Name: Bryan Berghoef
Location: Traverse City, MI
Bryan is a pastor, teacher, and pub theologian (meaning his best thoughts occur with pint in hand, or his best pints occur with thought in mind – or something like that). His interests are found at the intersection of theology with history, language, literature, culture, the arts, politics, and music – though he admits his greatest passion is studying the original context of the ancient text of the Bible.
Bryan belongs to a faith community called Watershed, a hub of creative, broken people seeking simplicity, depth, and authenticity. He is a member of ACORD: the Area Council on Religious Diversity. Bryan is also a contributing columnist to the Traverse City Record-Eagle on matters of faith. He is currently working on a book about Pub Theology.
On these pages you will find a wrestling with ideas of faith, philosophy, and praxis; a seeking to articulate afresh what it means to follow Jesus, the peasant and prophet who critiqued and challenged the empire and establishment of his day, who envisioned and embodied the present reality of the kingdom of God.
If you find yourself in the Traverse City area, be sure to stop in for Pub Theology, a weekly gathering on Thursday evenings of beer, conversation, and God.
You can follow Bryan Berghoef on Twitter.
Thanks for your recent reflections on how to engage and understand the Bible, Bryan, both on your blog and also in the Banner FAQs.
I think you would find my recent book “Covenant Documents: Reading the Bible Again for the First Time” (Cognella, 2009) a helpful addition to other books you referenced. In fact, it is a good background, summary, overview and introduction to the whole Bible (not often found these days), in a very engaging manner. I hope you will check it out and let me know what you think.
All the best…
Wayne Brouwer
Hi Wayne-
If I get my hands on it – be glad to let you know what I think.
Thanks for the note. Am interested in checking out your book, but it’s a bit on the pricey side. Was hoping there’d be a less expensive Kindle version.
Bryan