andygoodliff

Whatever happened to the Baptist Assembly as an ecclesial body?

The following is from the 1994 report on The Nature of the Assembly and the Council of the Baptist Union of Great Britain (chaired by Paul Fiddes)

a national assembly must by nature be 'deliberative', seeking the to find the mind and purpose of Christ for the servant church (p.11) ... While it is right that the Assembly should be a time for inspiration and celebration as well as for deliberation, the balance seems to have swung too much away from the latter (p.25) ... [T]he concept of a 'Baptist Assembly' which incorporates the 'Annual Meetings of the Baptist Union and the Baptist Missionary Society' cannot be the same kind of meeting as an 'Assembly of the Baptist Union.' The result may be a loss of understanding among the churches as to what an ecclesial Assembly is ... (p.26) ... A major part of Assembly should be deliberative consideration of the work of Council, and discussion of large matters of policy, strategy and priorities.' (p.28)

Sadly the Assembly does little or no real deliberative work and is made up of 'set piece presentations' as one Baptist theologian recently described it.  Is this another example of a pragmatic Union that doesn't listen to its theologians? The Assembly is part of our Baptist eccleisology, but like the Church Meeting it seems to have waned in importance.  How can we recover it is a proper ecclesial body that gathers to seek the mind of Christ for the life and mission of the Union as well as being a prophetic voice to the nation?

New Books for 2008 | Colin Gunton on Revelation and Reason

Revelation and Reason: Prolegomena to Systematic Theology (T & T Clark, October 2008) - Colin Gunton, edited by Paul Brazier, foreword by Stephen Holmes and introduction by Christoph Schwoebel

"Revelation and Reason" brings together a collection of Colin Gunton's lectures, in a volume that highlights the creative thought of a widely read theologian and philosopher.Colin Gunton was a world renowned scholar, systematic theologian and Reformed Church minister. "Revelation and Reason" is an in-depth analysis, derived from the annual lecture/seminar course he gave to MA students at King's College London. Approximately one-third of the work is a direct transcript, and analysis of the three two-hour lectures Colin Gunton gave at a break-neck speed: 'From Reason and Revelation to Revelation And Reason'; 'The Modern Problem in an Historical Context'; and, 'Aspects of Karl Barth on Faith And Reason'. These lectures were a history, analysis and critique of Revelation and Reason in Systematic Theology and Philosophy, culminating with Karl Barth. The remainder is a transcript of the unrehearsed, unscripted, extemporary responses Colin Gunton gave to MA student's papers on set topics in the "Revelation and Reason" course, seamlessly integrated, where relevant, with detail from the main three lectures.Colin was a creative lecturer and widely read theologian and philosopher.
These extemporary responses show the breadth of his learning, and his genius spontaneously to bring to mind relevant ideas from a wealth of theologians and philosophers, whilst incisively and piercingly exposing the flaws as well as the strengths under consideration. From this wealth of reading, Colin gave space to the free rein of his mind particularly when fielding questions or trying to analyze a particular strand of a theologian's thought."Revelation and Reason" is a complementary volume to Colin Gunton's posthumously published "The Barth Lectures" (Continuum 2007) and to the first volume of his unfinished "Systematic Theology", also forthcoming from T&T Clark.

New Books for 2008 | Chris Ellis on Approaching God

Approaching God: A Guide to Leading Worship (Canterbury Press, September 2008)

Worship in the evangelical tradition is a blend of prepared and extempore contributions. It generally follows a set pattern, but openness to spontaneity is an essential ingredient. As in other traditions, ministers and worship leaders receive very little training in how to lead worship and this book meets a pressing need. It considers many aspects of worship including: Why do we worship? Who is worship for? Patterns and shapes in worship, types of prayer, singing, preaching, The Lord's Supper, details of leading, the spirituality of leading worship, connections to the whole of life, Worship as encounter, Worship as pastoral care, Worship as evangelism, and Worship as celebration. A directory of resources and online worship is also provided.

Chris Ellis is author of Gathering: Spirituality and Worship in Free Church Tradition (2004) and co-editor of Gathering for Worship (2005)

Catholicity and Confessionalism

John Colwell's lecture was the fourth in a series of (at least ten according to Nigel Wright) annual George Beasley-Murray Memorial Lectures.  In the latter half of the twentieth century, the contribution of George Beasley-Murray towers over Baptist theology and this set of lectures is designed to reflect on different aspects of his thought. Colwell's lecture on Sunday was a response to Beasley-Murray's writings on unity. It will be published in a forthcoming issue of the Baptist Quarterly.

Colwell's argument was that Baptist distinctives are in jeopardy and that in Beasley-Murray we find someone who was committed to ecumenism and to the distinctive shape of Baptist ecclesiology.  Beasley-Murray was the chairman of the Baptist Union report 'Baptists and Unity' (1967) which argued for six Baptist distinctives:

1. baptism
2. authority of the local church
3. Lord's supper
4. episcopacy
5. use of creeds and confessions
6. relationship of church and state - baptists are dissenters

Colwell argued that the post-denominational context was muting Baptist identity, where youth work or worship style becomes the most important reason for belong to a church.  In the recent joint Baptist and Anglican report Pushing the Boundaries of Unity there was no mention of of Baptists being dissenters as a problem in unity with the Church of England.  The impact of Restorationism has seen many Baptists flirting with Presbyterian style church government, which alongside has seen a loss of confidence in the church meeting and perhaps council and assembly as ecclesial bodies. So in Assembly we find set-piece presentations, rather than any real discerning of the mind of Christ. 

Colwell argued for a visible unity which celebrated distinctives and not their impoverishment or suppression.

He ended the paper by calling for review of the Declaration of Principle (which denies catholicity) and that instead of needing to write a confession, he asked how can Baptists confess differently? To which he suggested we don't need a distinctive confession, but a distinctive manner or practice of confessing. 

Underlying this paper was Colwell's concern (shared by others) that the Baptist Union is lacking a strong enough theology and that the agenda (?) is being pushed by good people, but practical people, who are arguably more interested in practical responses than theological ones.

This was an excellent paper (and this summary doesn't do it justice) and one in which I hope people engage and respond to.  Along with Paul Fiddes, John Colwell is our most important theological voice in the Baptist Union. I'm concerned that they don't get listened to enough. We sorely need good theologians (and also historians) to help us shape and articulate our life and witness.

Baptist Assembly 2008

This year's Assembly was in Blackpool.  It was, as expected, a mixed-bag. Craig Gardiner's Whitley Lecture was excellent, as was John Colwell's George Beasley-Murray Lecture (I'll blog some more on these later).  It was good meeting new people and catching up with old friends - this seems to be the best reason for going to Assembly. I made it to the Regent's Park College reunion.

My main issues with Assembly are the main sessions. There are the special moments where we recognise new ministers and we remember those who have died. The worship is largely untrinitarian - what the theologian Sallie McFague has called 'jesusoltary' - and has no real space for confession, intercession or lament and more concerning no reading of scripture (this, which seems the common practice today, was tacked onto the beginning of the talk, rather than, being able to stand alone). You come away thinking as Baptists surely we can do better! We have see Gathering for Worship - which I think was only used during communion.  Extemporary prayer is important part of Baptist spirituality and worship, but there is also a need for the crafted and thought about prayer. Perhaps the most shocking moment was when we say 'These are the Days of Elijah' despite John Weaver raising some questions about the song during his talk. (Others who hoped we wouldn't sing it, must have been happy!!)   

I had a fair number of comments that went along the lines 'Andy Goodliff, I read your blog', which makes me wonder, if they read the paragraph above. what their feelings are with regards the state of Baptist worship at Assembly. I'm probably too harsh. I'm looking forward to hearing the thoughts of other bloggers.

Catriona has posted here and here, Geoff here.

Until next year, which will be in Bournemouth.

SJT, May 2008

Who is Isaiah's Servant? Narrative identity and theological potentiality - Mark Gignilliat

The shape of soteriology and the pistis Christou debate - David L. Stubbs

Aesthetic christology and medical ethics: the status of Christ's gaze in care for the suffering - David C.

The soul and the reading of scripture:  a note on Henri De Lubac - Lewis Ayres

Holy love and divine aseity in the theology of John Zizioulas - Tom McCall

The theological function of the doctrine of the divine attributes and the divine glory, with special reference to Karl Barth and his reading of the Protestant Orthodox - Christopher R. Holmes

Why gift? Gift, gendeer and trinitarian relations in Milbank and Tanner - Sarah Coakley

Reviews include Ian McFarland on Mike Higton's Christ, Providence and History, Lindsey Hall on Jurgen Moltmann's In the End - Beginning and Thomas Bremer on John Inge's A Christian Theology of Place.

Baptist Hermeneutics Colloquium

This looks an excellent line-up of Baptists to think around how Baptists approach scripture. Before you get too excited, its invitation only, so we will have to wait for the book that will follow ... I wish there were more baptist theological gatherings like this. Although I shouldn't forget the next Baptists doing theology in context consultation taking place at the end of August at Northern College, which I'm looking forward too, not sure what my paper will be on ...

McGrath moving to King's

(HT to Jason)
Alister McGrath is moving to King's in a newly created role of Professor of Theology, Ministry and Education. This will see him join Luke Bretherton, Pete Ward and Andrew Walker in the growing area of theology and ministry courses King's has begun running over the last few years in the school of education, although in partnership with the theology and religious studies department.  In recent years, perhaps with the lack of internationally renowned British theologians working in England, McGrath has become increasingly high profile. He's giving the Gifford Lectures in 2009. McGrath is a prolific writer, keeping pace, if not surpassing, that other prolific of writers, Tom Wright. It's an interesting move because McGrath has said he could see himself no where else but Oxford, where he was principal of Wycliffe Hall and more latterly Professor of Historical Theology, based in Harris Manchester College. For more see here. 

The importance of the Christian year

Halden posts here a fantastic set of five theses on the Christian year.

Other stuff:

Mike Bird posts about his forthcoming books, including this:

The Faith of Jesus Christ: Exegetical, Biblical, and Theological Studies (with Preston Sprinkle) . Milton Keynes: Paternoster, Jan/Feb 2009. I just got the last essay for this today and it will be at proof and copy editing stage in the next couple of weeks. If you are into Pauline studies this will be THE book of 2009 as we have a cast of all-stars going head-to-head and mano-e-mano. The Pistis Christou debate will never be the same.

Douglas Knight has finished the editing of Zizoulas' Christian Dogmatics and is now involved in editing a collection of essays on the theology of Gunton (including those presented at last year's one day conference).

Book Review: The Wondrous Cross

Stephen R. Holmes, The Wondrous Cross: Atonement and Penal Substitution in the Bible and History, Paternoster, 2007, 130pp. £9.99.

In this book Steve Holmes shows that not only is he fast becoming, if not already, one of the leading (and busiest) British theologians in the UK (and a Baptist at that), but that he a is a theologian who can speak to the wider church. One of the great weakness for many theologians is their inability to write and communicate, beyond the academic circle (and sometimes within the academic circle). The best theologians are those who preach, who are forced to make their theology speak to the lives of real people. (Steve remarks elsewhere that Colin Gunton used to say to him, 'You can always tell when a theologian has stopped preaching; their work loses something vital').

Steve Holmes is also a theologian who doesn't shy away from the difficult theology - he has written on ghosts, divine simplicity and here he contributes to the discussion on atonement and penal substitution. As well as being a book on penal substitution,  the book works as a good introduction to the history of atonement theology. It shares in lots of ways the approach of Colin Gunton's The Actuality of Atonement.  Steve makes a lot of sense and helpfully shows why we shouldn't be too quick to throw penal substitution out the window, but also why penal substitution is only a partial way of viewing the cross - in this he speaks to both those who want to defend the doctrine and those who want to reject it.

I remain with those who find penal substiution more unhelpful and inadequate, but Steve makes the case for why many of criticisms that are made against it do not actually hold weight. I still find it troubling because it seems to have no need for the Holy Spirit or the resurrection and I think fundamentally Paul's language of atonement is participatory (with Douglas Campbell) - atonement is our sharing in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ - and so Paul's constant use of 'in Christ' language (which is much more prevalent across his letters than justification language).  So I guess I remain unconvinced whether penal substitutionary is truly biblical.         

I got hold of a copy of Steve's book when it first came out last year, and apart from a quick skim read, this is the first time I've read it and I'm glad I have and would encourage others to put it on a wish list.