That’s a wrap: our 2025 publishing in review

Olivia, SCM Press Sales and Marketing Assistant, looks back at some great titles published over the last 12 months.

As we look back on 2025, SCM Press has had a great year, publishing 30 books on a variety of topics, from the faith development of children to British Chinese Christianity to climate collapse. Our authors respond to the most pressing questions in theology today and consider what they mean for Christians around the world.

In case you missed some of the important books we published in the last year, here are a few highlights...

The Seeking Heart by Ian Mobsby

The twenty-first century has heralded a series of societal shifts and crises, the solutions to which often seem unclear. Ian Mobsby starts his book with the idea that ‘all change begins with the transformation of the inner life of each human being’ as he advocates for a contemplative approach to mission. He then examines the increase in people identifying as ‘spiritual but not religious’, moving on to various accounts of contemplative spirituality in the modern day and each step of the Christian contemplative missional journey. The Seeking Heart is a useful book for those considering how to broaden the appeal and accessibility of church services and meetings. The book also contains resources for running a meditation group yourself, including advice on making attendees welcome and a script that you can adapt. Mobsby’s experience with a range of modern monastic communities shows in his considered approach to a contemplative spirituality fit for the modern day.

Fullness of Vision, Fullness of Life by Jonathan Kimber

In this intriguing crossover study of church leadership and neuroscience, Jonathan Kimber approaches ministry through the research carried out by the psychiatrist Iain McGilchrist, seeking to answer the question, ‘What does McGilchrist's research into the divided brain theory mean for leadership and the church?’ Kimber uses the ‘divided brain’ theory to consider how we might harmonize two apparently conflicting approaches to church leadership. The first is defined by a focus on strategy, planning and a compartmentalized approach to problem-solving. The second is shaped by a broader, more flexible approach to the world around us and what it has to offer. What Kimber shows us in Fullness of Vision, Fullness of Life is how to balance and get the best out of both approaches. An unusual book, with a very useful message for those grappling with the varied demands of ministry, but with much wider applications for anyone thinking about leadership styles.

How Do We Talk About Abortion? by Emma Percy

Practical theologian Emma Percy, among the first women to be ordained in the Church of England, looks into attitudes towards abortion in Christian contexts, considering how the stigma surrounding abortion can limit access to pastoral care for many women. Percy deals with the complexities of this subject with admirable care and clarity, making space for a nuanced reflection on the language and Scripture used by churches when discussing abortion and the misconceptions that have arisen due to stigma. As she notes, clergy tend to have limited experience in discussing abortion decisions. This book covers the ethical nuances of abortion, but also moves beyond discussions of right and wrong to the lived experience of women of faith who terminate their pregnancies, providing an essential resource for those aiming to understand abortion from a pastoral perspective.

Decomposing Holy Ground by Emma Lietz Bilecky

At Princeton’s Theological Seminary Farm, Emma Lietz Bilecky found her theology challenged as she spent her days tending to the soil and the fruits it bore. The soil could teach her more about God than any preacher, because on the farm, ‘resurrection is not a story, but a reality’ in the perpetual cycles of nature. Yet she also saw the way it had been ignored and degraded by humans over time. This startling, poetic work of theology is divided into five seasons that tell the story of farming from winter to autumn. Lietz Bilecky weaves into these chapters parts of her life, the story of North America’s colonization, and the meaning of climate collapse, ending each with a prayer. Decomposing Holy Ground is a poetic meditation on the cost of human consumption seen through the eyes of a theologian and farmer.

Introducing Analytic Theology by Phil Weston

2025 marked the 1,700-year anniversary of the Nicene Creed, a united expression of the Church’s agreed doctrine. Its particular focus on the Trinity, Jesus’ incarnation and atonement work made Phil Weston’s introduction to a new area of theology particularly timely at its publication in March. It defines analytic theology, responds to objections that might be made to it, and applies it to Christian doctrine and the life of the Church, including prayer and the sacraments. An essential companion to this emerging area of theology, this book is perhaps particularly appropriate to undergraduate students, but is written in accessible language, situating it as an entry point for those wishing to deepen their theological knowledge.

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Olivia Ingham joined SCM Press in 2025 and works on sales and marketing for SCM Press and St Andrew Press.

You can read about six titles to look forward to in 2026 in our blogpost here:

https://scmpress.hymnsam.co.uk/blog/on-the-sixth-day-of-advent-6-for-2026-from-scm-press

Image credit: Kafai Liu on Unsplash