Christian Community Now: Ecclesiological Investigations

Description

This co-authored volume is the outcome of an ecumenical speaking and listening that has involved a continuing conversation between four theologians over a period of more than two years. The scholars are active members of the mainline churches in the UK, Anglican, Methodist and Roman Catholic. They propose that the Church will live as it grows in self-understanding, in the light of the claim that her purpose is to focus attention on God, Creator, Redeemer, and Living Presence. In so doing they address key debates in the US and European contexts, as well as dealing with matters of pressing concern in the wider global church. What does it mean to say that the Church in herself and on behalf of the world bears witness to and celebrates the presence of God in contemporary ethics, worship, governance and mission? The authors have sought to bridge the gap between theoretical and practical theology, and ecclesiology. Key features are accessibility, the highly pertinent nature of the themes it covers, its academic purpose and its awareness of the parish and ministerial contexts.

'Gerard Mannion is the Amaturo Professor in Catholic Studies at Georgetown University, Washington, DC, where he is also a Senior Research Fellow of the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs. He serves as chair of the Ecclesiological Investigations International Research Network (www.ei-research.net) and is editor of the Bloomsbury Series, Ecclesiological Investigations' Revd Dr Paul M. Collins, formerly Reader in Theology at the University of Chichester, Parish Priest on Holy Island, Northumberland, England. Gareth Powell studied at Westminster College, Oxford, the Queen's Foundation and the University of Birmingham and the Ecumenical Institute, Bossey in Switzerland. A Methodist Minister, he is currently the Methodist Chaplain to Cardiff University. Powell has wide experience of the issues that arise in ecumenical debate as a member of the Methodist-Roman Catholic Conversations and Chair of The Methodist Church Committee for Local Ecumenical Development. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Methodism and Canon Law. Kenneth Wilson was educated at Cambridge and Bristol Universities and is a Methodist Minister. After chaplaincies to London University and Kingswood School, Bath, held the Rowbotham Chair in Philosophical Theology and Ethics at Wesley College Bristol and taught at Bristol University, (1973-80). 1980-1996 Principal Westminster College, Oxford; 1996-2001 Director of Research Queens Foundation, Birmingham. Currently: - Visiting Research Fellow, Canterbury Christ Church University, and Chichester University. His publications cover: Making Sense of It (Epworth); Focus on God (with Frances Young, Epworth); Freedom and Grace (ed. with Ivor Jones, Epworth); Readings in Church Authority (ed. with Gerard Mannion, Richard Gaillardetz and Jan Kerkhofs, Ashgate, 2003); Learning to Hope (Epworth, 2006).

Mention -Book News, November 2008 'Christian Community Now: Ecclesiological Investigations is a thoughtful and at times quite profound offering to ecumenical work on ecclesiology. It will be of particular interest to scholars who are similarly frustrated by the limitations of ecclesiologies reflecting churches absorbed with internal issues of survival or seemingly unable to respond to contemporary challenges such as pluralism or secularism.' Natasha Klukach -- Natasha Klukach * Ecumenical Review, The *