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Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Christianity > Christian institutions & organizations > Ecumenism
FEW BOOKS ON episcopacy deal with the inner life or practical
problems of being a bishop, but this volume gives an inside view.
It describes the initial challenge of adjusting to a new role with
little preparation, and indicates the main ongoing pressures. This
account combines personal experience with theological reflection.
Convinced that being comes before doing, David Tustin first
considers vital elements in the bishop's personal way of life:
inner life, outer lifestyle, home and hospitality, and careful use
of time. The rationale of what bishops actually do is then examined
in seven key areas, together with suggestions about translating
ideals into reality: teamwork; caring for people within and beyond
the church; conducting worship; spreading the Christian message;
sending new ministers; building bridges in society and within the
church; fostering visible Christian unity. Emphasis is laid on
bishops sharing their ministry with others, and reaching out beyond
the church. This book offers examples of good practice. It draws
together resources useful for new bishops, including excerpts from
classic writers (Gregory the Great and Bernard of Clairvaux) and
pointers to an ecumenical range of contemporary material unlikely
to be in the hands of most readers. It is relevant to all who share
in senior church leadership. A bibliography and index are included.
DAVID TUSTIN was Bishop of Grimsby from 1979 to 2000, and since
retirement has been an assistant bishop in the diocese of Lincoln.
He was awarded a Lambeth DD in 1998 in recognition of his
contribution to Christian unity, both in this country and
internationally.
In the last century, amazingly, world Christianity's center of
gravity has effectively moved from Europe to a point near Timbuktu
in Africa. Never in the history of Christianity has there been such
a rapid and dramatic shift in where Christians are located in the
world.Wesley Granberg-Michaelson explores the consequences of this
shift for congregations in North America, specifically for the
efforts to build Christian unity in the face of new and challenging
divisions. Centers of religious power, money, and theological
capital remain entrenched in the global, secularized North while
the Christian majority thrives and rapidly grows in the global
South. World Christianity's most decisive twenty-first-century
challenge, Granberg-Michaelson argues, is to build meaningful
bridges between faithful churches in the global North and the
spiritually exuberant churches of the global South.
The histories of the Church of England and the Methodist Church
have been linked together for 250 years. In the 1970s, a proposal
for unity failed narrowly. Now relationships between Methodists and
Anglicans are stronger than ever, locally, regionally and
nationally. Both are committed to the search for unity. What holds
them apart? This official report of the Formal Conversations that
began in 1999 sets out the common ground that has been
rediscovered. It shows the strength of theological agreement, but
also points out significant differences that require further work.
Conscious of both the opportunities and the unresolved issues, the
two churches asked the Conversations to draw up an agreement that
would enable them to take a significant step towards future unity.
The talks gave priority to mission and evangelism and paid special
attention to diversity. This report proposes a national covenant,
made up of mutual acknowledgement and mutual commitment. It should
consolidate at the national level the many local and regional
covenants that already exist and so prepare the ground for the next
vital stage on the road to unity.
For as long as Christian churches and communities have been
divided, there are those who have looked for ways to heal the
fractures. Callan Slipper offers five ways for Christians to
approach one another on the path toward unity. (1) Recognize the
need; (2) start from being united; (3) proceed one person at a
time, with love; (4) don't make yourself the measure of truth.
Truth is a person. It is Jesus; (5) embrace the cross, and let
Jesus' love transform division. His observations come from years of
experience with ecumenists, and his optimism that unity is
inevitable is evidence that faith and hope undergird the challenges
that abide our daily choice to build Christian unity by the way we
love one another.
This book, by a Methodist minister with wide experience of churches
in Britain and abroad, has arisen out of a consuming interest in
the ecumenical movement in England over a period of years. Written
in an open and attractive way, it describes the history of
relations between churches since their earlier divisions, and
focusses particularly on the situation at the present time. Was the
church united in New Testament times, and what were the problems
which caused divisions? After looking at these questions against
the background of the early church and the Reformation, David
Butler then looks at beliefs which have so often been in conflict
in the past as they appear to others. What are the 'strange ideas'
of Protestants and Catholics and why is each side so suspicious of
the other? Why can't Anglicans and Methodists agree, and what about
Catholics and Anglicans, Methodists and Catholics? Of course great
progress has been made, and in particular growing convergence on
understanding the Bible is highlighted, and the reconciliation over
Reformation controversies is noted. There are also chapters on most
recent ecumenical developments and on ecumenical spirituality. Then
comes a description of the new scene: the role of the Black
churches in the ecumenical movement, and the contribution of the
Pentecostal and charismatic movements. Here is a book which any
Christian can understand, and its infectious enthusiasm brings to
life a vital cause which to some seems to have got bogged down with
impasses or dulled by uninspiring statements reading perilously
like bureaucracy.
This book is ecumenical, interreligious, and metareligious in
nature. It may have a provocative title, but it is the subtitle
that says what the book is really about. The book is not simply an
attack on religion, but offers ideas for improving religion, any
religion. It defines what makes a true religion, in the most
positive meaning of the term, and what makes a cult, in the most
negative meaning. Rather than just pointing fingers, however, the
book introduces the six criteria that make a religion, even a
minority religion a true religion, and these ideas can be used to
improve every religion by its believers, or by those who are
priests, monks, rabbis, mullahs, religious people of any kind, or
theologians. This book is for everyone, with religious ideas
applicable to all religions, even Islam - in fact, the author
justifies the applicability and necessity of the book by citing
both the Qur'an and Muhammad. This book can increase or promote
interreligious dialogue, and in a way that does not offend anyone
in particular. It could also give new lustre to all religions with
followers and clergy with an open mind.
In recent bilateral ecumenical dialogue the aim of the dialogue has
been to reach some form of doctrinal consensus. The three major
chapters of the book discuss the variety of forms of doctrinal
consensus found in ecumenical dialogues among Anglicans, Lutherans
and Roman Catholics. In general, the dialogue documents argue for
agreement/consensus based on commonality or compatibility.
Each of the three dialogue processes has specific characteristics
and formulates its argument in a unique way. The Lutheran-Roman
Catholic dialogue has a particular interest in hermeneutical
questions and proposes various forms of "differentiated" or
perspectival forms of consensus. The Anglican-Roman Catholic
dialogue emphasises the correctness of interpretations. The
documents consciously look towards a "common future," not the
separated past.
Michael Nazir-Ali grew up in a Muslim family and is now a Christian
church leader, and this book is a clear demonstration of the shared
spiritual heritage between Christians and Muslims and the points at
which the two faiths diverge. The effects of the terrorist attacks
in America in September 2001 polarized opinion about Islam in the
West. Never was the need for understanding felt so keenly, and on
the other hand suspicion and fear multiplied. The Bishop of
Rochester grew up in a Muslim family and here presents in
easy-to-follow question and answer format all that you wanted to
know but didn't like to ask about Muslims and their beliefs. This
is a useful resource for all who live, work or minister in mixed
communities.
Bound Together is a unique resource that addresses the intrinsic
relationship between social justice issues and local faith and
ecumenical community building. Bos articulates the theological
warrants for ecumenical and interfaith ministry at a local level,
showing how neighboring congregations of various denominations or
faiths, simply by virtue of their common relationship to a
surrounding community, have a theological connection that can
cooperatively undergird joint ministry ventures. He explores how
congregations or denominations of the same or different faiths can
combine their resources and design a common strategy or program in
response to the needs and assets of their particular community. To
demonstrate, he takes a close look at both the African American
denominations and the theology of the laity movement.
Revered for his long service, charismatic presence, and unwavering
commitment to the ecumenical movement, Archbishop Anastasios here
returns to his missionary roots and offers a new paradigm for
Christian mission today. Fully engaged in the realities of
contemporary religious pluralism as well as secularism, Anastasios
nonetheless sees an opportunity for a more honest sharing of the
faith that is directly relevant to the spiritual quest, moral
dilemmas, and social needs of our planet. Co-published with Holy
Cross Orthodox Press, Massachusetts.
"Glimpses of Grace" relates the joys and challenges of a prison
chaplain through a series of one-page vignettes. The open-ended
stories are written with a pastor's heart that seeks to minister to
the needs and hopes of offenders who have committed serious crimes.
The book takes the reader from opportunities of pastoral care to
issues of relationships, authority, and restorative justice. The
author explores the challenges of ecumenism and inter-faith
dialogue while remaining true to his Christian faith. He looks at
ministry from the perspective of volunteers and writes about how
staff can be an ally in corrections. He regards offenders as
subjects who define the nature of the pastoral
relationship.Donald's high view of ecclesiology and solid
theological background give this book a unique perspective. Don
regards the chapel community as a natural extension of the visible
body of Jesus Christ of which the larger church is a part. Don
considers how offenders' experiences and other faiths can make one
a more devout believer. The profound experiences of the "other"
make one look more deeply into the resources of one's own faith.
This is a collection of writings on the Eucharist by one of the
most important theological thinkers of our time. The theology of
John Zizioulas presents a beautiful vision of the Church as
Eucharistic communion, in which human persons both are gathered
into Jesus Christ and are sent back into the world. In his previous
books, Zizioulas focused on the way this communion is related to
the communion of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, which calls us to
understand being as communion and provides the only foundation for
otherness and identity. With its sustained attention directly to
the Eucharistic communion, this volume provides the context for
those discussions. Zizioulas here explores the biblical dimensions
and eschatological foundation of the Eucharist, the celebration of
the Eucharist by the Church, and the ethos of the Eucharistic
community. These essays are provocatively concrete and practical,
showing once again that Zizioulas' teaching on persons, communion
and otherness has radical implications for the life of the Church
and its relationship to the world.
This is a rich collection of fifteen articles by European, North
American and Asian theologians who are concerned with the concept,
life, unity and future of the church. It offers a wealth of broad
perspectives on ecclesiology by scholars from Catholic, Protestant
and Orthodox backgrounds. The first section, 'Perspectives on
Ecumenical Ecclesiology', comprises reflections on postmodern
ecclesiologies as well as on the development and problems
concerning ecumenical methods and models of unity. The second
section, 'Communion Ecclesiology and Otherness', provides some
pertinent deliberations on how an ecclesiology of communion can
integrate otherness. In particular, Zizioulas' communion
ecclesiology is critically examined, the possibility for a
retrieval of Eucharistic theology between Catholics and Orthodox is
put forward, and Tillard's communion ecclesiology is appraised as
offering resources for innerdenominational otherness. The final
section, 'Ecclesiology in Global Contexts', considers critically
the possibility of evangelical ecclesiology as an answer to ethnic
impaired Christian community. The role of the (Catholic) Church and
its values in Europe and vis-a-vis the European Constitution is
examined. The Church of Nigeria's Constitutional Revision (2005)
and its ecclesial- ecumenical implications comes into focus, and
three notable concepts of unity, as developed by three Indian
scholars, S.K. George, John Sadiq and Karem David, are evaluated.
Finally, the Japanese diaspora in the States is appraised as a
place where a particular Japanese Christian vision could emerge
through the "internationalist ecclesiology" developed by Japanese
Christian missionaries. >
Description: By all accounts, the modern ecumenical movement is not
moving much these days. Despite dramatic breakthroughs in the past
few decades, the quest for a visibly united church--in which there
is common confession of the apostolic faith, full Eucharistic
communion, and mutual recognition of members and ministers--now
meets with indifference by many, impatience by some, and outright
hostility by others. In part, this is because the movement has not
given enough attention to grassroots ecumenical engagement. This
book is written to convince ordinary Christians, especially young
Christian adults, that they too have a stake in the future of the
ecumenical movement as its most indispensable participants.
Ecumenism Means You, Too draws on the music of Irish rock band U2
to cast artistic light on various aspects of the quest for
Christian unity. Whether one is a U2 fan or not, and whether one
thinks the ecumenical movement is a good thing or a bad thing for
the church, everyone who reads this book will learn something about
the Christian theological framework apart from which neither the
modern ecumenical movement nor the meaning of U2's music can be
understood. The book includes an annotated bibliography of
resources for ecumenical engagement and a glossary of key
ecumenical terms for readers who want to learn more about the
Christian practice of seeking the unity of the church.
Endorsements: ."" . . at once profound and straightforward, deeply
reflected yet highly accessible, theologically rich yet directly
practical . . . a source of wisdom to be absorbed into the
life-blood of each of our widely differing communities for their
mutual enrichment . . . a superbly inviting and practical
manifestation of what has come to be referred to as Receptive
Ecumenism."" --Paul D. Murray Durham University, UK ""Whether you
are passionate about, disappointed by, or indifferent to the
church: if you love God, you need this book. Harmon shows you why
mutual tolerance is not the unity that Jesus desired for his Body,
and he gives you the tools to start knitting back together the
broken pieces of the church-so the world might believe. This little
book should be the marching orders for every Christian "" --Sarah
Hinlicky Wilson Institute for Ecumenical Research, Strasbourg,
France ""Few books on the ecumenical movement are as readable, and
I would wager none has as appealing a soundtrack. Harmon invites us
to strive for the hope of fuller visible unity with sisters and
brothers in Christ, not by ignoring denominational differences, but
by acknowledging what divides us while refusing to settle for
division. The 'Ten Things You Can Do for the Unity of the Church'
list alone is worth the price of the book."" --Beth Maynard
co-editor of Get Up Off Your Knees: Preaching the U2 Catalog About
the Contributor(s): Steven R. Harmon teaches Christian Theology at
Gardner-Webb University School of Divinity in Boiling Springs,
North Carolina. A member of the Baptist World Alliance delegations
to the international theological conversations with the Anglican
and Roman Catholic churches and a plenary member of the Faith and
Order Commission of the World Council of Churches, he is the author
of Towards Baptist Catholicity: Essays on Tradition and the Baptist
Vision (2006). He blogs about his work in ecumenical theology at
www.ecclesialtheology.blogspot.com.
The riches of the Jewish year with its high holy days, its times of
preparation and celebration are opened up for all in this anthology
of prayer, arranged in forty sections, which draws deeply on the
Hebrew scriptures, the Old Testament and the Jewish spiritual
tradition. Christian readers will be enriched by a deeper encounter
with the roots of their own faith and the patterns of prayer and
worship by which many Christian rituals and observances are shaped.
First major book-length study on this subject written by a
Protestant in more than a century. / The dogma of papal
infallibility has become increasingly problematic for Roman
Catholics, and it is a major point of division in Christian
ecumenical dialogue arguably the key issue separating Catholics and
other Christians today. Mark Powell here contends that papal
infallibility has inevitable shortcomings as a way to secure
religious certainty. After introducing the doctrine, he illustrates
those limitations in the life and writings of four prominent
Catholic theologians: Henry Edward Cardinal Manning, John Henry
Cardinal Newman, Avery Cardinal Dulles, and Hans Kng. / The book
concludes with a fresh proposal for conceiving religious
epistemology, ecclesial authority, and ecumenical agreement.
Powell's Papal Infallibility is an accessible, critical study for
Catholics and non-Catholics alike.
This book argues that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, locked as
they have been over the centuries in many kinds of mutual enmity
and violence, now need to join resources to resist the destructive
economic and political forces now on the loose across the globe,
some of which distrust among these faiths has tended to intensify.
Such a project requires relational practices among the faiths, all
of them based on mutual moral commitments that draw on the
respective communities' scriptural traditions of covenantal
promise-keeping. That is, each tradition has a gift of
responsibility, both to its God and to its people. Mudge wants to
plumb the resources of each of these religions and encourage them
to be responsible in taking these gifts seriously.Such relational
practices are hardly used as resources in interreligious dialogue.
Mudge contends that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are called to
practice moral hospitality and covenantal humanism in order to
foster justice and responsibility in societies around the globe.
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