Process Pop-Up: Preaching the Uncontrolling Love of God
Millions of people yearn for a profound relationship with the ever-present God who is loving, inclusive, persuasive, and uncontrolling. This understanding of God makes sense and aligns with the Bible, science, the inclusive love and justice of God, and with our lived experience.
From this reality, a new book has emerged, Preaching the Uncontrolling Love of God: Sermons, Essays, and Worship Elements from the Perspective of Open, Relational, and Process Theology, edited by Jeff Wells, Vikki Randall, Thomas Jay Oord, and Nichole Torbitzky. Three of those editors will join us for a conversation about the book and the hopes they have for its impact in the world.
This book is the first-of-its-kind—drawing together a rich and diverse compilation that explores how to preach, teach, and practice Open, Relational, and Process theological perspectives in local faith communities. It is a much needed resource for pastors, ministers of worship arts, lay church leaders, professors of preaching, worship, and practical theology, and anyone seeking a deep understanding of God that aligns with the Bible, science, and inclusive love and justice for all life on Earth.
Comments about the Book
Just about everyone knows that large numbers of people—especially younger and more educated people—are dropping out of church. To stop this trend, some focus on hot music or cool graphics or casual dress or catering to what people want politically. But more and more of us are coming to the conclusion that many people are leaving because they see deep and significant problems in what most Christians believe and preach. This book could help tens of thousands of churches and pastors imagine a better way forward… real-life sermons from the fresh and needed perspective of open, relational, and process theology. Enthusiastically recommended!
– Brian D. McLaren, author of Do I Stay Christian?
Anyone who ventures behind a pulpit is taking a risk, wagering there’s good news left in our ancient texts. Too often, the goodness of God is hidden under the bushel of Almighty dogma and a controlling tradition. In this timely and needed volume, you hear from a staggeringly diverse collection of proclaimers who haven’t escaped the call to preach but insist the goodness of God should not be compromised because the power of God is love. I’m thrilled to have a preaching book to recommend without hesitation!
– Tripp Fuller, host of Homebrewed Christianity
For far too long, classic Christianity has held to a view of God as unchanging and the nature of God’s interaction with the world as controlling. Scripture presents God as creative and responsive, however, intentional, initiating, and influenceable—a God who works in partnership with humans. This book demonstrates through the preaching of Scripture that God’s good, loving, dynamic power operates in process with the freedom of others. God takes risks that may lead to evil and suffering, as well as to the righteous work of cooperative partners.
– Karen Strand Winslow, author of Imagining Equity: The Gifts of Christian Feminist Theology
About the Facilitators
Jeff Wells is the lead pastor of the Church of the Village, a progressive, radically inclusive, and anti-racist community in New York City. He preaches, practices, and promotes process-relational and open & relational theology. He is a lifelong passionate advocate for social and economic justice and for the common thriving of humans and other-than-human beings. Jeff is an active member of the Alliance for Ecological Civilization, a gathering of activists and thought leaders from around the world. He co-edited (with Thomas Jay Oord, Vikki Randall, and Nichole Torbitzky) Preaching the Uncontrolling Love of God (SacraSage Press, April 2024), a collection of sermons, essays, and worship elements from the perspective of Open, Relational, and Process theology. In 2022, he helped found and co-chaired the Living Earth Movement. With theologian and environmentalist, John B. Cobb Jr., he authored the short book, Is International Cooperation Possible? A Bold Appeal for a Living Earth (2022).
Nichole Torbitzky is Associate Professor of Religion and University Chaplain at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO. Her current research investigates Whiteheadian notions related to Christian atonement theory. She serves as the editor for the lectionary commentary series sponsored by Process & Faith, a program of the Center for Process Studies. She also serves as editor for Lindenwood University’s student research journal, the Confluence.
Vikki Randall lives in Monrovia CA, and has 28 years of pastoral experience, serving large and small churches, mostly in PCUSA. She did her M.Div. studies at Fuller Seminary, and received a D.Min. in spiritual formation from Azusa Pacific Seminary, where she has served as adjunct faculty in undergrad theology for 20 years. She is founding pastor of Haven Fellowship, an intentionally inclusive and affirming faith community. She is passionate about transformation and experiencing God’s presence.
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