""The essays in this book stress the importance of grandparents as bearers of the history, the values, and the traditions of each of the tribal units . . . The essays in this book take us into different tribal gatherings with their stories of family struggles and growth. They invite us to explore our memories of what we have experienced with our own grandparents and what we might yet find time to do with succeeding generations. We are shaped by our past and we have the capacity to shape those that come after us. What an opportunity; what a challenge."" --from the Foreword by James M. Wall, former editor and president of The Christian Century Foundation A distinguished group of Catholic and Protestant writers draw from their wealth of experiences as grandparents and those who have been ""grandparented."" They offer encouragement, insight, solace, and reminders to others who desire the spiritual and emotional wisdom of grandparents. These creative voices in the Christian community reflect on their experiences as and/or with their grandparents as a part of their faith journeys. Those contributors who are grandparents share their personal experiences and those who have been ""grandparented"" explore how their grandparents shaped their lives and faith journeys. Contributors - Paschal Baumstein - Gilbert H. Caldwell - Muriel Duncan - Cliff and Ulrike Guthrie - George McGovern - Donald E. Messer - Trish Muco-Tobin - M. Basil Pennington - Cora Crow Poteet - Bill Ritter - Donna Schaper - Robert C. Schnase - Donald B. Strobe - Stephen Swecker - Maren C. Tirabassi - Halbert Weidner Andrew J. Weaver is an ordained United Methodist minister and a clinical psychologist living in New York City. He is the associate publisher for Zion's Herald, an independent religious journal of opinion, news, and reflection published by the Boston Wesleyan Association. He has co-authored 11 books including Reflections on Forgiveness and Spiritual Growth and Reflections on Aging and Spiritual Growth. Carolyn L. Stapleton is an attorney and ordained minister in The United Methodist Church. She is associate minister at the Chinese Methodist Church in New York City.
