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
Don’t Let Cynicism and Negativity Win
Right now, it’s very easy to be cynical in our culture. The news does a masterful job of stoking fear and pointing out everything that is wrong with the world. To be more specific, here are some of the things we constantly hear: the evolving conflict in the Middle...
Three Great Wednesday Nights!
We continue to emphasize Wednesday nights as a time of fellowship, connection, and faith formation. I encourage you to come and be a part of these special events. Here is what is happening the next three Wednesday nights in November. Wednesday, Nov, 1, at 6:15 PM – We...
New sermon series – “Philippians: How to Build a Life”
We continue to pray for the difficult situation in the Middle East, Israel, and Gaza. We will be praying for all involved in the chapel tonight before our panel. Between now and Thanksgiving Sunday, we are going to begin a new sermon series focusing on Paul’s...
Praying for Israel and the Middle East
Early Saturday morning, sirens went off in southern and central Israel. The militant group, Hamas, backed by Iran and known for terrorism, launched thousands of missiles and then breached the Gaza border. Hundreds of innocent lives were taken, including nine...
Spirituality & Peace in Our Digital Age
A recent Gallup article reported that 47% of Americans identify as religious, 33% identify as spiritual, and 2% identify as both. The pandemic certainly did not do Christianity any favors except for the fact that many church services are now readily available on...
Special Breakfast this Thursday at Woodmont
This Thursday morning, Sept. 28, at 7 a.m., we are having a special breakfast at Woodmont to support the important message of somebody in our church family. All are invited to come. Blake McMeans grew up in Knoxville, TN, and was one of the top-recruited tennis...
Our Society’s Erosion of Trust
When historians look back on the late 20th and early 21st century, it will be marked as a time of declining trust in American institutions. This has been true in government, medicine, higher education, business, technology, and religion. A recent article in The Wall...
New Director of Senior High Youth at Woodmont
Vibrant churches are very intentional about reaching and discipling the younger generations. At Woodmont, we are doing that well. I hope we don’t take ever that for granted. Faith foundations are laid very early in life. Abby McLean shared the following numbers with...
Moral Leadership in a Special Session
We had a very successful ministry fair on Sunday. I want to thank everybody who worked hard to make it happen. We have so many ways for you to get plugged in to the life of the church. Getting involved is part of our discipleship process. This week the Tennessee...