Ecclesianarchy

Adaptive Ministry for a Post-Church Society

John Williams (Autor)

Buch | Softcover

288 Seiten

2020
SCM Press (Verlag)
978-0-334-05980-6 (ISBN)

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Arguing that what is needed is a provisional approach to ministry which recognises that all forms of ministry are, and always have been a response to social and cultural context, 'Ecclesianarchy' brings theological and practical insight to bear on the question of ministry's provisionality.

Strategic thinking about ministry and mission has tended to focus on the challenges of communication and presentation. Less attention has been paid to the effects that this thinking has on ministry. There is an unacknowledged dilemma for churches insofar as they are caught between the challenge to re-shape ministry in response to cultural change and the belief that there are certain God-given, immutable foundations for ministerial order that must be retained.

Arguing that what is needed is a provisional approach to ministry which recognises that all forms of ministry are, and always have been a response to social and cultural context, this book brings theological and practical insight to bear on the question of ministry’s provisionality. In the end, it asks, is the only way through this dilemma a kind of Ecclesianarchy?

John Williams is Visiting Fellow and Lecturer in Theology and Religious Studies at York St John University.

Preface vii

Introduction 1

1. Liquid Modernity: Hallmarks of the Post-Church Society 8

2. Unfinished Business: The Historical Contestation of Ministry 23

3. Threefold Disorder: Diaconal, Presbyteral and Episcopal Ministry Today 44

4. Interrogating Ordination: Ontology, Function and Gender 65

5. Shared, Lay, Local and Collaborative: The Road Less Travelled 80

6. Distribution and Difference: The Pentecostal and Charismatic Inheritance 101

7. Chaplaincy: A Very Ancient and Postmodern Ministry 116

8. Fresh Expressions: Hope for the Mainstream Denominations? 134

9. Signals of the Impossible: Reimagining the Role of Christian Faith 148

10. ‘Ecclesianarchy’: A Blueprint for Adaptive Ministry 161

11. Stirring Up the Gift: On Being Formed for Christian Ministry 177

12. Identity Crisis: Negotiating Role and Person in Ministry 191

Conclusion 205

Bibliography 216

Index of Names and Subjects 233

Erscheinungsdatum	01.10.2020
Verlagsort	London
Sprache	englisch
Maße	156 x 234 mm
Themenwelt	Religion / Theologie ► Christentum ► Kirchengeschichte
Themenwelt	Religion / Theologie ► Christentum ► Pastoraltheologie
ISBN-10	0-334-05980-1 / 0334059801
ISBN-13	978-0-334-05980-6 / 9780334059806
Zustand	Neuware