Here I Stand

A "manifesto" is often associated with fringe and/or radical political groups. That is not what this manifesto is. Instead, the purpose of this material is to communicate what I believe pastoral ministry is about and to explicate what I regard as some of the key beliefs that make up a faithful Christian world and life view. You will discover nothing new or original in these pages. Instead, I hope you will find what I have written here to be faithful to God's self-disclosure in Scripture, the faith once delivered to the saints, and part of the grand tradition of Christian orthodoxy.

I think it is important to say this book is not a comprehensive systematic theology textbook. Nor it is a call to a particular action. Instead, as the definition of "manifesto" suggests, this book contains my personal views of what it means to shepherd God's people, some key beliefs and practices of the Christian faith, and the relationship between the two. In particular, my goal is to highlight what I have learned over the last 30+ years of pastoral ministry. The issues raised in these pages are the ones I have come to care about most and, on behalf of Christ and his Kingdom, desire to vigorously contend for.

I hope you will read and reflect upon the material in this book and consider how God may be calling you to serve as his shepherd in your particular spheres of influence, for I firmly believe God calls each of us to serve him according to the gifts and opportunities he has graciously given us. (There are questions for reflection at the end of each chapter for individuals to reflect upon or for small groups to discuss together.)

Dale Tedder is a pastor at Southside United Methodist Church in Jacksonville, Florida. He and his wife, Suzanne, have four children and cheer for the Georgia Bulldogs.