Tom,

So well said… I hope that your note does not suggest that pastors like myself, who radically (yes, now I think I can say that after reading your last two works) disagree with your work, are less than ‘intellectual’ when we find it lacking or perhaps even harmful when in the hands of the ‘untrained’ or those who are trained trying to lead those who are not.  I have had more than a few of your students or followers, several who are in the pastorate now, send me emails suggesting that I am a ‘mean spirited’ man for my critiques of your work (not sure when intellectual critique became ‘mean spirited’ and that concerns me in and of itself)  I continue to assure them that I consider you a friend and love your work, though after reading your published works of late, recognizing that we are on very different pages, at least in a few key areas.

I would suggest that it makes it difficult for us in the pastorate when we see so little critique of your work from those in the Academy.  If you have access to peers that have critiqued your work I would love to read their thoughts. 

Thanks for the open (forgive the pun) dialogue!  I am a huge fan even though much of your thought seems off a bit to me… LOL…

Hang in there!  Keep up the good work!  And don’t be offended when many of us feel the need to suggest Oord has issues… 

And don’t kid yourself, very few of us in the field, feel ‘trained’ to do intellectual battle with the brilliant mind of Thomas Oord.  We are novices and know it…  So KISS should always apply when chatting with me.  :o)

Blessings,

Don

Thank you, Dr. Oord for your thoughts.

Dr. Oord,

I appreciate very much your latest blog entry. I also appreciate the balance you are seeking to find in dealing with the academic world and well as the world of laity. On the one hand lay people over react to bits and pieces of information when they don’t have the whole story. They can be quick to make assumptions on what they think someone meant. With the quickness of email the fire can be off and running. Many times I have cautioned my lay people about jumping to conclusions when they don’t have all the facts and when they haven’t heard all the information.

On the other hand, and I speak generally, I believe those in the academic world must guard against being condescending to the laity. It’s easy to do, I know, I’ve done it and I am not even a part of that academic world.

The lay people I’ve worked with over the years want to know how “this stuff” works in their world. I remember spending much time in a Hebrews class at “NNC” talking about theories of atonement. I’m not suggesting that those discussions were a waste and that having an understanding of the atonement isn’t important; of course it is. But I’ll tell you, when your husband has just left you, when your child has just attempted suicide, when you’re about to have your house foreclosed on…they want to know what difference does that make to me now?

My challenge as a pastor is the challenge we all face; how do I take this information I’ve learned and apply it to these desperate situations? That will always be the challenge and I appreciate your ongoing efforts to bridge the two worlds!

By the way, Postmodern and Wesley is an excellent work. And finally, thanks for making the sacrifice to go to Africa and thanks for your investing your life right now at NNU. I pray for the leadership and faculty of the school regularly.

Sincerely,

Pastor Brian Fitch
Florence, Oregon

Tom,

I know I go through this and I have not begun to publish yet. When I hear about the harassment scholars face from fellow Christians and even their own congregations it causes me to have second thoughts…about a lot of things.  I spoke with one author whose mother has been harassed because his book defends theistic evolution. Yikes.

Glad to see you have another book int he works.

Tom -
I appreciate what you do, as well.  As a pastor with a Ph.D., I too feel the call to speak to both areas your work addresses, although I work primarily from the pulpit and as an adjunct.  You are right that there is a great deal of fear and distance at times between the church and the academy.  Language is indeed a barrier, but also (as Don rightly says) there is a need for open dialogue and even critique without either side being reactionary.  I personally appreciate, Tom, your willingness and patience in these conversations, and wish that all in the academy and in the pulpit would be at least as open to dialogue, to listening, and to loving critique as we serve God together.

Thanks,
Charles

Dr. Oord,
Thanks for this post.  And thank you for your effort both in the academic realm, and especially in working to bring these concepts to the laity.  As I write this I can see the faces of a number of folks who had significant ‘Ahahs’ during your visit out here.  And for a few, it was at a crucial juncture in their spiritual journey.  You provided the intellectual/theological grounding for continuing on in this whole Christian thing.
Thanks.
John

Good morning Tom,

I haven’t read as many of your books as Donald, but I have read enough to know that you do write for and to audiences of varied educational levels. I personally think you do an excellent job of writing to both those in the academy and to those without.

I have read your two latest and I though that The Nature of Love was accessible enough for the congregation, yet satisfying enough for scholarly types. But, Defining Love definitely seems written for those within the academy (haven’t finished it yet but am enjoying it tremendously and will post my review on NazNet soon.)

Keep up the good work.

Don, If I was one of those who ever came across as saying you were/are mean spirited for your disagreement I apologize.

In His love,

Paul

Dr. Oord, great minds have always been misunderstood.  Please continue your work with both confidence and humility!

Tom,

Thanks for this post.  You’ve done a fine job of distinguishing between different audiences, but I wonder if it wouldn’t also be helpful to distinguish between your writings on the basis of those that are confessional in nature and those that are apologetic. 

Most laity have not been taught the difference between these two types of theological literature, and many clergy don’t stop and take time to assess theological writing in terms of its basic aim and purpose. 

Just a thought.

Tom,

Friend, it appears quite a few of we Oregonians are quite interested in your work, and on both sides of the spectrum.  How about sneaking in for a few hours at our Pastors retreat this year…?  I have suggested to Dr. Reeder that you be invited as the college rep and we be given ample warning so that the gang can read your work and then interact…

What say you friend…?  :o)

John,

Forgive me if I feel the need to defend Dr. Oord for a moment.  Why do you assume he is not communicating, brilliantly in his works, so brilliantly that people can indeed understand him.  I have to confess that I so tire of hearing people say that minds like Dr. Oords are beyond comprehension for the average folks like me.  I would argue that is what makes his work so brilliant.  Minds like mine get it.  And is our ‘got it’ that enables us to say, “Thanks for sharing that, but it misses the mark.”  It is not that we, nor he for that matter, cannot understand each other; rather we authentically disagree.  Let’s refrain from saying, he is too brilliant for the folks like me, or I am too dull for folks like him.  Let’s just affirm that Tom really is saying something distinct and innovative in a process framework…  Forgive me, I have taken our pastoral conversation public…

But I do feel the need to affirm that Tom’s work is so brilliant precisely because it is so easy to understand… Even for choir members like me… :o)

Don

Don,

Yes, I plan to attend the pastors and spouses retreat in Oregon this fall.  And I’d love to sit down with whomever and talk about theology!

I don’t remember: were you coming to Palcon too?

Tom

Tom,

How excellent… I will work on setting up the dialogue with those who are interested in this kind of debate… May be just a handful, but we might be surprised.

I confess, sitting still is difficult for me, even at 50, hence I don’t do many assemblies or conferences…  :o)  However, I have been asked to sit in on a dialogue concerning ‘life practices for pastors’ led by Jeren Rowel, so I am going to register shortly.  Jeren suggested it might be appropriate for pastors to be exposed to an alternative pastoral style like the whacky pastor in Newport uses… :o)  His latest email suggested if I don’t behave I will be put in time out, so I plan to be on my best behavior.  Actually looking forward to seeing many old and new friends…  I will bring my laptop as usual to help my ADD brain focus during the sessions… LOL   And of course, they have requested Laura come with me to keep me in line so I don’t have to sit in the corner…

Blessings friend,

Don

By the way, looking forward to chatting about the ‘wisdom of well being’, I really think you are onto something here…

I think you’re one of the top 5 most important leaders for the Church of the Nazarene precisely by being significant to and for BOTH the Academy and the Congregation!  Not meaning to “stroke your ego,” Tom - I simply think it is a fact.