LibGuides: Ministry Research Guide: Links

Internet guides

A selective, annotated guide to a wide variety of electronic resources of interest to those who are involved in the study and practice of religion, including syllabi, electronic texts, electronic journals, web sites, bibliographies, liturgies, reference resources, and software.

Religious Studies Web guide (University of Calgary)

This web site, in existence since 1995, focuses on free internet resources of use to researchers involved in the academic study of religion.

Virtual Religion Index

This site is designed to advance research in matters of religion and highlights important content of religion-related websites.

Online resources

This is a selection of websites related to different aspects of ministry.

Transforming Christian Leaders
This site provides fictional yet realistic stories about congregational issues, problems, and crises. Other resources include articles, interviews, and reflections on the stories. (Archived)
Digital Collections (Princeton Seminary)
A major archive that provides full-text access to older books, Abraham Kuyper works and bibliography, and Princeton Seminary journals from 1825 forward including Studies in Reformed Theology and History, as well as
Princeton Lectures on Youth, Church, and Culture.
Alban Institute
"The Alban Institute connects laity, clergy, and executives to resources that help them lead more fulfilling, faithful lives as they seek to serve God in their congregations, communities, and the world at large.
Ministry Matters
Ministry Matters provides a collection of commentaries, Bible dictionaries, and other reference works with which to prepare sermons, lessons, and research papers.
Academy of Parish Clergy
"The Academy of Parish Clergy (APC) is a voluntary and self-governing association of clergypersons --both men and women-- with pastoral roles, ordinarily in congregational settings. The primary purpose of the APC is to clarify the vocational role of parish clergy and to enhance professional competence by setting standards, imposing self-discipline for effective service, and collectively addressing the needs of their profession."
Focus on the Family
"Focus on the Family is a global Christian ministry dedicated to helping families thrive. We provide help and resources for couples to build healthy marriages that reflect God’s design, and for parents to raise their children according to morals and values grounded in biblical principles. We’re here to come alongside families with relevance and grace at each stage of their journey"
Theological Studies.org.uk
An Internet Resource for Studying Christian Theology for ministers and pastors. Provides access to over 18,000 articles and detailed bibliographies.
Pastors in Pain
"There is a huge number of pastors and leaders leaving the ministry each year. This exodus results mostly from some form of forced termination. This site addresses this problem and poses solutions to an issue that is having a huge impact on the church and its leadership." (Archived)
Prison Fellowship Ministries
"Prison Fellowship Ministries is a non-profit, volunteer-reliant ministry focused on one overriding vision: That God's kingdom will be manifested as the redemptive grace and peace of Jesus Christ are experienced by those impacted by crime." This is the official site of a ministry founded by Chuck Colson.

Relevant Associations

The Association of Practical Theology maintains a helpful list of links in addition to the links listed below.

Association for Clinical Pastoral Education
"The Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. is a multicultural, multifaith organization devoted to providing education and improving the quality of ministry and pastoral care offered by spiritual caregivers of all faiths through the clinical educational methods of Clinical Pastoral Education."
Society for Pastoral Theology
"The Society is primarily concerned with teaching, research, and publication in pastoral theology, and with the critical and imaginative practice of pastoral care and counseling".
Association for Clinical Pastoral Education
Holds an annual meeting and publishes the online journal Sacred Spaces.
American Association of Christian Counselors
"AACC is committed to assisting Christian counselors and the entire ‘community of care,’ licensed professionals, pastors, and caring church members with little or no formal training. It is our intention to equip clinical, pastoral, and lay care-givers with Biblical truth and psycho-social insight that ministers to hurting persons and helps them move to personal wholeness, interpersonal competence, mental stability, and spiritual maturity."
Association for Theological Field Education
"ATFE connects and bridges theory and practice, academy and church, local and global contexts, and the wisdom of the past and the dreams of the future. It seeks to shape creative visions for theological education in the future, new patterns for the changing contours of ministry, and imaginative ways to prepare persons to serve God effectively and faithfully in the church and in the world."
Association of Professional Chaplains
"We are an interfaith professional pastoral care association of providers of pastoral care endorsed by faith groups to serve persons in physical, spiritual, or mental need in diverse settings throughout the world."
The National Association of Church Business Administration
"National Association of Church Business Administration (NACBA) is an interdenominational, professional, Christian organization which exists to train, certify, and provide resources for those serving in the field of church administration."
Academy of Religious Leadership
"We are a group of scholars and students who collaborate in order to: Enhance leadership education in theological institutions; Convene a scholarly roundtable of leadership educators for the purpose of faculty development and community; and Foster and disseminate leadership education and research in institutions of theological education."
The Association of Practical Theology
A subdivision of the American Academy of Religion, this association holds a biennial meeting and sponsors the International Journal of Practical Theology.
International Academy of Practical Theology
The association holds an annual conference, and provides job links.
British and Irish Association for Practical Theology
A membership group that publishes the journal Practical Theology. See the Resources page for books, articles, and other web sites of interest.
Academy of Homiletics
Publishes the journal Homiletic and holds an annual meeting. See the Links page for a long list of preaching resources.
Yale center for faith and culture
The mission of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture is to critically examine and promote practices of faith which advance authentic human flourishing and the global common good

Ministry Research Guide

Internet guides

Online resources

Relevant Associations

Tips for successful online searching