to assist clergy, congregational lay leaders, and denominational leaders in the care of persons while demonstrating these behaviors.< Less
In The Struggle To Be Free, Dr. Wayne Oates reflects on his struggle to be free to decide his own destiny; to choose his own direction; to express his own thoughts; to work in his own way; and to put... More > into action what he perceived as God’s destiny for him. At the same time, he leads readers to understand the spiritual dimensions of their own lives so that they might set themselves free from poverty, feelings of inferiority, regimentation, loneliness, helplessness, and compulsive work.< Less
The poems and meditations gathered here grow out of a long struggle with hope in the face of immense struggles; with sense of self, with painful losses, and with the despair of clinical depression.... More > But as the words struggled forth through the tension between memory and despair to find their place on a page, they have nurtured and been nurtured by an enduring thread of hope.
Several of these have been submitted for prior publication and have found their way into the pages of The Christian Century, Journal of Pastoral Care, and anthologies such as People Hold Balloons Softly. A couple of these, such as “Emeritus,” were submitted without finding the right place until now. Quite a few of these have been used as parts of sermons and other writings by friends. Many of these were first written as gifts honoring special occasions and celebrations.< Less
We are in a real sense, our stories. Who we are, what we think, and how we act are all shaped by the many large and small stories that make up the discourse embedded in our multi-sensory social... More > experience. It is this postmodern understanding of identity and reality that has prompted the authors to fashion a new way of thinking about doing research in faith communities today, particularly through a Doctor of Ministry program. It is our belief that, in order for faith communities to define themselves and to know what to do in ministry, they must first understand the multiple stories which intersect with a given ministry situation in their specific context.< Less
In The Care of Troublesome People Wayne Oates combines family systems theory with insightful analysis of five types of behavior that frequently create conflict in congregations. Dr. Oates provides... More > biblically based approaches to assist clergy, congregational lay leaders, and denominational leaders in the care of persons while demonstrating these behaviors.< Less
About Christopher Hammon
Dr. Chris Hammon is the Executive Director of the Wayne Oates Institute, which is republishing the works of Dr. Wayne Oates.
Dr. Wayne E. Oates is a recognized pioneer in pastoral counseling and chaplaincy. He has served as a Professor of Psychology of Religion and Pastoral Care at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, a supervisor of students in Clinical Pastoral Education at Kentucky State Hospital, and a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavorial Sciences for the Program in Ethics and Pastoral Counseling at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. Dr. Oates has published over 56 books and numerous articles addressing the relationship between faith and healing. He has mentored numerous caregivers in the understanding that treatment requires collaboration, compassion and integration among all of the healing disciplines.
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