andygoodliff

Advent begins and so does blog

The now annual group advent blog at hopeful imagination begins today with some selected reflections from John Colwell's book The Rhythm of Doctrine. Each day for the next twenty-five days will see a new post reflecting on advent themes. Please join in the journey.

Scottish Baptist Theological Society Launch

Last night saw the launch of the Scottish Baptist Theology Society with an inaugural lecture by Steve Holmes on Baptists and the authority of scripture. This is a great idea, where is the UK  English (and Wales) version? There is the annual Whitley lecture, the George Beasley-Murray Memorial Lecture (given at Assembly), Bloomsbury Central looked like they might at one point be doing an annual lecture, and there is the bi-annual Baptist Doing Theology in Context Consultation, but there is no Baptist Theology Society - a regular space to share theology - although talking of a regular space, the amount of Baptist bloggers who are interested theologians seems to be ever increasing - Sean Winter, Jim Gordon, Simon Woodman, Neil Brighton, Catriona Gorton, Geoff Colmer, Craig Gardiner, Steve Holmes, Stuart Blythe, Simon Jones, Glen Marshall, Lucy Wright, Kez Lama, Andy Scott, Bob Almond and everyone else. So how about it, an English Baptist Theological Society?

not long now ... 1st March 2009

 This scholarly book breaks a significant impasse in much Pauline interpretation today, pushing beyond both “Lutheran” and “new” perspectives to a new, noncontractual, “apocalyptic” reading of many of the apostle’s most famous — and most troublesome — texts.

Douglas Campbell holds that the intrusion of an alien, essentially modern, and theologically unhealthy theoretical construct into the interpretation of Paul has disordered the broader interpretation of his thought and created many of the difficulties that scholars now struggle with. It has, in fact, produced an individualistic and contractual construct — which Campbell terms “the Justification discourse” — that shares more with modern political traditions than with either orthodox theology or Paul’s first-century world. In order to counteract that influence, Campbell argues that it needs to be isolated and brought to the foreground before the interpretation of Paul’s texts begins. When that is done, new readings free from this intrusive paradigm become possible and surprising new interpretations unfold.

Demonstrating in detail how prior positions in theological and political terms affect exegesis — how commitments to either lead to bad exegetical decisions at key points, shifting the theoretical implications of certain key texts — The Deliverance of God proves itself a unique and very important work for those looking for an accurate reading of Paul’s words.

Genesis and Christian Theology

The 3rd scripture and theology conference (frist two were on John and Hebrews respectively) at St. Andrew's is taking place July 2009. Speakers include David Fergusson, Kathryn Tanner, John Milbank, Michael Northcott, Ellen Charry, Trevor Hart, Walter Moberly and Stephen Chapman. For more see here.

Another week, another Baptist blog

Craig Gardiner, a minister at Calvary Baptist Church, Cardiff and last year's Whitley Lecturer has just started blogging here. Craig did his PhD under Rowan Williams on I think music, Bonhoeffer and discipleship - or something like that.

Also, Steve Holmes has returned to blogging after a busy summer.

Book Reviews: Speaking the Truth; Nurturing Children's Spirituality; Finding our Way Again

Samuel Wells, Speaking the Truth: Preaching in a Pluralistic Culture (Abingdon, 2008), 196pp (thanks to Abingdon for a review copy)

Sam Wells is one of my favourite theologians and for me a new Sam Wells book is always worth a read, whether its on ethics (Improvisation), worship (God's Companions) or the passion story (Power & Passion). He is consistently insightful, readable and practical. Wells has been Dean of Duke Chapel since 2005. His predecessor was Will Willimon. So being able to preach well is part of the job.  Speaking the Truth is a collection of sermons given by Wells over the last few years, which are excellent demonstration of how to preach, and also of Christian theology and ethics.  In eight chapters he covers speaking the truth about God, Faith, the Bible, Discipleship, Resurrection, Salvation, Economics and Sex. These sermons are a fantastic example of how to preach, they are an invitation to listen and to think. So much of preaching these days appears to be about telling a good joke or tugging the heart strings - here Wells show the use of a good story, but also how scripture speaks new light and truth to each generation. There are sermons here that were given in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, the Virgina Tech shootings, the Anglican Winsdor report. As someone seeking to learn the art of preaching, I find there's nothing better than listening (or in this case reading) to someone who demonstrates there's still life left in the 'sermon.'

Holly Catterton Allen (ed.), Nurturing Children's Spirituality: Christians Perspectives and Best Practices (Cascade, 2008), 400pp (thanks for Cascade for a review copy)

The last ten years have seen a large increase in interest in children's spirituality. This book is a collection of essays from the 3rd Children's Spirituality Conference in 2006.  Behind a lot of the papers is the work of David Hay and Rebecca Nye in their book The Spirit of the Child.  The book comes in three parts: historical and theological perspectives on children's spiritual development; best practices for nurturing children's spirituality; and some possible future directions. From a long history of children being marginalized, it's good to see this new development into encouraging and recognising the spirituality of children. 

Brian McLaren, Finding Our Way Again: The Return of the Ancient Practice (Thomas Nelson, 2008), 216pp (with thanks to Thomas Nelson for a review copy)

Brian McLaren has become a well-known author in recent years and one of the key voices among emerging and postmodern Christians. He is helpful because he is so readable and translates theology into an everday language. His latest book is the first in a new series that aims to recover ancient spiritual practices. McLaren's key argument is that Christianity has been turned in a system of belief rather than a way of life.  The book, like other McLaren books would be great for a small group, perhaps through Lent. Each chapter is fairly short and ends with possible questions or spiritual exercises. 

Reflections on Council

Two reflections from November's BU Council.

First, a question what would be different if associations no longer existed? While some associations have an identity and a number of people and churches participating, for many local churches how do they really engage with their association? Do they identify themselves as belonging to their association - does this form part of their identity?

Second, where does the leadership of the Baptist Union lie? There was a suggestion that the leadership of the Union consisted of the Senior Management Team (the heads of the different departments at Baptist House - mission, ministry, faith and unity, finance, communications general secretary) and the Regional Minister Team Leaders.  It is my view that the leadership of the BU is much more complex with leadership arising and emerging from those already mentioned, but in addition, the Trustees, some theologians (e.g. Paul Fiddes, Nigel Wright, John Colwell), Council itself.  There is a dynamic view of leadership, with it flowing from and to different groups of people (see Paul Fiddes chapter on authority in Tracks and Traces, Paternoster, 2003).

Neil Brighton has offered some thoughts of his own, here.

It was a good couple of days, marked by the last time Sean will be at Council for the forseeable future and the last time I"ll see him, as he heads of to Melbourne in January. Paul Fiddes was on top form in the evenings.

Advent Group Blog 2008 coming soon

A few weeks away from the start of advent. As some of you know I organise a group advent blog at hopeful imagination. If you'd like to get involved, let me know.

Neil Brighton and Simon Woodman are the latest baptist bloggers

Neil Brighton is the latest baptist minister to start blogging, follow his thoughts here. See Simon Woodman, tutor in New Testament at South Wales Baptist College here. A full list of uk baptist blogs can be found here.

British Baptist Theologians 12: Haddon Willmer

Haddon Willmer retired in 1998 as Professor of Theology at the University of Leeds, where he taught Christian history and theology since 1966. He has special interests in forgiveness and politics, in the relation between Christianity and European civilisation and in contemporary realisations of Christianity in mission and development. He studied in Tubingen in 1973-74, seeking to understand Bonhoeffer by investigating some of his less noticed contemporaries, such as Heinrich Vogel and Otto Dibelius.

MA PhD (Cambridge, 1971)
Research Fellow, Emmanuel College Cambridge, 1964-66
Maurice Reckitt Research Fellow in Christian Social Thought, University of Sussex, 1975-77
Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, and Professor of Theology, University of Leeds 1966-1998
Research Tutor, Oxford Centre for Mission Studies - 1999

PhD Title: Sealing and enlightenment: Aspects of the early Christian doctrine of baptism (1971)

Selected Publications:

'"Holy Worldliness" in Nineteenth-Century England' in D. Baker (ed.), Studies in Church History 10 (1973), 193-211

'On Method in Church History', Theology 77 (1974)

'Weariness with Politics: A Matter for the Church', Theology 78 (1975)

‘Twice-Baptised Christians – a Way Forward for Church Reform and Unity’, The Fraternal 175 (1976)

"Towards a Theology of Politics", Nottingham, Shaftesbury Project (1976)

'A Comment' in The Origin of Christology by C. F. D. Moule (Cambridge, 1978), 159-174.

'Towards the Political Conversion of the British: Reflections on "In Search of the Constitution" by Nevil Johnson', Crucible (April-June 1978), 52-59.

'Towards a Theology of the State' in David F. Wright (ed.), Essays in Evangelical Social Ethics (Paternoster, 1978), 85-102

"The Politics of Forgiveness-A New Dynamic," The Furrow, 30.4 (April 19, 1979), 207-218

‘Does Jesus Call Us to Political Discipleship?’ in Charles Elliott (ed.), Christian Faith and Political Hope: A Reply to E.R. Norman  (Epworth, 1979)

'Theology and European Security' in Ethics and European Security, Barrie Paskins (ed.) (Croom Helm, 1986)

'The Significance of Restorationism' Baptist Quarterly 32.1 (Jan, 1987), 19-27

‘Images of the City and the Shaping of Humanity’ in Theology in the City: A Theological Response to “Faith in the City”, ed. Anthony Harvey (SPCK, 1989)

'The Justification of the Godless: Heinrich Vogel and German Guilt' in Keith Robbins (ed.), Protestant Evangelicalism: Britain, Ireland, Germany and America c. 1750-c. 1950 (Blackwell, 1990), 327-46.

(ed.) 20/20 Visions: The Futures of Christianity in Britain (SPCK, 1992)

'Taking Responsibility' in Haddon Willmer (ed.), 20/20 Visions: The Futures of Christianity in Britain (SPCK, 1992)

'Family Life - school of faith?' in Hugh Pyper (ed.), The Christian Family: A Concept in Crisis (SCM, 1996)

'Preaching and Praying: The Church as social action and social action as theology' in Steve Finamore (ed.), On Earth as in Heaven: A Theology of Social Action for Baptist Churches (Baptist Union, 1996)

‘Costly Discipleship’ in John De Gruchy (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Cambridge, 1999)

'Responses to Miroslav Volf's "The social meaning of reconciliation"', Transformation: An International Evangelical Dialogue on Mission and Ethics 16.1 (Jan/Mar 1999), 13-17.

'Jesus Christ the Forgiven: Christology, Atonement and Forgiveness' in A. McFayden and M. Sarot (eds.), Forgiveness and Truth: Explorations in Contemporary Theology (T & T Clark, 2001)

'The Collapse of Congregations', Anvil 18.4 (2001), 249-260

'Writing Local Church History' in Anthony R. Cross (ed.), Ecumenism and History: Studies in Honour of John H. Y. Briggs (Paternoster, 2002)

Evangelicalism 1785-1835: An Essay (1962) and Reflections (2004) (Paternoster, 2006)

'Karl Barth' in William T. Cavanaugh & Peter Scott (eds.), The Blackwell Companion to Political Theology (Blackwell, 2007)

'"Vertical" and "Horizontal" in Paul's Theology of Reconciliation in the Letter to the Romans', Transformation 24.4 (October 2007), 151-160

‘Forgiveness as permission to live’ inJ. Baxter (ed.), Wounds that Heal: Theology, Imagination and Health (SPCK, 2007)

'What is Child Theology?'; 'Developing Child Theology'; 'Child Theology and Christology' in John Collier (ed.), Toddling to the Kingdom (Child Theology Movement, 2009)

with Keith White, Entry Point: Towards Child Theology with  Matthew 18 (WTL, 2013)

'Forgiving Constitutes the Person' in The Logic of the Spirit in Human Thought and Experience edited by Keith White and Dana Wright (Pickwick, 2014) 

'A Theological Reflection on Children-at-Risk', Transformation 33.3 (2016)

'Resonances between Arthur's Call and Entry Point', Anvil 35.1 (2019)