BOOK NOTES of the RESEARCH LIBRARY 3041 Broadway, . New York 10027

Nov/Dec. 1976 Compiled by P.A.Byrnes except as otherwise noted Vol. XXVI No.8·

LATIN AMERI CA

THE LIBERATION OF . Juan ~ Segundo, S.J. M~y~nolt, N.Y. Onb~ Boo~. 1976 240 pp. $10.95. This work, rich in content, grew out of a series of lectures given by the author at Harvard Divinity School in the Spring of 1974. It is a valuable, thought provoking contribution to Theology. The main theme, as the title indicates, is the concern that Theology be liberated, i.e. liberated from being merely an academic dicipline into an instrument of human liberation, in the tradition of and the prophets, able to face the reality of the religious and social political situation in everyday life. It is primarily the methodological approach that needs to be re-examined, and the author offers his own special methodology which he calls "the hermeneutical circle," and defines as "the continuing change in our interpretation of the which is dictated by the continuing changes· in our present-day reality, both individual and societa1." He first tests "the hermeneutical circle" on four sample attempts of Harvey Cox's Secular City, Marx and his critique of , Weber on and Capitalism and Cone's Black Theology of Liberation, and further analyzes with great mastery the contemporary scene of European, North and American theology, suggesting how a theological challenge can be put to the traditional theological methodology. He clearly shows that there is no point of return for liberation theology in .

THE IN SOLENTINAME. Elme6.to C~ena.t. MaJLy~no.u.Onb..i.-6 Boo~. 1976. 165 pp. $6.95. This precious volume is a translation from the Spanish by Donald D. Walsh. In it the Nicaraguan priest-poet Ernesto Cardenal presents us with a reproduction of commentaries on readings made by members during the Sunday in church as well as elsewhere and on other occasions. The commentaries are by poor farm workers and fishermen living in Solentiname, an archipelago on Lake Nicaragua. Some of these dialogues replaced the traditional sermon during the mass. It is fortunate that, notwithstanding the simple manner of expression, these comments and observations have been preserved for our learning, containing as they do deep in- sights into the Gospel, intended for the poor.

PROTESTANTISM IN LATIN AMERICA: A BIBLIOGRAPHICAL GUIDE. John H. Sincl~, edito~.South Pabadena,CdLi..6 .• W,{.lliam CMey Ub~. 1976. xxcv, 414 pp. Pap~ $8.95. The present volume is a revised and expanded edition of a work first published in 1967. It explains itself as "an annotated bibliography of selected references mainly in English, Spanish and Portuguese and useful bibliographical aids to assist the student and researcher in the general field of Latin American Studies."

The second edition adds a second part, similarly arranged as the 1967 edition. This work is an essential tool, indispensable for both beginner and specialist in the study of in Latin America, its , contemporary life and thought. 2 -

The first chapters of each part (1 and 4) deal with bibliographical aids in the field of Latin American studies (including secular and Roman materials); the second chapters (2 and 5) with Protestantism in Latin America, general; the third chapters (3 and 6) with Protestantism in Latin America, country by country.

INDIA

TIlETESTIMONY OF C.F. ANDREWS. Van.iel O'Connolt. Madlta6. ChJri.Alian U:teJta.twz.e. Soci..e.ty. 1974. 280 pp. Pape.Jt. R613.50. (Pltiee. ~ India) This tenth number of the series Confessing the in India, published for the Christian Institute for the Study of Religion and Society in Bangalore is devoted to the witness of Charles Freer Andrews(187l-l940). The major portion of this book, which forms the second part, consists of valuable extracts from Andrews writings: reprinted letters and arti- cles on religion that appeared in various journals over the years. It also includes his autobiographical essay "A pilgrim's progress." Felicitous in his selections from A. 's writings, Daniel O'Connor gives us an introduction in the first part, providing an insightful interpretation and evaluation of the life and work of C.F. Andrews who first came to India in 1904. A remarkable person and missionary, who was sent out by the SPG and was a member of the Christian Brotherhood of Delhi, he "identified himself with the Indian people and their struggle for freedom and , a deeply committed follower of Jesus Christ." He died in Calcutta after 36 years of service.

CHINA

CHRISTIAN HIGHER EDUCATION IN CHANGING CHINA 1880-1950. W~am P. Fe.nn. Gltand Rap~d6: Ee.Jtdman. 1976. 256 pp. Pape.lt. $5.95. A history of the Protestant Colleges in China against-the background of a nation undergoing momentous social and political trans- formations. Early beginnings, growth and consolidation are stillfully set forth. The period 1920-37 brought more planning and development along with problems, frustrations and achievements as the colleges became more Chinese, while adjusting to rising nationalism, anti-religious agitation, and increasing government regulation. The epic story of how these colleges carried on during II is vividly recounted, then post~ar adjustments, and the taking over by the government of People's China, 1948-52. There are valuable sections that summarize developments and that deal with issues: Foreignness in a Chinese setting, academic programs - vocational and professional education, finding adequate resources, consolidation and union, the spirit and goals of education, the Christian character of an institution, -student relations, and others. Contributions, soberly evaluated, are seen as enormous in varied fields. Dr. Fenn has in-depth China experience and served 1951- 1970 as General Secretary for the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia. (Reviewed.by H.O. Williams).

AFRICA

TIlEBELOVED . A BIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP A.B. AKINYELE. T.A. Ade.b,,[yi. Ibadan. Vay-6:talr..PItU-6. 1969.102 pp. Pape.1t 3-6h. Bishop Akinyele (1875-1968) was a third generation Christian, whose grand father was among the first converts of the German David and Anna Hinderer, who were sent out by the Church Hissionary - 3 -

Society to Ibadan in mid-nineteenth century. This biography, while focusing on the life of Bishop Akinyele, at the same time introduces us to the history of the Angelican Church in Yorubaland. Consecrated a bishop in 1933, he served as assistant bishop, with headquarters in Ondo, until his election as first bishop of the newly formed Ibadan in 1951. The story of his life and that of the Church he served is well told and informative. An Appendix to the book contains an address (on I Tim. 2:8) delivered by the bishop in the presence of Queen Elizabeth II on February 12, 1956.

MUSTARD SEED. THE GROWTH OF THE CHURCH IN KROBOLAND. E.M. L. Odj..uija, c.omp.il.Vt. Ac.CJta.. wa.tVtv~e PUb~hing Ho~e. 1973. 162 pp. Itt~. PapVt. This work attempts to narrate the story of the growth of the Presbyterian Church in Kroboland (Ghana). It is in fact a compilation of contributions by various individuals, including descendants of early converts, extracts from mission records and edited articles from mission journals. The compiler brings these materials together, mostly very sketchy biogra- phies, and tries to show the various phases in the history of the Presbyterian Church in Ghana. The first and second phase deal with the pioneer German missionaries, serving with the Basel Evangelical Missionary Society: Zimmermann, who layed the foundation in the l850s, and Josenhans, who built on it. Following phases deal with native pioneers and second generation , extended work and Christian Insti- tutions; Centenary Celebration and a look at present and future. In 1918, the work of the Basel missionaries was taken over by the United Free Church of Scotland, accounting for the Church's Presbyterian policy. This book contains some building stones for a future story of the growth of the Church in Kroboland.

CHURCH GROWTH

A MANUAL FOR CHURCH GROWTH SURVEYS. Ebb-i..eC. Smith. Sourh. PM adena. Ca..u6. W.il.liam Caney LLb~. 1976. 130 pp. PapVt. $3.95. This is a helpful work for understanding what Church Growth is all about. It is intended as a comprehensive guide for Church Growth surveys and offers guidelines and practical advice to the many persons and institutions interested in understanding such projects. It tells what Church Growth is, how to begin it, how to gather data (statistics, questionnaires, interviews), how to interpret and evaluate these, making decisions and implementing them. This study contains many charts and graphs and a bibliography.

THE RADICAL NATURE OF . CHURCH GROWTH EYES LOOK AT THE MISSION OF THE CHRISTIAN AND THE CHURCH. Wa1.doJ. WVtMng, South PM adena, CltU6. Mandate P~e6~. 1975. 220 pp. ParVt $5.85. This book contains a forceful and thorough (radical) restatement of an evangelical theology of missions. It is written in the conviction that "the Evangelization of the World in this Genera tion is more urgent today than it was in 1900 when John Mott wrote his book by that title." It pleads for a Christianity that is committed to Christian truths that are supernatural realities and stresses the need for moral absolutes, relating Christian doctrine to practical strategy for the Church's "aggressive" mission.W.J •.Werning is the author of an earlier work The Stewardship Call and a pastor of the Lutheran Church- Missouri .

MISSION SOS. E4[k. S. StadeU... Sou..:th PM adena, CltU6. Mandate Pnes«, 1976. 59 pp. PapVt. n.p. This pamphlet contains a plea for Christian missions. It portrays a condition of world missions and tells how a mission project "Mission SOS" came into being, concerned with recruiting missionaries to send out to Asia, Latin America and other areas considered responsive to the Gospel. The author and his wife, Swedish citizens, worked in Greenland for a number of years, before they came to Pasadena, California, to study at the School of World Mission. - 4 -

THE COLOMBO CONFERENCE

TOWARDS WORLD COMMUNITY. THE COLOMBO PAPERS. S. J. SamaJU:ha., edcto«, Geneva., WoJr.l.d. Council. 06 CituJtchu. 1975. 164 pp. Papen: In 1974 a multi religious consultation was held at the initiative of the WCC in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The papers read by participants are contained in this volume. , Buddhists, Jews, Christians and Muslims, representing their respective struggled together with the question how to come to a "world connnunity". In his opening address Samartha explains the nature and purpose of the consultation. It is interesting to note that this consultation differed from previous ones in that a joint group of representatives of the five worked together with WCC staff members to plan details of the meeting, and also in that it was chaired by five co-chairmen, members of the different faiths thus playing a greater role than hithertofore, where Christians tended to dominatesuOhmeetings. A third section presents the "Memorandum of the Consultation," dealing with the aim of building "towards a world connnunity": "the resources and responsibilities for living together". Critical reflections are offered by a number of those present in a following section. The book concludes with a list of the participants and provides useful bibliographical information on "publications on dialogue since Uppsala 1968. It would have been helpful if there had been some indication as to the date of the Consultation on the front page or early on in the text. As it is, the date 1974 is buried somewhere near the end of the book.

ANTI-SLAVERY

SLAVERY AND THE . THE HISTORY OF CATHOLIC TEACHING CONCERNING THE MORAL LEGITIMACY OF THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY. John FancW Ma.xvJei.L Fof!..evJoJuiby the Right Hon. La.Jr..dWilleJr..601l.c.e. ChicheAtef!.. and London. Ba.Jr..Jr..IjRose:Public.a;Uon.6 ht a.Moua.Uon wLth the AnU-SfuveJr..lj Soc<.e:ty 60f!..the PJr..O:tec;Uon06 Hwnan Right6. 1975. 142 pp. This slim volume contains a wealth of information on the attitude of the Church toward slavery throughout the centuries. The author, a Roman Catholic priest in the archdiocese of Southwark, reviews the history of the teaching of the Church on the subject, beginning with the Old Testament and ending with the in 1965. His story is well documented and indicates that "since the sixth century and right up until the twentieth century it has been connnon Catholic teaching that the social, economic and legal institution of slavery is morally legitimate." "It was not merely tolerated, but was commonly approved of in the Western for over 14 years." This "common Catholic teaching" is strongly influenced by Greek and Roman 'civiclaw. The author points out that it was the rationalist humanists and Protestants (Society of Friends) who were long and way ahead in the anti-slavery movement. The Catholic Church's only corrected the "connnon Catholic teaching concerning slavery" at the Second Vatican Council, in spite of statements in Leo XIII's (1891), and previous letters. A most welcome book for anyone interested in the subject.

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