best selling author
What the World Needs Now
Redefine leadership and character.
Discover a path to a more connected and meaningful life with What the World Needs Now. Written by Clay Stauffer, a seasoned pastor, professor, husband, and father, this book explores moral leadership, character, and values that transcend generational and cultural divides.
With 30 concise chapters covering topics such as love, hope, diversity, and joy, Stauffer invites you to reflect on how we can improve our relationships, reshape culture, and build a sustainable future for generations to come. Blending Christian wisdom with universally accessible principles, the book illuminates the importance of virtues, emotional intelligence, and spiritual growth.
What the World Needs Now inspires readers from all walks of life to embody values of decency, civility, and mutual respect.
best selling author
What the World Needs Now
Redefine leadership and character.
Discover a path to a more connected and meaningful life with What the World Needs Now. Written by Clay Stauffer, a seasoned pastor, professor, husband, and father, this book explores moral leadership, character, and values that transcend generational and cultural divides.
With 30 concise chapters covering topics such as love, hope, diversity, and joy, Stauffer invites you to reflect on how we can improve our relationships, reshape culture, and build a sustainable future for generations to come. Blending Christian wisdom with universally accessible principles, the book illuminates the importance of virtues, emotional intelligence, and spiritual growth.
What the World Needs Now inspires readers from all walks of life to embody values of decency, civility, and mutual respect.
Clay Stauffer
Author
About
Clay Stauffer is the Senior Minister of Woodmont Christian Church in Nashville, Tennessee, and teaches moral leadership at Vanderbilt University. He earned a Bachelor’s degree from Texas Christian University (2002), a Master of Divinity from Princeton Seminary (2005), and a Doctor of Ministry from the University of the South at Sewanee (2015). His doctoral work explored the intersection of faith and politics and the growing polarization within American culture. Known for his preaching and leadership ability, Clay is a community leader in Nashville and serves on many nonprofit boards. He is a regular columnist for The Tennessean Newspaper, writing articles about faith, values, spirituality, and culture. Clay is married to Megan, and together they have three children.
My Books
This book addresses the deeper issues that matter most in life: faith, wisdom, values, spirituality, relationships, connection, and self-reflection. As our world becomes more and more secular, people remain restless and hungry to discuss these important topics. What does it mean to grow spiritually? What does it mean to do meaningful soul work? What are the values and priorities that should matter most? What type of culture will our children and grandchildren inherit? Here are a few insights that I believe to be true.
-All human beings long for meaning and deeper purpose in their lives.
-Jesus Christ continues to speak to and challenge our culture.
-Issues of character and integrity are very important.
-Growth in the spiritual life has become much more challenging in this busy age of technology, multi- tasking, and over-commitment.
Religion, politics, and money. Three things you’re never supposed to discuss in polite company. But what if you’re a pastor? Forget red state/blue state divisions, what happens when your church members disagree about politics? In this age of prosperity preaching, how do you preach, “You cannot serve God and money?” Clay Stauffer addresses the challenges that preachers face when serving a politically diverse congregation in Preaching Politics. Money, materialism, and their effects on modern-day faith and spirituality are viewed through the teachings of Jesus, as well as the work of Methodist minister Adam Hamilton and Duke University ethicist Stanley Hauerwas.
Posts from Clay
Keeping Charlie Strobel’s Legacy Alive
Homecoming Sunday was a great celebration kicking off the fall programming year. This week, we will have our ministry fair to help get people more engaged and plugged in to the life of our church. The Nashville mayoral race has now been narrowed down to two candidates...
Advice from the Older Generations
Homecoming Sunday is this weekend, August 13! The Nashville Pipes and Drums will return to Woodmont. We are beginning a new sermon series called “Unashamed of the Gospel” based on Paul’s powerful letter to the Romans. This is certainly one of the most important...
Getting Ready for Fall!
Summer is quickly winding down, and our kids will be getting back into school very soon. Homecoming Sunday will take place on August 13 which will mark the beginning of our fall programming year. Invite a friend or family to come to worship with you that day! All of...
The Current State of American Christianity
We all enjoyed a great celebration of Woodmont’s 80th anniversary this weekend. Thanks to all who made it happen. In recent months, many articles have been published about the current state of Christianity and the church in America. We continue to hear about the rise...
A Woodmont Vision – ”Eight at Eighty“
Vision always matters and a big part of my responsibility is to always be casting it to our leaders. As we celebrate Woodmont’s 80th birthday this month (1943-2023), I want to share with you some honest thoughts and a future vision for what I believe will continue to...
Our Freedom: Political & Spiritual
We have just celebrated the birthday of our nation with fireworks, parades, cookouts, and patriotic music. We do live in a great country, although it does have its many challenges. Our Founding Fathers once said that “all men are created equal and are endowed by their...
Healing & Strengthening Democracy
Every Fourth of July, we should all make an intentional effort to name the many things that we love about our nation and its great history. My list always includes faith, church, freedom, liberty, natural beauty, the wisdom of our Founding Fathers, community,...
Good Fathers Are Developed Over Time
At the end of this month, Brad Gioia will retire as headmaster of Montgomery Bell Academy after twenty-nine years of faithfully leading the school. Brad came to MBA in 1994 from the Darlington School in Rome, GA. A graduate of the University of the South at Sewanee,...
Moral Foundations for a Meaningful Life
Lots of life advice and wisdom has been shared in recent weeks with high school and college graduates. What is the best thing to tell young people who are moving on to the unknown to write their next chapter? Many of us will admit that inner work and personal growth...