Founded by Charles Colson and Richard John Neuhaus in 1994, Evangelicals and Catholics Together (ECT) has fostered a fruitful conversation on the meaning of the gospel in today's world. Over the course of twenty years, ECT has issued nine statements addressing contemporary topics. This one-volume guide, the first collection of the ECT statements, explores the key accomplishments of this groundbreaking, ongoing dialogue. Introductions and notes provide context and discuss history and future prospects. The book also includes prefaces by J. I. Packer and Cardinal Timothy Dolan, a foreword by George Weigel, and an epilogue by R. R. Reno and Kevin J. Vanhoozer.

In the areas of peacebuilding and conflict resolution, the word 'reconciliation' has often been branded a negative term because it implies a resolution agreed upon by all parties in a given society, which for many seems an unachievable ideal. This book looks at the concept of reconciliation from a theological point of view, analysing its use historically within theology and presenting a new model of a practical theology of reconciliation. Using narrative research, it explores this idea within the context of Northern Ireland and offers valuable insights into the theological use of reconciliation by members of communities based in a conflict zone. The goal of Embodied Peacebuilding is to establish reconciliation as a prominent concept in the field of practical theology and to give a voice to those peacebuilders who are using reconciliation as a common theme within Northern Ireland.

As Christians, we belong to not only a diverse global Christian family but also a diverse human family. Todd Johnson, a noted expert on global Christianity and world missions trends, and Cindy Wu show how divisions within these families work against our desire to bring about positive change in the world. They provide an overview of global Christian identity, exploring how we can be faithful to our own tradition while engaging Christians across denominations and be better informed as we work with people of other religions. The book utilizes the latest research data on global Christianity and world religions and includes tables, graphs, charts, and end-of-chapter discussion questions.

Die 39 Beitrage dieses Sonderbandes beleuchten das Thema Theologie im Spannungsfeld von Kirche und Politik aus unterschiedlichen Perspektiven. Neben historischen Aspekten werden sowohl politisch-zeitgeschichtliche Fragen als auch ethische Problemstellungen bedacht. Weitere Aufsatze widmen sich der praktisch-theologischen Reflexion und Konkretion im Rahmen der christlichen Gemeinde, wie auch der Relevanz des Themas in aussereuropaischen politisch-kulturellen Kontexten. Der internationale Autorenkreis setzt sich uberwiegend aus Kolleginnen und Kollegen, Schulerinnen und Schulern des Regensburger Systematikers Hans Schwarz zusammen. Im Rahmen der Regensburger Summer School 2014 haben sie damit auch das Lebenswerk von Hans Schwarz anlasslich von dessen 75. Geburtstags gewurdigt, in dem das theologisch geleitete Umgehen mit der sakularen Welt eine wichtige Rolle spielt. The 39 contributions to this special issue develop the theme Theology in Engagement with Church and Politics from a variety of perspectives. Alongside the exploration of historical aspects, both contemporary political questions and ethical dilemmas are examined. Further contributions are devoted to the reflection upon practical theology, Christian congregational praxis, and contextual studies, which demonstrate the political and cultural relevance of this theme beyond Europe. The international circle of authors is constituted largely of colleagues and students of Professor Hans Schwarz, systematic theologian from Regensburg, Germany. In conjunction with the 2014 University of Regensburg Summer School, the authors dedicate this volume to the lifetime achievement of Hans Schwarz on the occasion of his 75th birthday, in whose work the engagement of theology with the secular world plays a major role.

"Contesting Ecumenical Theology" is a major contribution to the study of the Church. It provides clear and authoritative orientation for the student, while probing deep into a range of key issues in ecclesiology and ecumenical dialogue from a critical standpoint that will stimulate discussion among scholars and ecumenists. It reclaims some old orthodoxies, while challenging some new ones, and points to a deeper and more personal engagement with the major traditions of the Christian Church as the way to fuller unity and more effective mission. "Contesting Ecumenical Theology" argues that the values of difference and diversity and the priority of mission and evangelisation must shape our picture of unity. It transcends old arguments about 'establishment', by showing that all churches are compelled to develop a constructive relationship to the modern state, wherever possible, if they are to be effective in mission. The central ecumenical notion of 'reception' is re-interpreted, not as the faithful unquestioningly receiving the teaching of church authorities, but as the process whereby the whole Church discerns the truth of new developments. The mantra 'baptism is complete sacramental initiation' is challenged, and the place of confirmation is secured within a total process of initiation. The ministry of the episcopate is affirmed, but only by being related to the gospel on which the Church is founded. The nature of communion is examined and the imperative of maintaining it against divisive tendencies is affirmed. 'The hermeneutics of unity' shows that we are shaped by each other through the conflict or rivalry of traditions: 'We are what we are because you are what you are'.

Based on original research in the archive of the Council of Churches in Wales, this volume provides a history of the modern ecumenical movement in Wales--a movement that has attempted to foster closer collaboration among the churches and denominations and enabled working partnerships in response to national and international social, cultural, and economic issues. Providing a critical account of issues of both faith and order, as well as questions of life and work in the contemporary ecumenical movement, "A History of Ecumenism in Wales, 1956-1990" tells the story of a movement whose enormous influence on the churches in Wales helped them to meet the changes and challenges within Welsh society during the latter half of the twentieth century.

This book demonstrates a number of approaches made by biblical scholars to find a theology of the Christian Scripture. It then considers attempts to bridge the gap between exegesis and dogmatics by appeal to the discipline of 'fundamental theology' and the doctrine of Revelation. It finds that, for all the interesting questions raised, one is forced back to the Bible from where one must form the themes and concepts which have been developed by theologians through the ages, and which with help from biblical historical critics can be made to refresh theology and serve the Church. This is done by examining the role of 'faith' in the two testaments and by considering how the Bible's understanding of that which receives revelation is itself useful for the total enterprise of theology.

At a time when Anglican and Evangelical seem to be increasingly polarised rather than part of the same tradition, an Evangelical Anglican takes a fresh look at the historical and contemporary expressions of each to assess their distinctive standpoints, to show how much common ground they share and to examine what this means for the church today. Practitioners who consider themselves on one or the other side of the debate, as well as those who would ally themselves with both traditions, will welcome this new appraisal with its insight into meeting points and mutual goals. This is a vital contribution for all who are concerned to arrest the perception, whatever the reality, of the Anglican church's inexorable decline.

Cardinal Waler Kasper is a distinguished theologian who has been a colleague of Cardinal Ratzinger, Karl Rahner and Hans Kung at the Universtities of Munster and Tubingen. Kasper now heads the Vatican's Ponitifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, with the specific task of fostering relations between the Catholic Church and the other Christian Churches and Eccesiastical communities. By any reckoning, Kasper is a key leader in the eccumenical movement today. In this new book, he outlines his vision for the unity of Christian Churches. A man with an open mind, Kasper covers one of the major responsibilities of the contemporary Catholic Church. His perspective of the uniqueness of the Catholic Church and its magisterium is presented here as a modern inquiry into the nature of truth. His views are enlightened and engaging, and reflect the important role of dialogue as understood by the Catholic Church, which must also listen to other traditions and learn from them. But Kasper also realises that the cause of unity is exceptionally difficult at the present time.Dialogue is often challenged by developments between and within Christian communions and obstructed by historical tensions. This book will command quite exceptional interest. Many will read it in the hope that the thought of this renowned, open-minded Church leader may give hope to people of all traditions that they may learn to understand Jesus's injucntion - 'that they may be one'.

This book presents the text of the Declaration, which had been drafted after a thorough process of interreligious and international consultation by Hans Kung, with a commentary explaining how it came to take its present form and what it sets out to do. Dr. Karl-Josef Kuschel, Hans Kung's Tubingen colleague, describes the historical background to the Parliament and gives an account of its proceedings.

Divided into 3 parts, this handbook provides a wide-ranging survey and analysis of the Christian Church. The first section addresses the scriptural foundations of ecclesiology; the second section outlines the historical and confessional aspects of the topic; and the final part discusses a variety of contemporary and topical themes in ecclesiology. Compiled and written by leading scholars in the field, the T&T Clark Handbook of Ecclesiology covers a range of key topics in the context of their development and importance in each stream of historic Christianity and the confessional traditions. The contributors cover traditional matters such as creedal notes, but also tackle questions of ordination, orders of ministry, and sacraments. This handbook is extensive enough to provide a true overview of the field, but the essays are also concise enough to be read as reference selections.

In this book, Brother David Steindl-Rast, who has been a monk for more than 50 years, argues that every sensual experience--whether the joy of walking barefoot or the fragrance of the season--should be recognized as a spiritual one.

How has Christianity engaged with democracy? In this authoritative new treatment of a sometimes troubled relationship, Donald Norwood reflects on the way that democracy has become, especially under the auspices of the United Nations and the World Council of Churches, not just an ideal but a universally applicable moral principle. Yet, as the author demonstrates, faith and democracy have not always sat comfortably together. For example, the Vatican has dealt harshly with radical theologians such as Leonardo Boff and Hans Kung; while churches with a dictatorial style have all too often shown a willingness to accommodate authoritarian regimes and even dictators. Norwood argues that if democracy is a universal norm, a basic right, it is not possible for the Church to be indifferent to its claims. Offering a sustained exposition - from Marsilius of Padua to Christian Democracy and Christian Socialism - of the often uneasy interaction between Christianity and democratic politics as both idea and ideal, this is a major contribution to church history and to wider topical debates in politics and religious studies.

Die in diesem Werk veroeffentlichten Abhandlungen von Hubert Cieslik S.J. (1914-1998) geben neue Einblicke in die vielen kaum bekannte und dramatische Fruhgeschichte des Christentums in Japan. Die Herausgeber versammelten Beitrage des Autors, die bisher nur im Erstdruck, weit verstreut in internationalen Fachzeitschriften, erschienen sind. Der in Schlesien geborene Autor lebte seit 1934 bis zu seinem Tode in Japan und widmete sich von fruh an der Erforschung des "Christlichen Jahrhunderts", d.h. der Geschichte der Christenverfolgung in Japan.

Aggiornamento, Verheutigung des Glaubens im Sinn des Konzilpapstes Johannes XXIII.: Das ist das Grundmotiv, das die Aufsatze und Vortrage durchzieht. Ziel ist die schwierige Transferarbeit der wissenschaftlichen Dogmatik, die traditionellen Glaubensformulierungen in den heutigen soziokulturellen Lebenskontext zu ubersetzen. Konkret wird in den einzelnen Beitragen auf je spezifische Weise versucht, die Relevanz des Glaubens fur das Leben der Menschen in der Welt von heute deutlich zu machen.

Fur diese Arbeit ist der Autor mit dem Johann-Peter-Hebel-Preis 2002 der Evangelischen Landeskirche Baden ausgezeichnet worden. Das Spannungsverhaltnis von Mission und interreligioesem Dialog ist Gegenstand dieser Arbeit. Der Autor untersucht die wichtigsten oekumenischen und evangelikalen (Welt-)Missionskonferenzen des 20. Jahrhunderts und das II. Vatikanische Konzil nach dem Selbst- und Missionsverstandnis, die Sicht auf die nichtchristlichen Religionen sowie die missiologischen Neuansatze. Der systematische Teil entfaltet das Missions- und Dialogverstandnis der gangigen religionstheologischen Modelle Exklusivismus, Inklusivismus und Pluralismus. Dabei werden Moeglichkeiten aufgezeigt, das Dreierschema zu uberwinden. Zuletzt wird eine theologische Begrundung fur Mission und den interreligioesen Dialog sowie die konkrete Umsetzung eines interreligioesen Dialogs im Klassenzimmer vorgestellt. Dabei werden die Bedeutung der Konvivenz, des Dialogs und des Zeugnisses fur den Religionsunterricht aufgezeigt.