And I Shall Renew Their Wings Like Eagles: Living Beyond Exile

Born on the South Shore of Massachusetts, Richard Tulip grew up in the shadows of Plymouth Rock. The church was always a part of his life from his early childhood onward. After graduation from High School, he attended Lake Forest College in Illinois and returned to Massachusetts to attend Andover Newton Theological School where he earned a Master of Divinity degree in 1975. He has served churches in southern New Hampshire and Maine. He is currently serving as pastor of the Federated Church in West Winfield, New York. While studying for a Doctor of Ministry degree at Bangor Seminary (graduating in 2000), he first encountered the idea that the experiences of the church in America and other western cultures are tantamount to an exile, much like that experienced by Judaism when the people were carried off to Babylon. During a sabbatical, he explored the parallels between the Babylonian exile and the late 20 th century exile of the church. His studies revealed that Judaism utilized the post-exilic period to reform, renew. Revitalize, and transform ancient Judaism into a modern major religion. This book is an exploration of how the transformation of Judaism may hold some valuable keys for the renewal of the Christian church in the 21 st century.