Envisioned as a creative professional practice, ministry can be spontaneous and lively, says Michael Koppel. Given its many demands, pastoral leaders all too easily focus their energy in areas that do not serve the joy of life and faith, he says.

Open-Hearted Ministry teaches pastors to claim or reclaim their misfit nature through the restorative, healing, and empowering practice of play in ministry. Play allows leaders to express their authentic selves, and leads them to encourage others to do the same. As an embodied theology, play is an engaged, creative, faithful, and purposeful action in ministry.