Tangible Grace: Ministry Interventions for Teen Dating Violence

Sadly, many religious leaders either are unaware of the violence that many teenagers experience in their dating relationships or religious leaders are in denial about the issue. Evelyn L. Parker challenges such leaders and their congregations to pay attention. In Tangible Grace, Parker offers a theological reflection on the experience of teen dating violence and presents ministerial practices to help intervene.

In a theological examination of teen dating violence, Parker offers the concept of tangible grace as God's gracious, material gift of the touchable, physiological body. She also examines the spiritual, emotional, and physical torment that intimate violence brings upon teens' bodily, tangible grace. Using a curated collection of best, Tangible Grace presents approaches to prevent and intervene in teen dating violence. Parker focuses on various aspects of the relationships that religious leaders can foster with teens in the context of their communities and wholesome practices that leaders can cultivate. In particular, the book explores ways that religious leaders can help prevent and intervene in teen dating violence through teaching, preaching and sacred rhetoric, liturgy and worship, pastoral care, and advocacy.

Tangible Grace offers a teaching tool for scholars in practical theology to help equip well-prepared practitioners in their disciplines. The book also is a timely resource for clergy and laypersons in youth ministry, who are ready to examine their ministerial practices through a lens of teen dating violence intervention.