Dr. Jerald Daffe’s latest book, “Crosses, Coffee, Couches, and Community,” has been released by Pathway Press. Subtitled “Modern Ministry in an Emerging Culture,” it reviews changes in American culture, and the challenges to ministering to a generation who has lost interest in the institutional church.
In his book, Dr.
Daffe, a professor of pastoral studies at Lee University, offers necessary changes while maintaining an orthodox, biblical message. Special emphasis is given to the Emerging Church Movement (ECM) which was initiated in the latter 1990s to meet the loss of a generation (18-35 years old) from the church. Attention is given to the diversity of theology, methodology, and personalities which have contributed to mixed opinions of this pursuit even in the face of its successes.
Dr. Daffe initiated the research while on sabbatical leave from Lee during the spring of 2011 and continued his research after returning to the classroom. He and his wife, Phyllis, have visited congregations across the United States, including Anglican, Baptist, Church of God, Seventh Day Adventist as well as interdenominational. To date, they have traveled over 9,500 miles, and he has read over 9,000 pages in the process.
Dr. Daffe joined Lee University’s School of Religion in 1987. In addition to teaching, he also serves as the coordinator for the pastoral ministries major.
Dr. Daffe’s areas of specialty are revivalism, worship, Church of God History and the Emerging Church. He was a recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award at Lee in 1990 and the Excellence in Advising in 1999.
“Crosses, Coffee, Couches, and Community” is Daffe’s eighth book since arriving at Lee. His most recent book prior to this one was “Clothing A Naked Church.”