A Just Church: 21st century Liberation Theology in Action

Description

What does liberation theology actually look like in 21st century Britain? How can the Church respond faithfully to issues like war, climate change and vast global inequalities? A 'fresh expression' church in the centre of Bradford has explored these questions through radical forms of worship, non-violent direct action (for example, physically resisting the unjust detentions of asylum seekers) and experimenting with new ways of being community that help to build the reign of God. Church members have been arrested, come under the scrutiny of security forces and been super-glued together at the gates of hell (aka Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Establishment). This is their story: their successes and disasters, and their modelling of a new version of the Action/Reflection cycle called EARS (Education, Action, Reflection, Sustaining), aimed at helping other Christians to evolve their own way of thinking, growing - and demonstrating the relevance of Church in today's contexts.

Chris Howson is City Centre Mission Priest for Bradford. He has taught Liberation Theology and Social Justice in a wide range of colleges and courses, and has links with Christian Aid, SCM, Trident Ploughshares and CND.

'A Just Church has become the bestseller in the city's Waterstone's only weeks after being published - a first for a religious book in the store.' -- The Tablet 'This excellent book marks a detailed renewal in the field of liberation theology... The reign of God finds excellent celebration and probable advance in Howson's chronicles. Attractively delivered and fully justifiable of the subtitle's boast: 21st Century Liberation Theology in Action! Immensely readable, comprehensive, clear and compelling.' -- thegoodbookstall.org.uk I am so happy to read this book! It reminds me that Martin Luther said, 'A man does not become a theologian by reading and knowing and understanding, but by living and dying and being damned.' This is the praxis of liberation theology. Chris Howson describes what it might look like in a British context to really take Jesus seriously and be on the side of the poor and dispossessed, to embrace creative non-violence, to pray and practice liturgical resistance and to discover community in all of these. That he does so in such a lucid and accessible way is both a gift and a gift to mission. This book bears witness that hope is not a time story, it's a love story. I am going to get all my friends to read it. -- Kathy Galloway, Head of Christian Aid Scotland and former Leader of the Iona Community ... I doubt whether anyone will not be moved by this story of faith in action. Each chapter usefully ends with some suggestions to help individuals and church communities to learn, act, and reflect on this for themselves. -- The Church Times Howson's story displays a theology not concerned with getting bodies into pews but committed to putting Jesus's message into practice with love, seeking out 'the wild voices' that challenge the status quo of disunity and violence in our communities . . . This is not a playbook or instruction manual, but the beginning of a conversation of renewal and hope. -- Chelsea Williams, University of Edinburgh * The Expository Times *