At every level of church life from the local congregation to worldwide denominations, Christians can find themselves in turmoil and divided over a range of important issues. Many conclude that harmony is not achievable, and never will be. Can we, as Archbishop Justin Welby has asked, transform 'bad disagreement' into 'good disagreement'? What would that look like in practice? This book is designed to help readers unpack the idea of 'good disagreement' and apply it to their own church situations. It doesn't enter into specific contentious debates, but instead considers issues such as reconciliation, division, discipline, peacemaking, mediation and mission. It asks what needs to happen for those from differing viewpoints to both listen and be heard, and does not shy away from hard questions about unity in the gospel and the church's public witness. The book draws lessons from the New Testament, church history, and contemporary experience, with chapters from a dozen theologians and practitioners. They are editors Andrew Atherstone and Andrew Goddard, Tory Baucum, Martin Davie, Lis Goddard, Clare Hendry, Toby Howarth, Ashley Null, Ian Paul, Stephen Ruttle, Michael B. Thompson, and Tom Wright.

- Is there such a thing as a just war? - What are the moral issues surrounding genetic engineering? - Is it ethical to create babies for infertile couples? - Can it ever be right to help someone else to die? - Is the death penalty justified? - How can we care for the environment? - What about animal rights? - What are the challenges of globalisation? These are some of the central issues addressed in this book. The author introduces the issues and the questions surrounding them and offers his own perspective. This book follows on in series from A Pocket Guide to Sects and New Religions (2005) and A Pocket Guide to the Bible (2004).

Alister McGrath has had a tremendous impact on the renaissance of evangelical theology over the last twenty years. Regarded as one of the most widely read living theologians his theological work and writings has made an immense contribution to the vitality and dynamics of evangelical theology. This book invites evangelical theologians from various backgrounds to engage with his work and to chart a positive way forward for evangelical theology. Part One follows the theology of McGrath on justification, redemption, theology and science and post-liberal theology, whilst Part Two examines the essence, character, identity, methodology and future of evangelical theology. Contributions include Graham Tomlin, Gerald Bray, Clark Pinnock, Gabriel Fackre, William Abraham, and a response given by McGrath himself. 'This is a very significant volume, with contributions from numerous scholars who have been influenced by Dr McGrath or are his colleagues. They come from both sides of the Atlantic, and embrace many aspects of Alister's encyclopaedic knowledge and phenomenal literary output... And unlike most Festschriften this one has a fascinating characteristic; a final chapter in which Professor McGrath responds with grace and shrewdness to the points raised by the contributors. This is an important book to buy.' Canon Dr Michael Green, Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. 'It is a privilege and a pleasure to commend this set of weighty and wise essays that is being published to mark Professor Alister McGrath's fiftieth birthday... God be with you, Alister, as on you go. In a somewhat different sense from that of the old-time gladiators, I and many more of my generation say: nos morituri te salutamus. May your range and your acumen not diminish, your clarity not be clouded, and your vision of evangelicalism as the true wisdom, the true catholicity, and indeed the true Christianity never blur. Hold high the torch that has been passed to you and keep the books coming. We need them.' From the foreword by J.I Packer