Graceful Living: Your Faith, Values, and Money in Changing Times.Graceful Living: Your Faith, Values, and Money in Changing Times. By Laura Dunham. RCA See RCA connector and video/TV history. Distribution Center, 2001. vii and 170 pages. Paper. $14.95. Laura Dunham transcends (while not entirely abandoning) the sometimes shopworn language of "stewardship" in this very helpful volume designed to aid congregations, individuals, and small groups in achieving more graceful living. A Certified Financial Planner Certified Financial Planner (CFP) A person who has passed examinations accredited by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, showing that the person is able to manage a client's banking, estate, insurance, investment, and tax affairs. , a Presbyterian minister, and a former college vice president, Dunham brings a host of experiences to the task of writing a work about faith, values, and money. Dunham's background shows in the way that she struggles to integrate these themes, move congregations to a more holistic approach holistic approach A term used in alternative health for a philosophical approach to health care, in which the entire Pt is evaluated and treated. See Alternative medicine, Holistic medicine. , and help churches to address finances more than a few times a year (Stewardship Sunday, an annual meeting, and periodic crises). Written with a broad audience in mind, the greatest strength of this work is its ability to meet several related needs: introductory financial planner Financial Planner A qualified investment professional who assists individuals and corporations meet their long-term financial objectives by analyzing the client's status and setting a program to achieve these goals. , a theology of money, and a guide to a wide range of circumstances ("just starting out," married life, single life, midlife mid·life n. See middle age. adj. Of, relating to, or characteristic of middle age. , preparation for retirement, etc.). In three main sections, Dunham offers a theological vision of "choosing how to live" (Part 1), followed by a "Financial Primer" (Part 2), and an extended section on "Planning through Life's Transitions" (Part 3). Some "last words Last words are a person's final words before death. For a list of well known last words, see or use the link at right. Last words may refer to:
Except for a generic environmental interest and a few comments about the U.S. tax system, Dunham largely avoids political or ideological concerns. This helps make the book palatable to a wide range of readers. However, as denominations struggle with questions ranging from boycotts of chains who rely on underpaid un·der·paid v. Past tense and past participle of underpay. underpaid Adjective not paid as much as the job deserves underpaid adj → immigrant labor to investing in companies who derive huge profits from pornographic subsidiaries, such larger discussions probably justify some mention. Nonetheless, Dunham provides a great service in this work, speaking to an important set of issues that, unfortunately, is rarely discussed in such depth. Jonathan Seitz Princeton Seminary |
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