Creating New Paths Demands New Ideas

How we Apply Economic Theology:

We integrate economic theology by exploring the ethical dimensions of what it means to be human and how we are created in the image of God.

Economics is then applied through both qualitative and quantitative methods to assist local leaders and ministries in addressing challenges, utilizing economic principles and business tools to find solutions.

ECONOMIC THEOLOGY READING LIST 
Curated by Jamé Bolds, Ph.D. (C)

​Books and articles at the intersection of faith, economics, and community development for scholars, practitioners, and serious readers.
These are the books that have shaped how I think about economics, theology, and the communities we serve. Some are foundational academic texts. Some are practitioner resources. All of them are worth your time. — Jamé Bolds

Foundational Economic Theology

Schwarzkopf, S. (Ed.). The Routledge Handbook of Economic Theology. Routledge, 2019. The most comprehensive academic reference in the field. 40-plus chapters covering theological concepts and their economic meaning.

Tanner, K. Christianity and the New Spirit of Capitalism. Yale University Press, 2019. One of the most rigorous contemporary treatments of the theological underpinnings of modern capitalism.

Long, S.D. Divine Economy: Theology and the Market. Routledge, 2000. A theological critique of market economics from a systematic theological perspective.

Goodchild, P. Theology of Money. Duke University Press, 2009. A serious academic treatment of money as a theological category.

Faith, Work, and Economics — Practitioner

Nelson, T. Work Matters: Connecting Sunday Worship to Monday Work. Crossway, 2011. Accessible theology of work and vocation for church leaders.

Keller, T. Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God's Work. Dutton, 2012. The most widely read evangelical treatment of faith and work.

Fikkert, B. and Corbett, S. When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor and Yourself.Moody, 2009. The standard community development economics text for faith-based practitioners.

Sherman, A. Kingdom Calling: Vocational Stewardship for the Common Good. IVP, 2011. Theology of vocation applied to community transformation.
Community Development Economics and Faith

Lupton, R. Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help and How to Reverse It. HarperOne, 2011. Essential critique of charity-based models.

Perkins, J. Beyond Charity: The Call to Christian Community Development. Baker, 1993. Foundational text on community development from a faith perspective.

Rubin, J.S. and Stankiewicz, M. The New Markets Tax Credit Program: A Midcourse Assessment. Brookings, 2005. Rigorous community development finance analysis — the academic tradition I was trained in at Rutgers Bloustein.

Theology and Development — Academic

Bowers Du Toit, N.F. Theology and Development — A Critical Engagement. Various journal articles, Universiteit van Stellenbosch. My Doktormutter (doctoral supervisor) and one of the founding scholars of the Theology and Development field.

Myers, B. Walking with the Poor: Principles and Practices of Transformational Development. Orbis, 2011. The standard academic text for Theology and Development programs globally.

Selby, P. Grace and Mortgage: The Language of Faith and the Debt of the World. Darton, Longman and Todd, 1997. An early and serious economic theology from a pastoral perspective.

Biblical Economics

Blomberg, C. Neither Poverty Nor Riches: A Biblical Theology of Possessions. IVP Academic, 1999. The most thorough biblical theology of wealth and poverty in the evangelical tradition.

Claar, V. and Klay, R. Economics in Christian Perspective: Theory, Policy and Life Choices. IVP Academic, 2007. 

Wright, C. Old Testament Ethics for the People of God. IVP Academic, 2004. Includes serious treatment of the economic ethics of the Hebrew scriptures including Jubilee, land, and redistribution.

Pentecostal Economics — Emerging Field

Yong, A. In the Days of Caesar: Pentecostalism and Political Theology. Eerdmans, 2010. The most serious Pentecostal engagement with public theology and economics.

Martin, D. Pentecostalism: The World Their Parish. Blackwell, 2002. Sociological analysis of Pentecostal economic and social transformation globally.

For Further Study

The Journal of Religion and Development — the emerging peer-reviewed journal in my academic field.

​The Journal of Markets and Morality — published by the Acton Institute, where my scholarly journey began.

What is Economic Theology:
In the language of Nimi Wariboko, economic theology  “Aspires to show how theological categories are useful toward understanding economics and interpreting economies. I also work to clarify how economic concepts and reasoning can be employed to enrich theological-ethical constructions.”  (Wariboko, N. Economics in Spirit and Truth: A Moral Philosophy of Finance. Basingstoke: Springer, 2014. 88.)

The Routledge Handbook of Economic Theology, edited by Stefan Schwarzkopf, economic theology is defined as: "The study of the forms of interaction between theological imaginaries on the one hand, and economic thought and economic-managerial practices on the other, both past and present." 

PUBLICATIONS

Books

  • Bolds, J., Mostert, J., and Self, C. (2024). Life in 5D: A New Vision of Discipleship.

Articles

  • Bolds, J. (2018). "Women Pastors Need Not Apply." CBE International, Mutuality Magazine.

  • Bolds, J. (2020). "Making a Sacred Impact During COVID-19: One Church's Response." Center for Public Justice, with Chelsea Langston Bombino.

  • Bolds, J. (2020). "Pastoring in an Age of Unemployment." Influence Magazine, September/October 2020.

  • Bolds, J. (2021). "A Culture of Generosity." Thrivent Magazine, Winter 2021.

  • Bolds, J. (2024). "CHURCHENOMICS: Church Economics for the Next 100 Years." AVAIL Journal, November 2024.

  • Bolds, J. (2026). "Economics in Babylon: A Framework for Flourishing in Exile." AVAIL The Journal, Issue 25, Spring 2026.

  • Bolds, J. (2026). "Thinking Outside the Offering Box." Influence Magazine, Spring 2026.

Forthcoming

  • Bolds, J. (2026). "American Pentecostalism and Economics." Brill Encyclopedia of Global Pentecostalism.


WEBINARS

  • "A New Model for Funding Your Church." Thrivent Christian Leader Webinar Series, May 4, 2023. https://video.thrivent.com/view/ZiEUgZ0w8x7J9hh9lG2316/

  • "Churchenomics: A New Model for Funding Your Church and Revitalizing Your Community." Thrivent Christian Leader Webinar Series, May 2, 2024.

  • "Churchenomics: Capital Creation & Sustainability in the Next 100 Years." Thrivent Christian Leader Webinar Series, September 18, 2025.


PODCASTS AND MEDIA