Relational Theology of James E. Loder

Kenneth E. Kovacs is pastor of the Catonsville Presbyterian Church, Catonsville, Maryland, and has served churches in St. Andrews, Scotland, and Mendham, New Jersey. He studied at Rutgers College, Yale Divinity School, Princeton Theological Seminary, and he received his PhD in theology from the University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland.

«Carefully tracing the genesis and development of James E. Loder’s pioneering inter-disciplinary methodology in psychology, philosophy, and theology, this book provides invaluable insight into the Christian mind and convictions of one of the leading North American practical theologians of the late twentieth century. Lay people, pastors, and theologians will benefit greatly from this much-needed companion to Loder’s challenging and inspiring writings.» (Thomas John Hastings, Associate Director, Center of Theological Inquiry, Princeton, New Jersey)«This book goes to the heart of one of the major issues facing the church today: how are Christians transformed? In his exploration of the work of the late James E. Loder, Kovacs demonstrates that Loder was the premier expositor of Christian transformation, drawing on theology, philosophy, psychology, physics, and his own spiritual counselling practice to present Christian transformation as something different from ‘normal human development.’ Without a deep appreciation for this difference, churches become places that socialise people into a Christian version of achievement addiction, institutional maintenance, and nostalgia. Urging church leaders, educators and all Christians to replace Christian socialisation with Christian transformation, Kovacs’ text is for the cynical and the hopeful. Read it, meditate on its implications, and apply it.» (Eolene Boyd-MacMillan, PRRG, Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge; Department of Counselling and Psychotherapy, School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh; Children and Young People’s Counselling Service, CrossReach Counselling: Lothians, Edinburgh, Scotland)«Truth, profundity, clarity: Loder’s work traffics in deep truths. Kovacs’ book brings them up to clarity.» (Marilyn McCord Adams, Distinguished Research Professor of Philosophy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)«The best Christian theology is rooted identifiably in the life and worship of the Church in the midst of the world, and speaks naturally rather than in any forced or recondite manner to the practical concerns of faith. This sensitive and judicious study of James Loder’s thought lays bare these same vital connections, and in doing so makes its own generous contribution to the pursuit of a practical theology which is theological, and for that reason practical.» (Trevor Hart, Professor of Divinity, St Mary’s College, University of St Andrews, Scotland)