Globalization and the Mission of the Church

Description

Various social, political, economic and cultural commentators are presently arguing that human history is reaching a decisive stage in its development, a stage marked by increased interconnection between peoples, the compression of space and time, a sharing of ideas at unprecedented levels, global trade and finance, and so on. The shorthand word used to encompass these phenomena is "globalization". Some embrace it, others reject it, while still others dispute its existence. But with the abundance of literature and debate that it generates, the topic cannot be ignored. From its inception in the missionary mandate of Jesus (Matthew 28), Christianity has had a global dimension to its mission. Christianity is not a spectator to globalization but one of its agents, one of the forces at work which have extended interconnection between peoples, shared ideas and promoted social, political and cultural links. The purpose of the present work is not to provide a complete response to the question of the mission of the church in a globalizing world, but to establish a framework within which answers may be sought. Grounded in the writings of Bernard Lonergan and Robert Doran, it develops a theology of history and addresses the churches response to the impact of globalization on vital, social, cultural, personal and religious values. The project brings together the perspectives of Catholicism and Pentecostalism, the former providing a depth of wisdom and tradition, the latter drawing on the insight of a newly emerging movement that has taken root in every continent with remarkable energy and enthusiasm.

Neil J. Ormerod is professor of theology at Australian Catholic University, Strathfield, N.S.W. Dr Shane Clifton, Academic Dean and Lecturer in Theology, Southern Cross College.Shane completed his PhD in 2005 with the Australian Catholic University, is the editor of Australasian Pentecostal Studies journal, and author of the forthcoming book, Pentecostal Churches in Transition.

'There are at least three broad audiences that need to read and will glean much from this book: those interested in matters at the interface of religion and globalization will find theoretically sophisticated and analytically rich explorations of the challenges globalization poses to religious communities in general and to Christianity in particular; those interested in Christian theology of mission and in the doctrine of the church (ecclesiology) will be motivated to rethink the church's corporate mission in an age of globalization; and those interested in ecumenical ecclesiology will enter into a Roman Catholic (Ormerod) and Pentecostal (Clifton) dialogue on the nature and mission of the church in the public square of the 21st century. This is a visionary book from two theologians deeply rooted in but also at the vanguard of their respective traditions!' - Amos Yong, Regent University School of Divinity, Virginia Beach, VA, USA -- Amos Yong 'The Christian Church is the most global religious institution in the world. To rethink its mission in light of globalization is an imperative for our time. By focusing on its two most salient global forms--Roman Catholicism and Pentecostal faith--Neil Ormerod and Shane Clifton have done us an invaluable service by interweaving Christianity's historical self-understanding with the complexities of globalization in all its forms. No thinking about where the Church should be today will be complete without taking into account what they have presented in this book.' - Robert Schreiter, Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, IL, USA -- Robert Schreiter 'Globalization and the Mission of the Church' stands out as a uniquely penetrating theological contribution to questions surrounding the role of the Church in terms of values that speak to the twenty first century context. Ormerod and Clifton manage to bring a refreshingly creative perspective that not only provides a new understanding of the meaning of globalization but at the same time provides sorely needed theological guidance for carrying out the mission of the Church in a relevant way. There's nothing around quite like it. Bravo for this enriching experience!' - Gasper LoBiondo, SJ, Director, Woodstock Theological Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA -- Gasper LoBiondo 'Overall, [the authors] have shown us one way that he church ought to address and respond to the impact of the globalization on the vital, social, cultural, and personal and religious virtues of Christianity. In doing this, they weaved together the narratives of Christian's historical self-understanding and the logic and dynamics of globalization and give us a fresh perspective on the corporate mission of the Church in a globalizing world.' -- Pneuma: The Journal of the Soceity for Pentecostal Studies Overall, [the authors] have shown us one way that he church ought to address and respond to the impact of the globalization on the vital, social, cultural, and personal and religious virtues of Christianity. In doing this, they weaved together the narratives of Christian's historical self-understanding and the logic and dynamics of globalization and give us a fresh perspective on the corporate mission of the Church in a globalizing world. -- Pneuma: The Journal of the Soceity for Pentecostal Studies Vol. 33