10 reads for your summer

Last year I offered 10 possible books to read over the summer, writes Andy Goodliff. I wonder what kind summer we will all have this year — different no doubt. If you have any time to read, here are ten books that will stimulate faith

**1. Motherhood: A Confession by Natalie Carnes**

A beautiful, insightful reflection on God and faith and being a parent. This is not just a book for women or mothers!

**2. Is God-Colour Blind? by Anthony Reddie**

A new, updated edition with a new chapter reflecting on Black Lives Matter is out this month. For those of us who have not adequately engaged enough with black theology or theologians, this is a great place to start.

**3. A Future That is Bigger than the Past by Sam Wells**

A vision for the church that is outward looking, engaged in commerce, culture, compassion and congregation. Lots to ponder.

**4. Sources of Light edited by Amy Chilton and Steven Harmon**

A book that offers ministers and churches a range of sources to engage with and reflect on as we seek to discern the mind of Christ

5. Bridging the Gaps by Trevor Neill

A great engagement seeking to acknowledge the gap between where the church is and where it should be (see this extract).

**6. Jesus in the Trinity by Lincoln Harvey**

This is a theology book on an American theologian, Robert Jenson, but it's written in a way that will both excite and possibly make your head hurt.

**7. Opening Israel’s Scriptures by Ellen Davis**

A book by book treatment of the Old Testament that will help you make new connections and remind you of why, as Christians, our Bibles don’t just have the New Testament

**8. Woman in a Patriarchal World by Elaine Storkey**

The Bible stories we know or the examples we present still tend to be male ones: Elaine offers stories of women who are active in God’s story

**9. Melodies of a New Monasticism by Craig Gardiner**

This was published in 2018, but it's perhaps more timely as we seek to imagine how to create and foster Christian communities in this new time. (It’s also in the SCM sale!)

**10. Reconciling Rites edited by Andy Goodliff, Anthony Clarke and Beth Allison-Glenny**

Forgive me for mentioning this book, but there are some gems of essays inside, which I hope get widely read.

Andy Goodliff is minister of Belle Vue Baptist Church, Southend-on-Sea

He edits Regent’s Reviews, based at Regent’s Park College, Oxford. Regent’s Reviews is published every April and October

Baptist Times, 28/07/2020

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