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Congregational Leadership in Anxious Times — Conversations and Reflections with Dr. Peter Steinke (2007)
One DVD (color) containing a nine-lesson study (approx. 15 minutes/lesson) and a CD with a 23-page Leader's Guide (PDF) ($89.95). A 183-page paperback book is available separately ($18.00). Seraphim Communications, Inc., 1568 Eustis St., St. Paul, MN 55108; phone: (800) 733-3413. www.Store.Seracomm.com

It's a truism, not just a generality, that every congregation struggles with conflict. For some, it's an ongoing challenge. For others, episodic. For any congregation, it's a situation no one likes to keep company with. But what to do about it?

This DVD offers perceptive understanding and concrete guidance for congregations desiring to address the root causes of the conflicts in their lives together.

Dr. Peter Steinke is a widely known leader in this field, and he is joined on the DVD by a variety of lay and ordained conversation partners. Together they focus on two factors critical to successfully dealing with conflict: leadership and anxiety.

There is much practical wisdom for clergy and laity alike throughout the nine lessons. For example, one of the lay participants puts great stress on the fact that leaders (especially pastors) need to remember that they are dealing with volunteers — an obvious statement but too often forgotten, especially when conflict erupts.

Throughout the DVD, Steinke draws on his decades of experience helping congregations identify and deal with the anxieties and fears that generate conflict. From discerning the source of the anxiety to identifying whether it is acute or chronic, Steinke offers practical guidance and hope.

This DVD could be used in its entirety as a congregational study or for training leaders. But the individual lessons could also be used on their own for particular situations or needs, such as personnel issues. The first and third lessons, Anxious Souls and Non-Anxious Presence, would help prepare leaders handling termination or discipline issues minimize or avoid conflict during those often difficult processes.

DaVinci's Mystery: Separating Truth from Fiction (2006)
One DVD (color) also includes bonus features: Origins of the New Testament and The Gospel of Judas and a PDF study guide. (57 min. total). $29.95. Luther Productions, 2481 Como Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108; phone: (651) 646-5526. www.LutherProductions.com

Much of the hype and hoopla following the book and movie The DaVinci Code has subsided. But the issues and controversy it raised about questions of theology and Scripture continue to reverberate throughout popular culture.

The value of this DVD lies primarily in its clear and helpful discussion of those deeper issues of faith and understanding — not deciding whether Jesus was ever married. In particular, this conversation among three Luther Seminary faculty members would make an excellent companion for congregations engaged in the ELCA's Book of Faith Initiative.

The DaVinci's Mystery segment offers a useful framework for thinking critically about popular culture's use (and abuse) of scriptural and faith-related subject matter. It gives viewers helpful approaches to evaluating fact from fiction where popular use of Bible and faith are concerned.

The two bonus features provide deeper discussion of topics from the main discussion. The Origins of the New Testament bonus feature provides helpful information about how and when the New Testament came into being. The Gospel of Judas bonus feature puts the discovery of so-called new "gospels" into an evidence-based context rather than from a purely sensationalist point of view.

DaVinci's Mystery goes far toward helping viewers put popular fiction like The DaVinci Code in perspective.

Joseph: The Hard Life and Joshua: Be Strong and Courageous
Bluefish TV. One DVD (color) video illustration (Four segments per disc, approx. 20 min. total). Printable lessons. SD and HD MPEG versions on each disc. ($29.95) 3304 Essex Dr., Richardson, TX 75082-9100; phone: (972) 560-5600. www.BluefishTV.com

The DVDs reviewed here are two titles from a series of video illustrations featuring great figures of the Bible. They are designed for use in Bible studies, sermons, or other applications in the congregation. The clips run about five minutes for the Bible story plus an optional teaching component in which a pastor offers commentary on the story just shown. The Bible story itself can be viewed on its own.

Each segment contains a contemporary setting of an episode from the biblical story of Joseph or Joshua. For example, Joseph's rise to power and favor under Pharoah is played out in the setting of a modern corporation.

The contemporary feel of the retelling of the Bible stories is generally appealing and instructive, but some characters and narratives on these discs make the trip to the 21st century better than others. The teaching segments also vary in their usefulness. Some are spot on, others may be found problematic from a Lutheran understanding.

Nonetheless, these video illustrations are worth a look. You'll see a fresh take on familiar people and stories from the Bible. Many online previews are available at the Bluefish Web site.

Geoffrey Scott, Lutheran Partners' video review editor, is pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, Menomonie, Wisconsin.