Marvin A. McMickle

Clergy Retirement

Church Leadership & Ministry

“Bishop Emeritus of Cleveland Dan Roberts and Michael Freidman have written something that should be read and considered by every member of the clergy in every faith tradition, as well as by the lay leaders that work alongside them. The transition from a long career in ministry to the ranks of the retired is unsettling at best and, for some, is a cause for despair and even depression. For the clergy, the questions might be: Who am I now that my career is effectively over? How do I relate to my former congregation, and they to me, now that I am no longer the spiritual leader? How do I spend my time now that I have no full-time responsibilities at the synagogue, the church, or the mosque? For lay leaders, trustees or deacons, the question is: How does the retirement of the clergy leader affect the role of lay leadership, both in saying farewell to the retiring rabbi, pastor, or imam and in aiding in the selection and welcome of his or her replacement? All of these questions and many more are helpfully addressed in this timely book. I recommend it not only to those clergy that are already retired but also to those still working that are worrying and wondering what will happen when retirement brings their ministry to an end.”

Humor Us!

Preaching & Worship

“As this book reminds us, Aristotle called human beings ‘laughing animals.’ People enjoy a good joke and creative use of humor. That explains the popularity of stand-up comedians and comedy clubs. This book invites preachers to tap into that appreciation for humor and learn about the benefits and risks of using humor in preaching. Through a compelling review of the history of comedy and humor as an academic study, this book draws preachers and homileticians into the various ways in which humor can appropriately be used in sermons. That includes blending biblical hermeneutics with a new word I have learned here: ‘humor-neutics,’ which invites preachers to notice and make use of the humor and irony that runs throughout the biblical narrative, and link that with their observations about the world around them. This is not a joke; this book will make for better sermons and better preachers.”

No Longer Bound

Preaching & Worship

“James Henry Harris is the only preacher and professor I know who can so easily blend together in one book the plaintive messages of American slave songs of the nineteenth century, the rigorous inquiry of European philosophy of the twentieth century, and the challenges confronting black preachers in the twenty-first century. . . . All preachers would do well to read this challenging and insightful book and apply its lessons to their pulpit ministry!”

The Re-birth of a Born-Again Christian

History & Biography

“This is the amazing story of someone born in Memphis, Tennessee, in the so-called Bible Belt, with its literal reading of scripture, amid what he called the American form of racial apartheid. Yet he would go on to master and even expand the work of biblical criticism. He also found in the scriptures the truths that allowed him to challenge racism and bigotry that he encountered both in the South and across the United States.”

The Suicide Funeral (or Memorial Service)

Counseling, Grief & Mental Health

“I am grateful for this much needed resource created [by Melinda Moore] with the assistance of Rabbi Daniel Roberts. This book will be invaluable to any priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam who might have to help families navigate the pain and anguish caused when a loved one dies by suicide.”