The Difficult But Indispensable Church
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The Difficult But Indispensable Church
Why is it so difficult to be church today? Of course, Christian
community is marked by ennobling worship, mutual care, and joyful
celebration. But just as often it is marred by staid routine,
insularity, and disagreement over leadership, budgets, ethical
stances, or even the shape of congregational prayer itself.
Alienation, blame, and power struggles ensue. Is church worth it?
In this volume of fresh thinking about life in Christian community,
twenty-one theologians from Wartburg Seminary strongly attest to
Christ-centered community, offering new views of church as the
indispensable site of radical Christian commitment and an essential
healer for a hurting world.
Reflective churchgoers will find here a virtual theological guide to church renewal. In part 1 the authors show how church can model an alternative vision of community, helping people achieve well-being and health, even as their differences are affirmed. Part 2 gets to the heart of Christian practice through creative discussions of belief, fellowship, encounters with Scripture, preaching, and moral deliberation. Part 3 finds the church in motion in new ways of understanding discipleship and mission near and far. Part 4 shows how a Christ-inspired openness can reveal new perspectives on tough issues of public policy, race and class, and ordination of gays and lesbians. Modeling what they espouse, the authors find unanimity in affirming the strengths of diversity, the unsuspected key to church renewal.
Contributors include: James L. Bailey, Karen L. Bloomquist, Norma Cook Everist, Roger W. Fjeld, Ann L. Fritschel, Paul Hill, Peter L. Kjeseth, L. Shannon Jung, Duane H. Larson, Elizabeth A. Leeper, David J. Lull, Craig L. Nessan, James R. Nieman, Daniel L. Olson, Winston Persaud, Duane A. Priebe, Ralph W. Quere, David A. Ramse, Gwen B. Sayler, Thomas H. Schattauer, and H. S. Wilson.
Reflective churchgoers will find here a virtual theological guide to church renewal. In part 1 the authors show how church can model an alternative vision of community, helping people achieve well-being and health, even as their differences are affirmed. Part 2 gets to the heart of Christian practice through creative discussions of belief, fellowship, encounters with Scripture, preaching, and moral deliberation. Part 3 finds the church in motion in new ways of understanding discipleship and mission near and far. Part 4 shows how a Christ-inspired openness can reveal new perspectives on tough issues of public policy, race and class, and ordination of gays and lesbians. Modeling what they espouse, the authors find unanimity in affirming the strengths of diversity, the unsuspected key to church renewal.
Contributors include: James L. Bailey, Karen L. Bloomquist, Norma Cook Everist, Roger W. Fjeld, Ann L. Fritschel, Paul Hill, Peter L. Kjeseth, L. Shannon Jung, Duane H. Larson, Elizabeth A. Leeper, David J. Lull, Craig L. Nessan, James R. Nieman, Daniel L. Olson, Winston Persaud, Duane A. Priebe, Ralph W. Quere, David A. Ramse, Gwen B. Sayler, Thomas H. Schattauer, and H. S. Wilson.
- Publisher Fortress Press
- Format Paperback
- ISBN 9780800634780
- Dimensions 5.5 x 8.5
- Pages 286
- Publication Date May 22, 2002
Endorsements
"For church leaders who fear that differences within the congregation are less than Christian, this book demonstrates how a variety of viewpoints can contribute to a deeper and more authentic Christian witness....I found the book heartening in its bold thesis that when a congregation is a "trustworthy place to be different together," it more fully embodies the nature of the Triune God."
— The Rev. Dr. H. George Anderson
Former Presiding Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
"This book provides us with a fresh and compelling reassessment of the unity of the church in its diversity. Weaving together varying, even conflicting viewpoints, the writers model for us what life is like for parishioners in a congregation. As a study resource for renewal in the church, the book will challenge readers to listen to and understand each other so that they may unite in mission even while retaining varied viewpoints and gifts."
— The Rev. Dr. Charles H. Maahs
Bishop, Central States Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
— The Rev. Dr. H. George Anderson
Former Presiding Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
"This book provides us with a fresh and compelling reassessment of the unity of the church in its diversity. Weaving together varying, even conflicting viewpoints, the writers model for us what life is like for parishioners in a congregation. As a study resource for renewal in the church, the book will challenge readers to listen to and understand each other so that they may unite in mission even while retaining varied viewpoints and gifts."
— The Rev. Dr. Charles H. Maahs
Bishop, Central States Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Table of Contents
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Contributors
- Seeking Peace in the Assembly: God's Mission, Our Worship, and the World's Hope
Thomas H. Schattauer - Life Together Is Only in God: The Achievement of Personhood in Community
Duane H. Larson - The Psalms: Individual Laments as Communal Hymns
Ann L. Fritschel - The Well-Being of Individuals and the Health of the Community
Daniel L. Olson - Re-Membering the Body of Christ: Creating Trustworthy Places to Be Different Together
Norma Cook Everist
PART TWO
The Church's Heart: The Indispensable Power of Christ
- The Pauline Letters as Models for Christian Practice: 1 Thessalonians as a Case Study
James L. Bailey - Believing in God through Others: Believing in God for Others
Duane A. Priebe - The Community of Faith as a Confessional Norm: Universalism and Evangelism
Ralph W. Quere - Living Together Faithfully with Our Different Readings of the Bible
David J. Lull - Practice Where You Preach: Conditions for Good Preachers
James R. Nieman - Communio as a Basis for Moral Formation, Deliberation and Action
Karen L. Bloomquist
PART THREE
The Church of God in Motion: The Indispensability of Mission
- We Are the Body of Christ: Ecclesiology for a Church in Mission
Craig L. Nessan - The Church as Organism: Characteristics of a Young Church
David A. Ramse
- Mission as an Oriental Fan: A Plea for Missionhood of All Believers
H. S. Wilson
- Youth and Family Ministry as Congregational and Community Renewal
Paul G. Hill
- Discovering Hope: Marks of Vitality and Practices That Form Communities for Mission
L. Shannon Jung
PART FOUR
A Church of All People: The Indispensable Challenge
- American Civil Religion: A De Facto Church
Roger W. Fjeld - Imagining the New Community in Christ and the Challenges of Race and Class
Winston D. Persaud
- The Body of Christ and the Issue of Required Celibacy
Gwen B. Sayler
- Can This Community Live? A Historical and Contemporary Perspective
Elizabeth A. Leeper
- After the Jubilee: The Church's Advocacy Role
Peter L. Kjeseth
Afterward
Notes
Foreword
Inroduction
PART ONE
Personhood in Community: Indispensability in Christ