Synopsis: Utilizing resources from Martin Luther and the Lutheran tradition, this study offers an understanding of the gospel as promise as key to addressing the challenge of relating the missio Dei to a generous, constructive approach toward the religious other. In its construction of a Lutheran missiology, it retrieves and reappropriates four resources from the Lutheran tradition: the gospel as promise, the law/gospel distinction, a theology of grace as promise of mercy fulfilled, and a theology of the cross utilizing the hiddenness of God. The law of God as accusing yet webbing humanity to its Creator; the gospel as the comforting promise of mercy; and the hiddenness of God as mystifying form the overarching framework within which the Lutheran missiology presented here seeks to engage the religious other by dialectically relating gospel proclamation and dialogue. Such a view of "mission shaped by promise" offers the paradox of God being both revealed and hidden in the cross as a distinctive contribution to an interreligious dialogue centered on the ambiguity and hiddenness of God. Endorsements: "The gospel is a promise; faith is trusting that promise. This is the cornerstone of Luther's theology. Kaariainen takes that cornerstone and builds a theology for Christian mission on it. He does so by attending to today's global context awash in a sea of faiths. Along the way, he weaves Luther's axiom into conversation with major voices in current, ecumenical mission studies. It's a game-changing accomplishment." --Edward H. Schroeder, Professor Emeritus of Systematic Theology, Christ Seminary-Seminex "Focusing on God's personal approach to fallen human beings in his incarnation and his verbal way of creating and re-creating reality, Kaariainen puts core insights from Martin Luther to use. Against the background of growing up in the mission field and serving there now, Kaariainen addresses the challenge of universalism, with Martin Luther's concept of the promise of God, expressed in Christ, conveyed through forgiveness. A new and exciting challenge to concrete missiological thinking." --Robert Kolb, Professor of Systematic Theology Emeritus, Concordia Seminary, "Mission Shaped by Promise is] a strong, refreshing breeze blowing through the sails of missiology. The theology of mission has often bypassed the Reformation in its search for new impulses and insights. This book holds great promise because it draws from the heart of the Reformation tradition the nature of the gospel itself. It will be significant for rethinking the foundation of mission." --Rick Bliese, President, Luther Seminary "Utilizing classic Lutheran resources, Kaariainen rigorously engages contemporary Roman Catholic missiology from an irenic, ecumenical stance. His proposal for mission as promise, employing the concept of the hiddenness of God in dialogue and proclamation, exhibits 'generous orthodoxy' and contemporary Lutheran thinking at its best. A creative, invaluable contribution to missiological discourse today " --Miikka Ruokanen, Professor of Dogmatics, University of Helsinki Author Biography: Jukka A. Kaariainen is associate professor of systematic theology at China Lutheran Seminary in Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China.

Synopsis: The critique of Jacques Dupuis, SJ, by the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith at the direction of Joseph Ratzinger was met by almost universal dismay by Christian theologians and participants in interfaith dialogue throughout the world. This book is comprised of both responses by Father Dupuis to the Vatican's criticisms (which he was forbidden to publish during his lifetime) and introductory and background material by his friend and editor Bill Burrows, who draws on their many conversations to draw out the deeper implications of Dupuis' work and the background to the Vatican investigations and criticisms. In addition to laying bare procedural problems in the CDF's process, Dupuis shows that both the Vatican document Dominus Iesus and the Notification about problems in his work rest on dangerous misunderstandings of Scripture and church teaching that reverse the gains in interfaith understanding and ecumenism that have occurred over the past fifty years. Endorsements: " This] book provides valuable context and probing insight into two previously unpublished pieces by the late Belgian theologian Jacques Dupuis. Under Burrows's tutelage, Catholics discover in Dupuis's thought ways in which they might continue to hold faith in the unique saving significance of Jesus Christ, while also affirming the deep spiritual wisdom of other religious traditions." --Richard Gaillardetz, Boston College "By making two previously unpublished texts by Jacques Dupuis available and by reflecting on their context and significance, Burrows contributes significantly to the ongoing search for an adequate Christian theology of religions. Moreover, it demonstrates how a different, genuinely public, mutually attentive, and respectful theological debate could strengthen the development of Roman Catholic approaches to faith, hope, and love today." --Werner G. Jeanrond, University of Glasgow "This book is not simply a thrilling account of the 'inquisition' of a great theologian and proverbial odium theologicum, but also a lucid primer to current Roman Catholic theologies of religions. Not out of prurient interest in ecclesiastical politics, but out of deep love for truth and the church, Burrows makes Dupuis . . . come alive in these pages. It is a must-read for those interested in the future of Catholic theology." --Peter C. Phan, Georgetown University "This is a book full of witness, wisdom, and challenging theological thought. It convincingly argues for deeper comparative theology, further engagement with religious pluralism, and interfaith dialogue at the deepest existential and spiritual level. A truly inspiring read." --Ursula King, University of Bristol Author Biography: William R. Burrows is research professor of missiology in the world Christianity program at New York Theological Seminary and managing editor emeritus of Orbis Books, Maryknoll, New York.

Description: The Founding of the Roman Catholic Church in Oceania, 1825-1850 is the first detailed and documentary history of the seminal period of Roman Catholic missionary activity. Beginning with the founding of the Prefecture Apostolic of the Sandwich Islands in 1825 there was continued development in Australia, New Zealand, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia for the next quarter century. By 1850 this vast area of the South Seas could boast of one archdiocese, eight dioceses, and eight vicariates apostolic. This lively, dramatic narrative is told largely through the words of the participants drawn from diaries, documents, and letters found in the archives of the Vatican and several religious orders. The comprehensive tale ranges from the politics of the Vatican to sufferings on outpost islands. The focus of attention shifts from Rome to Paris, Valparaiso, Sydney, Honiara, Auckland, and many other places, in a study of men and institutions, faith and emotion, rivalries and confusions, murder and annexation, God and mammon. Originally published in 1979, this important historical study had been out of print and virtually unavailable for many years until this new edition was completed. Endorsements: ""This is a book that many of us have been hoping for since the days when mission history progressed from the level of apologetics and works intended for the edification of adherents to that of objective historiography."" H.E. Maude, Research School of Pacific Studies ""There is great value in this book, primarily because it shows the way in which nineteenth-century Catholic leaders responded to and took part in shaping an intercultural network that extended across the largest geographical area on the planet."" William R. Burrows, Research Professor of Missiology, New York Theological Seminary ""It is the brightest, best printed book of ecclesiastical adventure I have ever seen."" Percy Cochrane Australian Society of Authors ""The author is not satisfied with giving a string of facts one after the other, but instead he searches out the reasons for the development. He shows the motives and the negotiations that took place, often with the words of the original texts. The whole is truly a fascinating mission history."" Nouvelle Revue de Science Missionarriare ""This impressive and profusely illustrated work should find a place in every general and most specialized church-historical libraries."" Religious Studies Review ""This book confirms Wiltgen's reputation of being a master of a narrative style of historical writing. It is based on meticulous examination of the archives....When it comes to information about missionary activities, we undoubtedly have here the definitive book on the subject."" Charles W. Forman Missiology: An International Review ""It will remain a basic tool for all Pacific historians for a very long time to come."" The Journal of the Polynesian Society About the Contributor(s): RALPH M. WILTGEN, SVD, a Divine Word Missionary and Catholic priest for over fifty-seven years, died in 2007 at the age of 86. He devoted his life to research in the field of missiology. He is the author of several books including The Founding of the Roman Catholic Church in Melanesia and Micronesia 1850 - 1875, the companion to this volume.