Welcome
Bursting with Activity!
We're sorry! We've been so busy with the work of the Project we've let the website fall out of date. That's about to change, though, as we concentrate more and more on letting people watch the Project unfold. Here are just some of the things happening at TOW:
TOW goes International: The Theology of Work Project's steering committee members will be holding their 2010 annual meeting in Hong Kong, China, in a remarkable joint session with the work/faith task force attached to the Lausanne Covenant. The July meetings will include joint sessions between the two organizations, as well as continuing the important work of approving research articles for inclusion in the Project's body of work.
Steering Committee meets in January, 2010: In a continuing effort to streamline its work and costs, the TOW steering committee conducted both on-site and videoconference sessions the second week of January, making it possible for team members to review the results of the articles delivered by its' research subcontractors, and to move several of those articles closer to final inclusion in the Project's body of work. Eight members met at Babson live, with another six members videoconferencing in from as far away as Australia. In addition to the obvious cost savings, the videoconference initiative, which was assembled and managed by Charlie Peppler of Capnetix, enables Project's Executive Editor, Will Messenger, to get faster turnaround on feedback to the research articles.
Project nears $1.5 million in funds raised: Since project Vice-President Andy Mills volunteered in March, 2009 to assume the primary fundraising duties for the Project, TOW has raised nearly $1.5 million in gifts and pledges, well over halfway to the funds needed for the Project.
Film team works on Project trailer: A volunteer team of professionals in video, editing and production have been writing scripts, interviewing workers, managers, scholars and Project members, as well as shooting scenes and editing film to produce a trailer--at no cost to the Project--for public promotion of TOW. The trailer is part of a pilot initiative dreamed up by Doug Beimler in a continuing effort to uncover ways to use technology to communicate timely, practical Biblical information on the integration of work and faith.
Project team members hit the road talking about TOW: Dr. Haddon Robinson, retired CEO Andy Mills, Project Executive Editor Will Messenger, and steering committee members Randy Kilgore (from Madetomatter.org) and Al Erisman (Seattle Pacific University) have been hitting the circuit to spread the news of TOW's work. If your group is looking for a conference presentation and would be interested in hearing from someone at TOW, write us at ckilgore@theologyofwork.org.
Released or Coming soon!: The research teams for Colossians/Philemon (click for PDF) and Revelation (click for PDF) have released the first public versions of their reports, and they will be available on the TOW Project's wiki site soon. Projected releases on April 1, 2010 include the Ezra/Nehemiah Esther project; Daniel project; Jeremiah/Lamentations project; and the Ezekiel project. May 1, 2010 should see the release of the Luke team, the Gospel of John team and the General Epistles (James; I & II Peter; I & II & III John; Jude) report. Other Biblical articles already in the pipeline, assigned to researchers/teams, include Genesis chapters 1-11; Job; Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon; Psalms; Isaiah; Mark; Matthew; Acts; Galatians/Ephesians/Philippians; and I & II Thessalonians/Hebrews. Key topics articles/research projects are also in process: Calling and Ethics (two separate key topics reports) have been approved and will be released to the public soon. Awaiting assignment to research teams are the following: Products of Work; Work & Life; Economics & Society; Compensation; Provision & Wealth; Globalization; Relationships at Work; Adverse Parties; Financial Arrangements; Motivation; Truth & Deception; Business Ethics; Spiritual Dangers; Conflict; Leadership; Rest; Evangelism; Church as Equipper.
What Research Articles? To construct its' final products, the TOW team will draw from nearly four dozen research projects for articles commissioned by TOW, covering all 66 books of the Bible and 20 key topics originally identified by a focus group of over 100 workers, leaders and scholars in workplace and faith sectors of the culture.
An Invitation to Discover Work's Role in God's Economy
What if you really believed in changing the world? Where would you start? That question prods people of conscience in any culture; and Christians are no exception. Now, perhaps for the first time in human history, technology, worker interest and scholarly expertise have merged to make possible the exploration and recording of a comprehensive body---a theology---of Scripture's timeless truths and the timely application of those truths into working cultures everywhere. Following the path first laid out by the field of missions and missionary endeavors in the Lausanne Covenant, we begin this journey with an earnest desire to expand our knowledge of how God would have us do our daily tasks. We invite you to join us on this trek.
Dr. Haddon Robinson,
Mr. Andrew Mills,
Mr. Tom Phillips,
Project Co-Chairs
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News:
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What others are saying...
"It [The Theology of Work Project] is a very important Christian task in an age so deeply influenced by all kinds of economic and financial exigencies.”
--Dr. Mark Noll, McManis Professor, Wheaton College
"I share your conviction…about the great importance of developing a true, Biblical and balanced philosophy of work."
--Dr. John Stott, Founder, London Institute for Contemporary Christianity
"Nothing is more desperately needed in our society.”
--Dr. Howard Hendricks, Distinguished Professor & Chairman, Center for Christian Leadership, Dallas Theological Seminary
"Across the centuries, the theological neglect not only of our "work” but also of "workers” (who constitute numerically most of the church) constitutes no small tragedy in Christian history.”
--Howard Butt, Jr., H.E. Butt Foundation & Laity Lodge
--Howard Butt, Jr., H.E. Butt Foundation & Laity Lodge
"This initiative is strategic in nature. It will make a difference, because how people view their work makes a huge difference in how they view their life—as well as how they view God.”
--Dr. Bill Hendricks, President, The Giftedness Center & author of Your Work Matters to God