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
Worshipping in the New Chapel
This Sunday is Valentine’s Day and we will hold both worship services in the new chapel – 9:15 & 10:30. Building this beautiful space has certainly been an act of love and sacrifice on the part of many. We will continue our safety protocols and spread the chairs...
Woodmont chapel complete!
On August 18th of 2019, many of us stood outside on a blazing hot summer day to break ground on our new chapel and children’s area. Woodmont had just celebrated its 76th birthday a month before. Although construction took longer than we originally anticipated, I am...
Christianity in a Post-Corona World
This Sunday, January 24, our two in-person sanctuary services (9:15 and 10:30) will return with our safety protocols in place (masks, temperature checks, social distancing). We will also continue our online service and live stream the 9:15. Dr. Rubel Shelly and I are...
Why Morality Must be Bigger than Partisanship
I teach a class at Vanderbilt on faith, politics, and rapid polarization in American culture and how the digital age has now ushered in unprecedented anger, incivility, and a crisis of truth. The research in this field is grounded in moral psychology and the basic...
Woodmont in a New Year!
Happy New Year! As we enter 2021, Tennessee remains in a very difficult place related to surging cases of Covid-19. In conversation with our Board and out of respect for the wishes of our Mayor and Governor, we have decided to remain virtual for the next two Sundays...
Spiritual Reflections on a Painful Year
Somebody once said, “What doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.” But this year, we have lost many lives. Over 330,000 people in our country started 2020 with absolutely no idea that a novel RNA virus would bring their life to an abrupt end. Whether they died...
A Different Kind of Christmas
Christmas is only eight days away but will certainly be different this year. The pandemic is altering the way we usually experience the holidays with our friends and families. In a normal year at this time, churches would be full, parties would be rocking, families...
Christmas: A Weary World Rejoices
Advent is here, but we all know it will be different this year. We are now offering TWO Sunday morning worship services in the sanctuary - 9:15 A.M. and 10:30 A.M. This will allow us to continue our safety protocols and social distancing. We are still offering the...
Leading in a Pandemic
We are about to begin the Advent Season. This is one of the best times of the church year. Our leadership retreat with Susan Beaumont was excellent. She spent time with the Board, Elders, Deacons, and Staff. She is encouraging our church to “lean in” to this time and...