Q&A with Brenda Salter McNeil
You have been tackling reconciliation issues for a long time. What brought about the idea for this particular book, Roadmap to Reconciliation?
Brenda Salter McNeil: This is the book I wish I had as an emerging reconciler. There are many who have been doing this work of reconciliation but don’t have a resource for how to define what it is or how to do it. There is also a growing sense of motivation in the church, but a lack of direction, tools and guidance.
Who is Roadmap to Reconciliation for?
Salter McNeil: This book is for established and emerging leaders in the realm of reconciliation. The divisions in our society across race, class and gender are more substantial than ever, and our world is in desperate need of thoughtful, credible, Spirit-led reconcilers. I see young leaders across our country who have heard the call of God to step into this void, but are consistently frustrated by the lack of viable resources for them to grow and succeed as leaders. My prayer is that Roadmap to Reconciliation will become a gift to those leaders.
What is the main idea you hope to convey to readers?
Salter McNeil: Roadmap to Reconciliation is a one-stop resource to inspire, equip and train an emerging generation of leaders. Reconciliation leaders will walk away from this book with a clearer sense of vision based on a proven model, a deeper theology to teach and lead from, a more coherent language with which to talk about it, a guiding set of principles from which to orient themselves along the journey, numerous real-life examples to be inspired by, and a comprehensive plan for approaching this call from a Christ-centered, missional perspective.
What do you hope readers learn or take away from Roadmap to Reconciliation?
Salter McNeil:
- to inspire those who have heard the voice of God calling them to the ministry of reconciliation to proceed boldly with courage and conviction
- to equip reconcilers by deepening the theological roots for reconciliation while also developing a concrete model with applicable tools for the task ahead
- to frame reconciliation as an ongoing journey, and develop language that can chart progress and name landmarks as reconcilers progress down this path
- to increase the capacity of reconcilers to fuse both personal relationships and structural justice into a comprehensive approach
- to see that reconciliation is a deeply spiritual endeavor, and encourage them as they learn to be led by the Spirit and renewed daily by the power of God
This post is part of our October series Living Into the Shalom of God, and was sponsored by InterVarsity Press.