Why Liberal Churches are Growing is a fascinating journey through different case studies, social science reflection, and theological analysis. The contributors include sociologists, theologians, and practical theologians.
The book has four sections. The first, 'defining themes', looks at the social justice witness (community organizing), church growth as conversational, and the challenge of turning liberal churches around.The book then looks at three case studies - starting with congregations and moving to a denomination. Under the heading...
Why Liberal Churches are Growing is a fascinating journey through different case studies, social science reflection, and theological analysis. The con...
How do churches and other religious organizations attempt to order themselves in a secular age? Is a theocracy possible within a democracy? To what extent should churches borrow 'management-speak' and techniques from business? This book explores the key issues, and critiques some of the main models of management that have recently been imported into churches. Anyone interested in what the 21st century holds for the structure of Christian churches will find this book instructive and thought-provoking.
How do churches and other religious organizations attempt to order themselves in a secular age? Is a theocracy possible within a democracy? To what...
David Martin is a world-renowned sociologist, and one of the most prominent sociologists of religion ever to have emerged from the British Isles. Noted for his work on secularization, Pentecostalism, the Church of England and religious trends in general, his work has influenced the entire shape of a discipline that is now firmly established in many universities. This volume celebrates his 70th birthday, and his substantial and varied contributions to the sociology of religion stretching over a 50 year period. Andrew Walker and Martyn Percy have collated and edited a collection of...
David Martin is a world-renowned sociologist, and one of the most prominent sociologists of religion ever to have emerged from the British Isles. N...
This rich resource of ready to use liturgies and reflections for the richest seasons of the Christian year sold out within a year. Its timeless qualities found a ready and eager readership among all looking for fresh inspiration for these annual celebrations. This new edition includes extra seasonal reflections from Rowan Williams and Martyn Percy, and a new liturgy for Maundy Thursday from Jim Cotter. In addition it offers: probing reflections by outstanding thinkers to inspire preaching and personal devotion, complete liturgies for a Christmas Eve vigil, Maundy Thursday foot washing and...
This rich resource of ready to use liturgies and reflections for the richest seasons of the Christian year sold out within a year. Its timeless qualit...
This book seeks to dynamically alter the way that theologians, ecclesiologists, students of religion and ministers look at the church. Taking the ideas of composition, formation and vocation as basic ecclesial categories, Martyn Percy explores how apparently innocent and incidental material is in fact highly significant for the shaping of theological and ecclesiological horizons. The Introduction sets the tone, with a meditation on how the apparently ordinary scent of a country church can be redolent with meaning, setting the tone of expectation in relation to subsequent worship. This book is...
This book seeks to dynamically alter the way that theologians, ecclesiologists, students of religion and ministers look at the church. Taking the idea...
The Anglican Communion is the third largest Christian denomination and claims a membership of some 80 million members in about 164 countries. Given that there are only around two hundred countries in the world, this makes the churches of the Anglican Communion the most geographically widespread denomination after Roman Catholicism. The 44 essays in this volume embrace a wide range of academic disciplines: theological; historical; demography and geography; and different aspects of culture and ethics. They are united in their discussion of what is effectively a new inter-disciplinary subject...
The Anglican Communion is the third largest Christian denomination and claims a membership of some 80 million members in about 164 countries. Given th...
Many twenty-first-century evangelical charismatics in Britain are looking for a faith that "works." They want to experience the miraculous in terms of healings and God-sent financial provision. Many have left the mainstream churches to join independent charismatic churches led by those who are perceived to have special insights into faith and to teach principles that will help believers experience the miraculous. But all is not rosy in this promised paradise, and when people are not healed or they remain poor they are often told that it is because they did not have enough faith or are too...
Many twenty-first-century evangelical charismatics in Britain are looking for a faith that "works." They want to experience the miraculous in terms of...
This collection of essays examines responses to the Millennium and whether or not the year 2000 could be claimed as a specifically Christian time. It also considers how other religions reacted to the moment and what millennial celebrations reveal about religion in a secular age.
This collection of essays examines responses to the Millennium and whether or not the year 2000 could be claimed as a specifically Christian time. It ...
This is a sparkling collection of essays by one of Britain's best-known and acute commentators of the church scene and of contemporary religious life. Martyn Percy explores new liberalism, the churches and human rights in the European Union, football and religion, pilgrimage, demonology, common spirituality, religious attitudes to nudity, and the relationship between religion and advertising. The argument running throughout this book is that despite claims--and the appearance--of increasing secularity, the influence of religious themes and values on our everyday life remains pervasive.
This is a sparkling collection of essays by one of Britain's best-known and acute commentators of the church scene and of contemporary religious life....
To many people, the Church of England and worldwide Anglican Communion has the aura of an institution that is dislocated and adrift. Buffeted by tempestuous and stormy debates on sexuality, gender, authority and power - to say nothing of priorities in mission and ministry, and the leadership and management of the church - a once confident Anglicanism appears to be anxious and vulnerable. The Future Shape of Anglicanism offers a constructive and critical engagement with the currents and contours that have brought the church to this point. It assesses and evaluates the forces now...
To many people, the Church of England and worldwide Anglican Communion has the aura of an institution that is dislocated and adrift. Buffeted by te...
