The Edward Wimberly Reader

This impressive volume edited by two gifted scholars demonstrates the seminal intellectual and theological leadership of Professor Edward Wimberly. Moschella and Butler illustrate the rich craft of Wimberly’s evolved scholarship and spiritual formation. The breadth and depth of the writers confirm their solid capacity as scholars-practitioners who fully understand Wimberly as a pastoral theologian who is without question the ‘Dean’ of Black pastoral care theologians. Finally, this volume faithfully documents a perspective in the field of pastoral theology which merits attention, appreciation, and cultural affirmation.

~Vergel L. Lattimore, President and Professor of Pastoral Psychology and Counseling, Hood Theological Seminary

Butler and Moschella have captured the legacy of Edward Wimberly through their thorough and intriguing discussion and analysis of Wimberly's writings. Their exposition reveals the evolution of Wimberly's theological understanding of pastoral care. In addition, the significance of understanding the field through the cultural lens of the African American experience is clear. This is a timeless and relevant reader for pastoral theologians, pastors, and professional or volunteer spiritual caregivers.

~Bishop Teresa Jefferson-Snorton, The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

The Edward Wimberly Reader brings together significant essays from a giant in the field of pastoral theology. Edward Wimberly’s scholarship displays rigorous reflection on the particularities of black churches, black communities, and black theological traditions to put forth understandings and practices for meaningful pastoral care. Whether one’s interest involves emphasizing the embodied nature of the soul, discerning ways to faithfully embrace our woundedness, reauthoring our mythologies, exploring adolescent identity development, or outlining the deep connections between pastoral care and social justice, this book will remain an important contribution for scholars and pastors.

~Montague R. Williams, Associate Professor of Church, Culture, and Society, Point Loma Nazarene University

This rich and insightful book is a valuable resource for clergy, chaplains, scholars, clinicians, seminarians, and other practitioners concerned with contextual and prophetic pastoral care. The writing is elegant and accessible.

~Sheryi A. Kujawa-Holbrook, Anglican Theological Review

This reader is an impressive overview of the stellar writing career of a towering but often unappreciated intellectual within the African American black church tradition.

~Anthony Reddie, Modern Believing