In Pursuit of Religious Freedom: Bishop Martin Stephan's Journey: Bishop Martin Stephan's Journey - Tapa blanda

This is a fascinating book. It challenges standard assumptions about Martin Stephan by inviting the reader to consider his vision as well as his personal behavior. In doing so, it raises the continuing specter in so-called mainline denominations-namely that when faced with a fresh approach to faith, we fall into the abyss of personal credibility rather than engage in serious conversation about structures and images of faith. -- Thomas M. Carson, United Church of Christ Clergy, Retired Displays a tremendous amount of research, including travel to the important sites in the life of Stephan. * Christian News, January 2009 * The story of the beginning of the 'Missouri Synod' and its first leader deserves a renewed look simply because that church is the second largest Lutheran church body in America. Philip Stephan, the great-great-grandson of Martin Stephan, gives us that look through the lens of his great-great-grandfather's life and work. . . . In this book Philip Stephan attempts to set the record straight by delving into the theological, social, ethnic and family background of his forebear. It is a contextual narrative that he presents. The author does not gloss over the moral weaknesses of Martin, nor is he defensive about them. On the other hand, his research has brought out heretofore unknown (or at least unpublicized) life and theology. -- Rev. Arthur Preisinger Accessible and readable account of Martin Stephan and his ministry. * Lutheran Quarterly *

In Pursuit of Religious Freedom tells the story of Martin Stephan, a religious leaders whose leadership, vision, and courage stemmed from a fifteenth-century ancestry grounded in the reformations of John Huss and Martin Luther. Like previous Stephan generations, Martin fled religious intolerance for freedom of worship. As an adult, his deep-rooted faith and moral values were threatened when he was confronted with family, social, and spiritual crises.