Compassion Comments

Ronald Allen, ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is Nettie Sweeney and Hugh Th. Miller Professor of Preaching and New Testament. He has been at CTS since 1982..

From 1977 to 1982 he and his spouse, the Reverend Linda McKiernan-Allen, were copastors of First Christian Church, Grand Island, Nebraska

He received the Ph.D. from Drew University, the M.Div. from Union Theological Seminary in New York and the A.B. fromPhillips University.

In addition to over 100 articles and chapters in books Allen is the author of more than 20 books which are available from The Bookstore at Christian Theological Seminary, , or 1000 W. 42nd Stret, Indianapolis, IN 46208 or 317-924-1331.

His most recent book is Preaching and Practical Ministry, the first volume in the series Preaching and Its Partners (Chalice Press, 2001). Others include Preaching Luke-Acts. Preaching Classic Texts (Chalice Press, 2000), and with David M. Greenhaw, Preaching in the Context of Worship (Chalice Press, 2000); with Gilbert L. Bartholomew, Preaching Verse by Verse (Westminster John Knox Press, 1999). He is also the author of a widely used textbook Interpreting the Gospel: An Introduction to Preaching and editor of its popular companion, Patterns of Preaching: A Sermon Sampler (both published by Chalice Press, 1998). He previously jointly authored with Scott Black Johnston and Barbara S. Blaisdell, Theology for Preaching: Authority, Truth, and Knowledge of God in a Postmodern Ethos (Abingdon Press, 1997).

Volumes that he has written by himself include The Teaching Sermon (Abingdon Press, 1995), Preaching the Topical Sermon (Westminster John Knox Press 1992), Contemporary Biblical Interpretation for Preaching (Judson Press, 1984), Preaching for Growth (CBP Press, 1987), The Storyteller's Companion to the Bible: The Parables (volume 9) (Abingdon Press, forthcoming), and Our Eyes Can Be Opened: Preaching the Miracle Stories of the Synoptic Gospels Today (University Press of America, 1983). He and Clark M. Williamson have collaborated on five widely used books: The Vital Church: Teaching, Worship, Community, Service (Chalice Press, 1997); Interpreting Difficult Texts: Anti-Judaism and Christian Preaching (Trinity Press International, 1989), The Teaching Minister (Westminster John Knox Press, 1991), A Credible and Timely Word: Process Theology and Preaching (Chalice Press, 1991), and Adventures of the Spirit: A Guide to Worship from the Perspective of Process Theology (University Press of America, 1997).

He joined John C. Holbert in writing Holy Root, Holy Branches: Christian Preaching from the Old Testament (Abingdon Press, 1994). He contributed to Thankful Praise: A Guide to the Renewal of Worship in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Allen and his spouse have five children: Canaan (21), Genesis (18), Moriah (15), Barek (15), and Sabbath (11).