Co-published with the Council for World Mission, this exciting new resource focuses on the theme of mission as it is expressed in worship and worked out in the life of the church. 150 original items from around the world include litanies and symbolic acts

Amongst the churches, Anglicanism is distinctive by virtue of its attempt to participate in the life and purposes of God and to make them known through history and in the practicalities of particular situations. Yet the distinctiveness of this position, and what its implications are for the Church's ongoing life, are not well appreciated. As a result, the churches of the Anglican Communion often find themselves caught in painful struggles about major issues concerning their own basis and practice, to such a degree that there are constant threats of division. The essays in this book begin from the struggles which have emerged in recent years, since the 1998 Lambeth conference, and show the deeper issues at stake. They respond with proposals for the future, focusing especially on the wisdom which manifests itself in the Church, and how this needs to be furthered in the worship, order and practice of the Church in the breadth of its mission in each place. They conclude with some considerations of the wider role of the Church in responding to spirituality and money. Together they form a powerful statement of the tasks of Anglicanism today from which other traditions have much to learn.

A guide to preaching on the Common Worship Lectionary, covering the whole three-year cycle, concentration on the lections for the principal service, and the major saints' days. It provides, for each Sunday's principal service, a focus verse from one of the readings and notes on how to link the four readings. The focus is on the readings but the author includes illustrations and reflections on the everyday life offering the preacher a number of jumping-off points. She sees the main aim of preaching as being to encourage people. A "how-to" section at the beginning of the book contains advice for those new to preaching.

An invaluable one-stop reference point for a wide range of biblical and ecclesiastical terms. Includes simple definitions for words frequently used in relation to church buildings, their contents, and in many aspects of church organization and worship. Revised and expanded to include the many changes brought about by Common Worship.

The Saints of the Anglican Calendar introduces us to the 232 men and women who are commemorated in the Common Mrship Calendar. Nearly five hundred years after the Reformation, the Church of England is coming to a fuller appreciation of the saints, and their contribution to our spiritual heritage. 1 it le .11 .1r, e: Mediaeval accounts of saints' lives were often marred by confitsion and contradictory oral traditions, the writers' desire to tell an edifying story, and the exploitation of the commercial opportunities of pilgrim shrines. Embellished with improbable miracles and unlikely legends, these accounts made the saints seem remote and unbelievable figures, but recent theological scholarship has cleared away the accretions of centuries, enabling us to see the saints as real people who faced up to the challenge of living out the Christian faith, often in conditions of great difficulty or danger - and who made mistakes like everyone else. This lively and informative volume presents the experience of men and women from the days of the early Church to modern times - people from many walks of life, including some from other Christian traditions. They represent the 'great cloud of witnesses' who enrich our understanding of the Christian faith, endow us with a legacy of two thousand years of Christian values in action, and inspire us to walk faithfully in the way of Christ.

The Anglican answer to this question is clearly given in this unrivalled short guide to the origins, structure, ministry and values of the Churches of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Paul Avis explains and clarifies the history and theology involved. The reader is introduced to the concepts in a structured way, making the book clear to those who may be coming to these issues for the first time. It will also form an invaluable aide-memoire and reference tool for the specialist, presenting a clear outline of the structure, form, function, disposition and beliefs of the Church. Concise and informative, this is an ideal handbook and textbook.

In 1974 the Church of England published a groundbreaking report on euthanasia. Considered by many Christians to be one of the key texts on the subject, it has now been revised and updated with important new additions and commentaries. On Dying Well investigates moral, theological, clinical and legal arguments for and against voluntary euthanasia. It presents arguments on both sides and considers real cases, thereby locating the issues in their clinical context. The report is both intellectually robust and sensitive to the realities of death. On Dying Well is, therefore, as much a contribution to the debate on euthanasia today as it was 25 years ago. The report, while recognising that there may be exceptional cases demanding special decisions, nevertheless concludes that the case for legalising voluntary euthanasia is not one that can be supported. The conclusions are satisfactory because they emerge from careful examination of the issues and reasoned arguments. Anyone who is concerned about euthanasia, or who would like to deepen their own reflections on the subject, should read On Dying Well.

In this volume of The New Church's Teaching Series, Stephen Holmgren introduces us to the world of Anglican ethics and moral theology. He focuses on questions all people of faith must ask: How will I keep my baptismal promises? How am I meant to live "after Easter?" In developing a distinctively Anglican approach to ethics, with its emphasis on holiness, sanctification, and the need for spiritual disciplines, Holmgren identifies clear axioms for Anglican moral theology and the ethos required for moral decision-making on the part of individuals and church bodies. He explains why ethical reflection is not the same as church governance, and why the institution cannot "make" its moral theology. Holmgren also discusses the role of conscience and reason, the work of moral discernment, the difference between moral knowledge and saving knowledge, the meaning of natural law, and the high value Anglicans place on consensus. The final chapter provides a methodology for building a moral case in Christian ethics, specifically on Christian involvement with war and violence. As with each book in The New Church's Teaching Series, recommended resources for further reading and questions for discussion are included.

An engaging portrait of one of the most influential and greatly-loved bishops of the Church of England in the twentieth century. He was a Franciscan scholar of world renown, a quintessential Anglican and untiring ecumenist.

This book represents a continuation of study, debate, and conversation, particularly within the Episcopal Church in the U.S., concerning the authority and function of the Bible in the church. The content of the debate and conversation, however, will be of interest and benefit also to members of other church bodies. A helpful study guide appears at the beginning of the book to assist individuals and group to work through the various contributions and to draw their own conclusions regarding the Bible's role in today's church. The literal and plain sense of the scriptures, the matter in which the Bible is to be regarded as incarnate in history and human limitations, and the degree to which it is subject to historical conditions-these and a host of other critical issues provide the focus of the book. Special attention is directed to the issue of the growing biblical illiteracy in society, leading one of the contributors to warn that "biblical illiteracy is the precursor to spiritual death and communal dissolution." The main chapters include" "The 'Official position' of the Episcopal Church on the Authority of Scripture: Historical Development and Ecumenical Comparison" (J. Robert Wright); "Holy Book, Holy People: A Study of the Authority and Use of the Bible" (Charles P. Price); "'For Freedom Christ Has Set You Free': The Interpretation and Authority of Scripture in Contemporary Theologies of Liberation" (Ellen K. Wondra); "Reading the Bible as the Word of God" (Stephen F. Noll); "The Scriptures in the Life of the Church" (Richard A. Norris, Jr.). The editor, Frederick Houk Borsch, is Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles.

Mullings and Musings is a collection of essays, each originally written by Charlotte Marshall for the monthly church newsletter published by Trinity Episcopal Church of Clarksville, Tennessee. The essays, often humorous, collectively tell the story of growing up in rural Tennessee in the 1930s during the Great Depression, the trials and tribulations of marriage and raising children, and growing old with the inevitable loss of dear friends. Charlotte Marshall was born in 1923 at Kirkwood, a rural community in Montgomery County, Tennessee. She graduated from Austin Peay State University. She and her husband, Jack, currently reside outside Clarksville, Tennessee.

When change in the Anglican Church is controversial, such as the ordination of women, those on both sides of the debate appear to reason and tradition to strengthen their argument. This important study explores the limits of that tradition.

Wise and informed commentary on the lectionary readings for the principal service in Year C. The authors represent a wide spectrum of theology but their shared concern for excellence in preaching have combined to produce an inspirational volume.

Calling All God's People offers a theological starting point to reflect on your calling and the calling of all God's people. It shows that whoever we are, whether young or old, wherever we are from, we are all invited to join in with God's life-affirming and transforming work. Calling All God's People explores three key themes from the Christian tradition - calling, discipleship and ministry - and includes real-life stories to help you imagine what calling looks like for different people in different contexts, as well as questions to ponder individually or in groups. It aims to broaden your imagination and help you ask how God might involve you in a transforming vision for the whole of life.

Covers the story of "The Nine O'Clock Services" which received heavy publicity in 1995, following the exposure of scandals and abuses at the hands of the leader, Chris Brain. This book follows the development of the church and draws comparisons with other alternative churches.

The Archbishops' Commission on the Organisation of the Church of England has carried out a more comprehensive review of the national institutions of the Church than has ever before been undertaken. Its recommendations are far-reaching and, if implemented, would radically change the ways in which the Church of England operates. This would involve a redefinition of how episcopal leadership and synodical governance can work most effectively together in resolving policy and resource issues at the national level, a change of working culture, and much closer integration at the national level and with dioceses. The report sets out clearly the theological principles which led the Commission to its conclusions, describes briefly the existing central structures and goes on to outline the proposals for a new National Council for the Church of England.

n recent years, Church of England church plants have been springing up all over the country at an average rate of one per fortnight. BREAKING NEW GROUND considers the whole phenomenon of church planting, its triumphs and its pitfalls. It looks at stories of life, hope and new beginnings, at growth and learning, and at the possible frustrations, tensions and difficulties surrounding this aspect of the Church's mission. It offers guidance for all kinds of church planting situations, and goes beyond the first stages to consider how to bring these new parts of God's church to fruition and maturity.

Transforming Priesthood offers a major theological reappraisal of the present and future role of the parish priest in Britain. Although written primarily with Anglicans in mind, the book is full if insights for partner churches - especially for those in which professional ministers and lay people recognize the need to collaborate effectively in carrying forward the mission and ministry of the whole Church. 'At last, here we have a practical, imaginative, and intelligent vision of priesthood for today's Church of England and beyond it. Dr Greenwood is widely experienced in parish ministry as well as at diocesan level and in academic theology. He is both realistic and theologically perceptive about contemporary England and its churches. His analyses are convincing; he is in touch with the livliest developments at local level and in theological thinking; and at the heart of his prescription is a relevant and passionate affirmation of the Trinitarian God. The result is a book that should not only stimulate debate of the right kind at a time of momentous change in all churches, it should also help to nurture Christian vocations, both as laity and parish priests.' David F Ford, Regius Professor of Divinity, University of Cambridge.

Despite the importance of Evangelism, the history of the Evangelicals in the Church of England has been the subject of no extensive study since G.R. Balleine's classic work of 1908. Incorporating subsequent research, and bringing to bear the most modern scholarly disciplines, Dr Hylson Smith has now provided an up-to-date, comprehensive and perceptive account of the Evangelical movement from the time of the Wesleys and Whitefield to the present day. Kenneth Hylson-Smith has doctoral degrees from Leicester and London. He is Bursar and Fellow of St. Cross College, Oxford.

The history of the Methodist attempt to evangelize Native Americans is riddled with spectacular failures as well as dramatic successes. In this balanced yet forthright account, Homer Noley helps you gain new insights and a richer understanding of Methodist missionary activities with native Americans from the 1600s to today."

WHY TAYLOR TODAY? Jeremy Taylor is more than a famous figure from the Anglican past for much of what he created theologically remains an ingredient in Anglicanism today. Seen against the background of his own times, he stands out in a period rich in theological ability. Seen from the angle of our times, Taylor commands our attention as a precursor. His Real Presence and Spiritual (1654) anticipates aspects of eucharistic theology in the Lima Report (1982) and in the Final Report (1982) or ARCIC I. His moral theology forms the context for his sacramental theology and forestalls much of the development characteristic of the twentieth-century revolution in that subject. He has moreover the curious capacity of appearing to make himself at times our contemporary. A man of paradox, both Laudon and liberal, steeped in the great tradition yet: on occasion strangely modern, he persistently defies easy classification. He is a theologian of affiliations but of no party, holding 'the faith once 'for all delivered' but expounding it with originality, and individuality. Taylor always remains his own man. Deeply and widely learned and enormously productive even throughout the years of national turmoil and amid personal losses, he can be exciting in his handling of themes expressed in that style which has, ensured for him a place in English literature. This book attempts an evaluation of his eucharistic theology - not hitherto examined in depth - which is firmly sited by Taylor within his overall picture of the Christian life.