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Reforming the Kirk is essential reading for anyone who cares about
the future of the Church of Scotland or who wants to understand the
deep challenges facing it in contemporary Scotland. The Church of
Scotland has had a profound social and cultural influence on all
aspects of Scottish life for over 450 years. Yet many feel that
times now are harder for the Church than ever before - and that
spirits are low. People are asking what has happened to the Church
that they have loved, served and belonged to for so long and how
the Church can have a strong, vibrant future. The Church's motto,
semper reformanda, means 'always to be reformed,' but what kind of
reformation is needed now to bring about the future for which so
many so long? Doug Gay's analysis brings a rich blend of
historical, theological and cultural understanding to bear on
analysing patterns of decline within the context of a secularising
Scotland and proposing bold and creative ways for the Kirk to
respond. Based on the 2017 Chalmers Lectures.
Based on a decade's experience of preparing ministry students to
become preachers and his own experience as one of today's most
gifted preachers, Doug Gay offers an imaginative, practical and
inspiring guide for all who are privileged with the task of
preaching. 40 short, pithy and often humorous reflections consider
different aspects of the nature and practice of preaching and aim
to fire the imagination, build confidence and develop creativity.
It draws on a wide range of range of writers and theologians on
preaching and the creative arts and incorporates voices as diverse
as Stanley Hauerwas, Sam Wells and Miles Davis. Arranged in four
parts, What is Preaching?, Learning to Read, Learning to Speak,
Living and Preaching it includes topics such as: * Finding your
voice * Naming the presence of God * Knowing your people *
Preaching as nourishment * Wrestling your own blessing from the
text * Choosing the best words
Doug Gay explores the ethics of nationalism, recognising that for
many Christians, churches and theologians, nationalism has often
been seen as intrinsically unethical due to a presumption that at
best it involves privileging one nation's interests over anothers
and at worst it amounts to a form of ethnocentrism or even racism.
Gay argues that there is another tradition of thinking nationalism,
which can be related to state formation in early modern and modern
Europe and North America, decolonisation in the 20th C and the
reshaping of Central and Eastern Europe post 1989. This tradition
represents a political response to various forms of `empire' and an
assertion of a desire for self-determination in opposition to
domination by an imperial or colonial power. This trajectory has
not yet been adequately recognised within political theology and
Christian ethics, which remains suspicious of the language of
nationalism, while quietly acquiescing in its acceptance of the
political legitimacy of most existing nation-states. The book
offers a clear challenge to this approach, suggesting it lacks
self-awareness and moral authority and proposes a critical
rehabilitation of the discourse of nationalism, as necessary and
helpful in relation to creating an honest and transparent discourse
about the legitimacy of state boundaries. What makes any
nationalism - whether regnant or aspiring - `ethical' for Christian
theology?
The Emerging Church movement is a key part of the current landscape
of Christianity.The term 'emerging church' is not without its
critics. It is used both by those who participate in new worship
communities such as those represented at Greenbelt and by those who
are suspicious of the claim that the emerging church presents
something radically new. Doug Gay attempts to look beyond such
polarization and to articulate a hermeneutical process of audit,
retrieval, unbundling and remixing of key elements of traditional
Christian practice.Remixing the Church has the potential to become
a standard work on contemporary ecclesiology.
'Take a look behind the scenes of contemporary Christian worship,
in the company of historians, musicians, theologians and pastors.
This book vibrates with a passion for offering a better
understanding of worship and liturgy. It uncovers fault lines for
today's worshipper as well as posing challenges for tomorrow. It's
a very good read.' Alison Eliot, former Moderator, Church of
Scotland 'Through a series of historical and contemporary
snapshots, leading academics and clergy provide some fascinating
insights into the cultural context that has formed Scotland's
theological and ecclesiastical heritage. Presbyterianism dominates,
but Roman Catholic and Episcopalian contributions also feature in a
story stretching from the Reformation to the present day. If you've
ever wondered how the faith of Calvin and John Knox could inspire
the Iona Community, and even the emerging church, then this is a
key resource.'John Drane, University of Aberdeen 'The essays in
this volume probe the complex and often competing trends in the
practice of Christian corporate worship in Scotland. They also
point us to fundamental lessons for all practical theology: attend
deeply to cultural contexts, listen to voices from quite different
perspectives, and probe at each turn how both our worship and our
writing about worship might reflect the glory of God in the face of
Jesus Christ.'John D. Witvliet, Calvin Institute of Christian
Worship Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary 'A
significant reminder of what has too readily been forgotten. An
important articulation of what has been untold. Weaving doctrinal
reflection, historical discussion and social analysis, this volume
brightly illuminates Christian worship in Scotland as a practice
with deep roots. The diversity of contributors mirrors the Scottish
context, offering a rich resource for further conversation. An
essential text for anyone pondering Christian worship within, and
well beyond, the Scottish border.'Dr Eric Stoddart, University of
St Andrews. "Worship and Liturgy in Context" shows how Christian
worship in its many and changing forms interacts in significant and
interesting ways with its varying contexts - cultural, social,
political, economic. Worship, even in a secular age, shapes ethics
and behaviour, and often challenges received wisdom and commonly
accepted theologies. It gives special attention to Scotland, but it
is challengingly relevant in other contexts today. It makes a
distinctive and important contribution to the lively debate about
the relation of worship, theology and ethics. It also challenges
the Churches and believers to renewal of the worship of God in
spirit and in truth. It is suitable for use on liturgy and worship
courses, courses on church history, cultural history, practical and
pastoral theology.
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