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Book Review: New Monasticism as Fresh Expression of Church

Graham Cray, Ian Mobsby and Aaron Kennedy (eds.), New Monasticism as Fresh Expression of Church (Canterbury Press, 2010), 155pp

This is the second in a new series called 'Ancient Faith, Future Mission' from Canterbury Press, which is bringing together some of those involved in Fresh Expressions, to tell something of their story and reflections from it. The first book was Fresh Expressions in the Sacramental Tradition (2009) and there is a third book - Fresh Expressions and the Kingdom of God due out later this year. The series is not critical, but looking to the positives and wanting to collect some of the experiences of recent years. For a more critical examination of 'Fresh Expressions' see Evaluating Fresh Expressions:explorations in emerging church (Canterbury Press, 2008) and For the Parish: A Critique of Fresh Expressions (SCM, 2010).

This is the first book I've read on the New Monasticism, although I've been interested from afar, and have since also got myself a copy of School(s) of Conversion: 12 Marks of the New Monasticism, which is a study from a solely United States perspective. The strength of the book under review here is its collection of British voices - Ian Adams (MayBe, Oxford), Pete Askew (Northumbria Community), Mark Berry (Safespace, Telford), Andy Freeman (24-7 Prayer), Ian Mobsby (Moot, London), amongst others - although they are all coming out of an Anglican context. Shane Claiborne and Tom Sine appear as American voices. Claiborne's contribution is a summary of the 12 Marks of the New Monasticism referred to above, while Sine sets the new monasticism in a more historical context.

For the uninitiated, the New Monasticism is a collection of groups of Christians attempting to live out their discipleship with a stronger sense of community and shared worship and prayer life, sometimes with a common rule, not apart from the world in a monastery, but very much in the different urban contexts in which they find themselves. In some cases, like Mark Berry in Telford, this has a very missional focus, in other cases, its a desire for a rhythm of worship and prayer, and in others, a living in and amongst the poor.

This short book is a good place to start for those wanting to engage with the New Monasticism, both those just wanting to have some sense of what it all is, and those who maybe wanting to explore new monasticism in their own contexts.

Bentley Hart wins Michael Ramsey Prize

David Bentley Hart's Atheist Delusions has one this year's Michael Ramsey Prize. The other shortlisted authors were:

Thomas E. Reynolds, Vulnerable Communion (Brazos Press)
Christopher Cocksworth, Holding Together (Canterbury Press)
Richard Harries, The Re-enchantment of Morality (SPCK)
Angel F. Montoya, The Theology of Food (Wiley-Blackwell)
Robert Hughes, Beloved Dust (Continuum)

Is it the right winner?

and what do books do you think will be shortlisted for the next prize awarded in 2013?

Cavanaugh's Praise for Bretherton's Christianity and Contemporary Politics

The latest edition of Studies in Christian Ethics sees a review by William Cavanaugh of Luke Bretherton's excellent Christianity and Contemporary Politics. Here's an extract:

Straw men aside, the final chapter and conclusion of the book present an attractive theological account of a Christian politics that acts in ‘ordinary time’, with ordinary means like buying Fair Trade coffee, but that is also open to God’s tranfiguration of earthly life. Such transfiguration takes place between the poles of listening to God in Scripture and listening to strangers who invite the church to seek
the welfare of all.

Notwithstanding the quibbles noted above, this is a wonderful book, perhaps the best book on contemporary Christianity and politics in liberal nation-states I have read. It is both based in concrete practices and theoretically aware. Most of all, its author exhibits the virtues necessary to undertake such a task: he is generous, faithful, and engaged with real communities of Christians and others. I will be using this book with students, and recommending it to colleagues.

If you've not get a copy, get one, this is an academic text, but a reading one, which as Cavanaugh's suggests is not all theory, but grounded in practice.

'the School of Andrew Walker'

Yesterday's conference to celebrate the work of Andrew Walker saw both Pete Ward (colleague and former PhD student) and Martyn Percy acknowledge the role Andrew Walker has played in the development of congregational studies in the UK - Pete argued that he was 'ahead of the game'. Walker's seminal Restoring the Kingdom (a study of the house church movement in the 70s and 80s, and in later editions the 90s) remains an early example of a form of studying concrete ecclesiology. Pete Ward also suggested the 'Centre for Theology, Religion and Culture' (which Walker began in the mid-1990s, not in the theology department, but in the school of education across the river), should be seen as the 'school of Andrew Walker'. It has certainly become the most important centre for doing empirical and theological study of church and ministry, pioneered by Walker and his students. Walker supervised the research of Pete Ward (a version of his PhD appearing has Selling Worship), Duncan MacLaren's study of missiology and secularization, Rob Warner's study on evangelicalism in the 80s and 90s, Kristen Aune's study of gender in New Frontier churches, James Steven's study of charismatic worship in the Church of England, James Heard's account of Alpha and he also got Luke Bretherton to consider doctoral research. In addition it was Walker who saw the development of the wide variety of MA programmes and the DMin that the Centre now offers, targetting in particular ministerial practioners.  

Andrew Walker one-day Conference Update

King’s College London
One-Day Conference
"Andrew Walker: A Celebration and Assessment”
24 May 2010, 10.30 to 4.00
The Chapel, King’s College, Strand, London

King’s College London is pleased to announce a one-day conference with an international group of speakers to celebrate the landmark work of Professor Andrew Walker, who recently retired after a distinguished career at King’s. There is no charge for this conference, which is open to all. 

Professor Alister McGrath (KCL): Welcome; short reflection on Andrew Walker on C. S. Lewis, focussing both on Walker’s assessment of Lewis as a theologian, and his development of his approach through the “C. S. Lewis Centre” in the 1980s.

Dr Pete Ward (KCL): Andrew Walker and the “Gospel and Culture” Movement. This will consider Walker’s significance in the Gospel and Culture movement, noting his development of the approach of Lesslie Newbigin, especially in Telling the Story and Enemy Territory.

Dr Luke Bretherton (KCL): “Sharing Peace: Class, Hierarchy and a Doxological Vision of Social Relations”. Central to Andrew Walker's work is an exploration of the interface between sociology and theology.  This paper picks up on this theme, particularly Walker's work on the trinity, to set out a doxological account of inter-personal relations and how this contrasts and interacts with the key sociological category of “class” and the differing accounts of social relations that shape conceptualisations of class.

Professor William Abraham (Southern Methodist University, Dallas): “From the Linear to the Prototypical: An Ecclesiology of the Third Article”. This paper will explore the relations of Pentecostalism and Orthodoxy, a major interest for Andrew Walker, offering a model of the church which combines the strengths of both.

Canon Professor Martyn Percy (Principal, Ripon College, Cuddesdon). “Signs, Wonders and Church Growth: Sociological and Theological Understanding in the Work of Andrew Walker.” This paper will look at Andrew Walker’s understanding of the relationship between theology and the social sciences, looking particularly at his landmark work on house churches, Restoring the Kingdom.

Steve Holmes on Congregational Government and why Driscoll is wrong

I love the way Steve Holmes shows up the comments of Mark Driscoll to be what they are: fluff!

As a convinced congregationalist, when it comes to church government, my fundamental response to Driscoll’s comments is indifference tinged with sadness. Indifference, because we are called to be faithful, not successful; sadness because someone who commands a great deal of attention as a Christian pastor could be so publicly negligent of Scripture and theology.

For more on Baptists and the church meeting see Malcolm Egner's 2007 MTh dissertation available here. As well as Steve Holmes' recent chapter in the Brian Haymes FS.

On another note, be sure to check out Chris Ellis' new venture into blogging here.

Martyn Percy on 'Fresh Expressions'

'Fresh Expressions' has been taking a few knocks recently - see the Alison Milbank and Andrew Davidson book For the Parish: A Critique of Fresh Expressions (SCM, 2010) - although the Archbishop remains firmly behind it (see Jonny Baker's notes here). Martyn Percy wrote a critical essay a few years back - 'Old tricks for new dogs? A critique of fresh expressions' in L. Nelstrop & M. Percy (eds.), Evaluating Fresh Expressions (Canterbury, 2008) - and in his most recent essay has taken another swipe. This is what he says:

... 'fresh expressions' or 'emerging church' ... ironically, simply turn out to be ways of manoeuvring faithful Christians into lighter forms of spiritual organization that do not carry heavy institutional responsibilities or broader-based ministerial burdens. The Christian consumer entering the world of 'fresh expressions' or 'emerging church' can enjoy all the fruits of bespoke spiritual engagement and stimulation, but with almost none of the tariffs incurred through belonging to an ordinary parish church ...

... Unwilling to do their sums and calculate the cost of weaning a new generation of Christian consumers on light, carefully targeted spirituality, the Churches simply end up losing some of their brightest and best potential leaders to projects that are essentially a form of distraction, people who could otherwise bring much needed energy and effort into helping shape the broader institution. Distraction is endemic: fed by consumerism, choice and the need to keep people engaged, fulfilled and happy, it is rife in the churches - to the left and the right, among conservatives and liberals, traditionalists and progressives. It is a tough time to be a church member; but happy the person who has found their cultural and contextual home in a new 'fresh expressions' or form of 'emerging church'.

'Context and Catholicity: An Anglican-American Dilemma' in Mark L. Cartledge and David Cheetham (eds.), Intercultural Theology: Approaches and Themes (SCM, 2011)

 

 

Is martyrdom the new hospitality?

The last decade saw a growing amount of literature around hospitality, and as another book is published on Christian martyrdom, I'm wondering if we're seeing another trend and why. I have not as yet got round to reading any of these books.

The purple crown: the politics of martyrdom by Tripp York (Hearld, 2007)

To Share in the Body: A Theology of Martyrdom for Today's Church by Craig Hovey (Brazos, 2008)

Pilgrim holiness: martyrdom as descriptive witness by Joshua J. Whitfied (Wipf & Stock, 2009)

Martyrdom and Identity: The Self on Trial by Michael Jensen (T & T Clark, 2010)

Witness of the Body: The Past, Present, and Future of Christian Martyrdom edited by Michael Budde and Karen Scott (Eerdmans, 2011)

Brian Stanley's 2011 G B-M Lecture

David has pointed us to the text of Brian Stanley's George Beasley-Murray Memorial Lecture which has very quickly been made available to download. In the area of mission and theology, there has perhaps been too big a gap, so it's good to read Stanley's reflections and hopefully will lead to more theological work being done. 

2011 Baptist Assembly Reflections

Some reflections:

Assembly is moving in the right direction - especially in terms of worship (thanks Chris Ellis [who is going to start blogging] and Craig Gardiner [who is the new tutor in doctrine at South Wales Baptist College]) and in attempts to introduce space for listening

The Union's engagement with issues of inclusion is getting more serious. The theme for this year was 'Your Kingdom Come' and was interpreted by new Baptist Union President Pat Took in her address and Racial Justice Advisor Wale Hudson-Roberts in his bible study as an opportunity to explore what God's inclusive kingdom might look like.

The listening session on Monday focused a lot of its time around inclusion - it would have been helpful if this was focused around the named areas of gender, race, disability and sexuality which the Union is explictly engaging in - rather than a more general discussion around the language of 'inclusion', where a lot was said, but not said, if that makes sense.

The Sunday morning Jazz Communion was great - well done to Ewan and his other musicians for some fantastic versions of old hymns. The communion also explored what it might mean to welcome children to the table. This was well done - two children offered a running commentary on what was happening - I'm not sure it was not as bold as others have suggested, but it was a good place to start (if this was a start, I wonder whether anything like it will be done again). In many ways I believe it upheld the current Baptist status quo - if children express that they 'love Jesus' and their parents say ok, we're probably happy to let them take part.

John Colwell's Baptist Minister's Fellowship lecture on whether we should think of ministry in priestly terms. It will be published in the journal at some point. I missed Anne  Clements' Whitley Lecture, but have a copy - it would be good to see wider engagement with the Whitley Lecture. It is generally a good piece of practical theology, but does not find it way into shaping discussions - in the recent past I think especially of Sean Winter's lecture on biblical interpretation. I also missed Brian Stanley's George Beasley-Murray Memorial Lecture, both hopefully this will find publication. In part this was because both these lectures were held in a venue too far away to get to easily - surely somewhere closer could be found (but I guess not).

Assembly next year is in London, to celebrate the 400 years since the first Baptist church was planted in London (and in the UK) on the theme of Baptists Beyond 400.