DOCSLIB.ORG

Christian Mission: Lengthened Shadow of a Great Man

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Christian Mission: Lengthened Shadow of a Great Man Vol. 29, No. 2 April 2005 Christian Mission: Lengthened Shadow of a Great Man ne of the most sought-after issues of Time magazine O featured the editors’ pick of the twentieth century’s 100 most influential persons, good and bad. Grouped into five cat- On Page egories—Leaders and Revolutionaries, Artists and Entertainers, Builders and Titans, Scientists and Thinkers, Heroes and Icons— 59 Beyond Bosch: The Early Church and the the selections included several men and women whose faith- Christendom Shift driven activism turned them into household names and exem- Alan Kreider plars: Helen Keller, Mother Teresa, Billy Graham, Rosa Parks, and Martin Luther King, Jr. 69 Missiology After Bosch: Reverencing a Classic No missiologists—not even David J. Bosch—made the list. by Moving Beyond Yet those of us who walk in his intellectual shadow know that in Stephen B. Bevans, S.V.D., and Roger P. Schroeder, the world of mission studies, he is surely one of the most S.V.D. significant figures of the twentieth century. In their essay “Missiology After Bosch,” Stephen Bevans and Roger Schroeder 73 New Wineskins for New Wine: Toward a go so far as to make the startling assertion that “after the twenti- Post-Christendom Ecclesiology eth century, any missiology can be done only as a footnote to the Wilbert R. Shenk work of David Bosch.” Their “footnote” is a book, Constants in Context: A Theology of Mission for Today, reviewed in this issue. 76 Noteworthy David J. Bosch is only the latest in a galaxy of stars from which the rest of us have, over time, taken our missiological 80 Describing the Worldwide Christian bearings. A South African who served as a missionary to the Phenomenon Transkei for nine years following completion of his doctoral Todd M. Johnson and Sandra S. Kim studies in New Testament at Basel, he was professor of missiology at the University of South Africa (UNISA) from 1971 until his 85 My Pilgrimage in Mission fatal car accident in 1992. Soon recognized, thanks to his prolific Walter J. Hollenweger pen, as a towering intellectual presence in the field of mission studies, it was the publication of his Transforming Mission— 89 My Pilgrimage in Mission referred to by Lesslie Newbigin as a summa missiologica—that, Charles R. Taber thirteen years after his death, has secured Bosch’s position as perhaps the most significant figure in contemporary missiological 93 The Legacy of François Elbertus Daubanton discourse. His masterful elucidation of mission theory within the Jan A. B. Jongeneel matrix of six historical paradigms has provided scholars with a sense of time, place, and direction that gives coherence to 98 Book Reviews missiological discourse, profoundly influencing the way we understand and teach mission history and theory. 110 Dissertation Notices Though he has been gone for well over a decade, we are only now beginning to appreciate the depth and the breadth of this 112 Book Notes great man. But with the clarity that can come only with hindsight, we are also better able to discern the limitations of Bosch’s contribution, staggering though it is, to the field. In a perceptive International Bulletin essay marked by intellectual integrity and scholarly erudition of Missionary Research worthy of his subject, Alan Kreider probes Bosch’s contribution Established 1950 by R. Pierce Beaver as Occasional Bulletin from the Missionary by examining the profound impact of the advent of Christendom Research Library. Named Occasional Bulletin of Missionary Research in 1977. on the self-understanding and practice of all subsequent Chris- Renamed INTERNATIONAL BULLETIN OF MISSIONARY RESEARCH in 1981. tian mission, including the contemporary. Reacting to what he Published quarterly in January, April,July, and October by regards as an inadequacy in Bosch’s schema, Kreider argues Overseas Ministries Study Center persuasively that a more academically sound and ultimately 490 Prospect Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, U.S.A. more useful way of understanding ourselves across the 2,000-year Tel: (203) 624-6672 • Fax: (203) 865-2857 continuum of Christian missionary endeavor is to think of not six E-mail: [email protected] • Web: www.OMSC.org but three historical paradigms of mission: pre-Christendom, Christendom, and post-Christendom. He suggests that we take Editor: Associate Editor: another look at pre-Christendom mission and notice how fitting Jonathan J. Bonk Dwight P. Baker it is for the post-Christendom realities of today’s post-Euro- Assistant Editor: Managing Editor: American world church. This thesis is echoed and reinforced by Craig A. Noll Daniel J. Nicholas one of today’s leading interpreters of the global Christian move- Senior Contributing Editors: ment, IBMR contributing editor Wilbert Shenk, in his essay Gerald H. Anderson Robert T. Coote “New Wineskins for New Wine: Toward a Post-Christendom Ecclesiology.” Contributing Editors: “An institution is the lengthened shadow of one man,” Catalino G. Arévalo, S.J. Gary B. McGee wrote Ralph Waldo Emerson in his essay “Self-Reliance”—as David B. Barrett Mary Motte, F.M.M. Daniel H. Bays C. René Padilla monasticism is “of the Hermit Antony; the Reformation, of Stephen B. Bevans, S.V.D. James M. Phillips Luther; Quakerism, of Fox; Methodism, of Wesley; Abolition, of Samuel Escobar Dana L. Robert Clarkson . and all history resolves itself very easily into the John F. Gorski, M.M. Lamin Sanneh biography of a few stout and earnest persons.” Our sorry history Darrell L. Guder Wilbert R. Shenk bears testimony to the ease with which we allow our commis- Paul G. Hiebert Brian Stanley sioning Lord’s shadow to be eclipsed by the grotesque deformi- Daniel Jeyaraj Charles R. Taber Jan A. B. Jongeneel Tite Tiénou ties of human convention, whereby greed is overlooked, domi- Sebastian Karotemprel, S.D.B. Ruth A. Tucker nation of all kinds is ignored, oppression is disregarded, and David A. Kerr Desmond Tutu violence is downplayed—sometimes explicitly in the name of Graham Kings Andrew F. Walls Christ. Thus even so venerable a mission society as the Society for Anne-Marie Kool Anastasios Yannoulatos the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, whose board of Circulation: Angela Scipio Advertising: Ruth E. Taylor governors included the archbishop of Canterbury, had no scruples [email protected] 11 Graffam Road about deriving part of its revenues from the labors of Africans www.OMSC.org/ibmr.html South Portland, Maine 04106 enslaved on its Codrington sugar plantation in Barbados. Branded (203) 624-6672, ext. 309 (207) 799-4387 across the chest of each of the estate’s slaves was the word Books for review and correspondence regarding editorial matters should be addressed SOCIETY . to the editors. Manuscripts unaccompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope As important as those are who, like Bosch, have shaped our (or international postal coupons) will not be returned. Opinions expressed in the approach to the study and the practice of Christian mission, truly INTERNATIONAL BULLETIN are those of the authors and not necessarily of the Christian mission—as this issue of the IBMR reminds us in Overseas Ministries Study Center. various ways—can never be the lengthened shadow of any mere Articles appearing in this journal are abstracted and indexed in: mortal. At its redemptive best, it is always the lengthened shadow Bibliografia Missionaria IBR (International Bibliography of of the Son of Man, the Word made flesh, whose life, death, and BookReview Index Book Reviews) IBZ (International Bibliography of resurrection are at once the source, the model, and the power for Christian Periodical Index Guide to People in Periodical Periodical Literature) all who respond to his call. And his shadow does not reach to the Literature Missionalia highly politicized concerns of self-preserving Christendom. His, Guide to Social Science and Religion Religious and Theological Abstracts rather, is the shadow of the cross, lengthened and extended in Periodical Literature Religion Index One: Periodicals through the self-giving community of God’s kingdom citizens, wherever they are found. Index, abstracts, and full text of this journal are available on databases provided by ATLAS, EBSCO, H. W. Wilson Company, The Gale Group, and University Microfilms. Back issues may be seen on the ATLAS Web site, www.ATLA.com. Also consult InfoTrac database at many academic and public libraries. International Bulletin of Missionary Research (ISSN 0272-6122) is published by the Overseas Ministries Study Center, 490 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT 06511. For subscription orders and changes of address visit www.OMSC.org or write International Bulletin of Missionary Research, P.O. Box 3000, Denville, NJ 07834- 3000. Address correspondence concerning subscriptions and missing issues to: Circulation Coordinator, [email protected]. Periodicals postage paid at New Haven, CT. Single Copy Price: $8.00. Subscription rate worldwide: one year (4 issues) $27.00. Foreign subscribers must pay in U.S. funds drawn on a U.S. bank, Visa, MasterCard, or International Money Order. Airmail delivery $16 per year extra. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to International Bulletin of Missionary Research, P.O. Box 3000, Denville, New Jersey 07834-3000. Copyright ©2005 by Overseas Ministries Study Center. All rights reserved. 58 I NTERNATIONAL BULLETIN OF MISSIONARY RESEARCH, Vol. 29, No. 2 Beyond Bosch: The Early Church and the Christendom Shift Alan Kreider avid Bosch’s Transforming Mission is a great book.1 Its the liturgy should act as [the] center of attraction to those who D scope is comprehensive; it is, as Lesslie Newbigin put it, still live in the darkness of paganism” (p. 207). Bosch states what a summa missiologica. It is in three parts. Part 1, which reflects he finds to be limitations in the Orthodox traditions—uncritical Bosch’s deeply committed study of the New Testament, devel- inculturation, nationalism, and abandonment of the eschatologi- ops his first paradigm: “the apocalyptic paradigm of primitive cal urgency of primitive Christianity.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Munich School” and Further Perspectives on the Interdisciplinary Study of the History of World Christianity
    Current Debates About the Approach of the “Munich School” and Further Perspectives on the Interdisciplinary Study of the History of World Christianity ADRIAN HERMANN UNIVERSITÄT HAMBURG CIPRIAN BURLacIOIU LUDWIG-MAXIMILIANS-UNIVERSITÄT MÜNCHEN ABSTRACT: The research projects and publications of Klaus Koschorke and the “Munich School of World Christianity” have sparked intense debate over the last two decades. The first section of this contribution discusses some of these reactions and critiques, as well as Koschorke’s responses. It addresses questions about the idea of “polycentricity,” alternative ways of conceptualizing a variety of Christian centers, the relationship of Koschorke’s approach to the concept of transcultura- tion, and the need for greater diversity and inclusiveness in scholarly perspectives. The second section outlines some important issues regarding challenges and further perspectives for a future history of world Christianity. It touches on the question of the geographic horizon(s) of this approach, debates about “transmission” and “ap- propriation,” and the role of the anthropology of Christianity in describing the fluid character of Christian movements. In addition, it addresses the problem of how to relate the history of world Christianity to a global history of religion, as well as the importance of considering issues of migration as central to our understanding of Christianity. KEYWORDS: history of world Christianity, challenges, global history of religion, anthropology of Christianity, Munich School of World
    [Show full text]
  • A Christology for Frontier Mission: a Missiological Study of Colossians by Brad Gill
    Households in Focus A Christology for Frontier Mission: A Missiological Study of Colossians by Brad Gill Editor’s Note: This article was presented to the Asia Society for Frontier Mission, Bangkok, Thailand, October 2017. would like to reaffirm our strategic cooperation in frontier mission by examining a rather uncommon portion of scripture for missiological reflec- tion. Cooperation emerges from the objects we love, those purposes and goals we share, and I believe that in the epistle to the Colossians the Apostle Paul I 1 offers us a christological vision that grounds our mission in a common love. Colossians as a Missiological Statement Recently I was plowing through a new book by John Flett entitled Apostolicity: The Ecumenical Question in World Christian Perspective.2 The author explained how the growing pluriformity of world Christianity should reorient our understanding of the apostolic continuity of the church. I don’t usually read books on ecumenical unity, but this one had come in the mail (since I’m an editor) and something in the review had caught my eye: that the rationale for ecumenical unity over the past century had placed limits on cross-cultural engagement and the appropriation of the gospel. Those words have missio- logical implication. At one point towards the end of his book, in his chapter on Jesus Christ as the ground of our apostolic mission, he refers the reader to Colossians. If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
    [Show full text]
  • Cleansing the Cosmos
    CLEANSING THE COSMOS: A BIBLICAL MODEL FOR CONCEPTUALIZING AND COUNTERACTING EVIL By E. Janet Warren A thesis submitted to The University of Birmingham for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Theology and Religion College of Arts and Law The University of Birmingham November 14, 2011 University of Birmingham Research Archive e-theses repository This unpublished thesis/dissertation is copyright of the author and/or third parties. The intellectual property rights of the author or third parties in respect of this work are as defined by The Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 or as modified by any successor legislation. Any use made of information contained in this thesis/dissertation must be in accordance with that legislation and must be properly acknowledged. Further distribution or reproduction in any format is prohibited without the permission of the copyright holder. ABSRACT Understanding evil spiritual forces is essential for Christian theology. Evil has typically been studied either from a philosophical perspective or through the lens of ‘spiritual warfare’. The first seldom considers demonology; the second is flawed by poor methodology. Furthermore, warfare language is problematic, being very dualistic, associated with violence and poorly applicable to ministry. This study addresses these issues by developing a new model for conceptualizing and counteracting evil using ‘non-warfare’ biblical metaphors, and relying on contemporary metaphor theory, which claims that metaphors are cognitive and can depict reality. In developing this model, I examine four biblical themes with respect to alternate metaphors for evil: Creation, Cult, Christ and Church. Insights from anthropology (binary oppositions), theology (dualism, nothingness) and science (chaos-complexity theory) contribute to the construction of the model, and the concepts of profane space, sacred space and sacred actions (divine initiative and human responsibility) guide the investigation.
    [Show full text]
  • Jews and Christians: Perspectives on Mission the Lambeth-Jewish Forum
    Jews and Christians: Perspectives on Mission The Lambeth-Jewish Forum Reuven Silverman, Patrick Morrow and Daniel Langton Jews and Christians: Perspectives on Mission The Lambeth-Jewish Forum Both Christianity and Judaism have a vocation to mission. In the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, God’s people are spoken of as a light to the nations. Yet mission is one of the most sensitive and divisive areas in Jewish-Christian relations. For Christians, mission lies at the heart of their faith because they understand themselves as participating in the mission of God to the world. As the recent Anglican Communion document, Generous Love, puts it: “The boundless life and perfect love which abide forever in the heart of the Trinity are sent out into the world in a mission of renewal and restoration in which we are called to share. As members of the Church of the Triune God, we are to abide among our neighbours of different faiths as signs of God’s presence with them, and we are sent to engage with our neighbours as agents of God’s mission to them.”1 As part of the lifeblood of Christian discipleship, mission has been understood and worked out in a wide range of ways, including teaching, healing, evangelism, political involvement and social renewal. Within this broad and rich understanding of mission, one key aspect is the relation between mission and evangelism. In particular, given the focus of the Lambeth-Jewish Forum, how does the Christian understanding of mission affects relations between Christianity and Judaism? Christian mission and Judaism has been controversial both between Christians and Jews, and among Christians themselves.
    [Show full text]
  • On Adaptation in Military Operations: Tinkering and Bottom–Up Perspectives
    AARMS Vol. 13, No. 3 (2014) 389–396. On Adaptation in Military Operations: Tinkering and Bottom–Up Perspectives 1 JOBBÁGY Zoltán A biological perspective has much to offer for a better understanding of military operations. Biological evolution and military operations feature perpetual novelty and conditions far from equilibrium featuring dynamics that demand continuous adaptation. The author suggests that comprehending military operations in an evo- lutionary framework requires a shift from mechanics and engineering to biology and adaptation. Thus the emphasis moves from statics to dynamics, from time–free to time–prone reality, from determinism to probability and chance, and from uni- formity to variation and diversity, with all the consequences. Introduction A biological perspective on human behaviour has much to offer for a better understanding of the relationship between co-operation and conflict. Regardless whether one sees war and military operations through the eyes of Clausewitz, approach it as a complex adaptive sys- tem, or examine it along attributes that display similarities with biological evolution, there are timeless and innate characteristics. It is not difficult to conclude that both biological evolution and military operations are intrinsically complex, and primordial violence is at the heart of both. [1] Military operations indeed can be understood as a complex adaptive system in which the system properties emerge from the interactions of the many components at lower levels. The abundance of dispersed interactions in military operations indicates a mechanism that often lacks global control, but feeds from cross–cutting hierarchical setup. Similar to biolog- ical evolution, military operations also feature perpetual novelty and far from equilibrium dynamics that demand continual adaptation.
    [Show full text]
  • The “Gospel” of Cultural Sustainability: Missiological Insights
    The “Gospel” of Cultural Sustainability: Missiological Insights Anna Ralph Master’s Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School at Goucher College in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Cultural Sustainability Goucher College—Towson, Maryland May 2013 Advisory Committee Amy Skillman, M.A. (Advisor) Rory Turner, PhD Richard Showalter, DMin Table of Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... iii Chapter One—The Conceptual Groundwork ................................................................................. 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 1 Definition—“Missiology” .................................................................................................... 4 Definition—“Cultural Sustainability” .................................................................................. 5 Rationale ............................................................................................................................. 7 Methodology ..................................................................................................................... 11 Review of Literature—Cultural Sustainability................................................................... 12 Review of Literature—Missiology ....................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Book Reviews
    Book Reviews Translating the Message: The Missionary Impact on Culture. 2d ed., revised and expanded. By Lamin Sanneh. Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books, 2008. Pp. xiii, 318. Paperback $30. Lamin Sanneh, pioneer of the new social life, creeds and doctrines, institu- the sole preserve or vehicle of sacred historiography of world Christianity, tionsandideals,languagesandliteratures, utterance.Rather,God’sSpiritcouldmove has prepared an improved and updated and qualities and forms of artistic expres- intoandindwellanylanguageandthereby versionofhis widely acclaimed classic, sion. Variations in idiom brought further transformtheheartsandmindswithinany whichoriginally appeared in 1989. Into localized forms of Gospel embodiment, as culture. Pentecost reversed Babel. Thus this magisterialwork he has inserted a Gospel truths were themselves translated from within each language and culture, remarkably astute and insightful new and reincarnated within new languages. new features could be grafted into new chapter on the “Authorized (‘King James’) Christianity never was, and certainly is and emerging forms of Christianity. Bible,” probing both its origin and its wide- not, more inherently European (Western) Apithy summary of Sanneh’s con- ranging impact upon world Christianity; than it is Asian (Eastern) or African clusions can be found in his most recent and he has placed expanded and updated (Southern). The origins of Christian faith, work, as explained in Sanneh’s Disciples chapter bibliographies at the end, with after all, lay neither in Europe nor in Asia of All Nations: Pillars of World Christianity revamped appendixes. Between these two or Africa, but in the Middle East. Thus, (2008): “Christianity’s engagement with publicationslietwentyyearsofcontinuously while Christianity was eventually heavily the languages and cultures of the world deepening reflection and fresh research.
    [Show full text]
  • J. Hooykaas the Rainbow in Ancient Indonesian Religion In
    J. Hooykaas The rainbow in ancient Indonesian religion In: Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde 112 (1956), no: 3, Leiden, 291-322 This PDF-file was downloaded from http://www.kitlv-journals.nl Downloaded from Brill.com09/28/2021 02:58:39PM via free access THE RAINBOW IN ANCIENT INDONESIAN RELIGION Still seems, as to my childhood's sight A midway station given For happy spirits to alight Betwixt the earth and heaven. THOMASCAMPBELL, TO the Rainbow st. 2 Introductwn. earth is not without a bond with heaven. The Bible tells US that in a fine passage, where the rainbow appeared as a token of Ethis bond, Gen. IX.13: I do set My bow in the cloud and it shall be for a token of a covenant between Me and the earth. The Greeks also knew, that, however easy-going their gods might be, there was a link between them and mortal men. That link was represented by Homer as the fleet-footed Iris, who with later poets became the personification of the rainbow. A beautiful picture of the Lord in a 12th century English psalter 1 shows that the rainbow also in Christian conception keeps its place as 'a token of a covenant', for Christ, in that picture, is seated on a rain- bow, with His feet nesting on a smaller bow. Thus we Europeans are acquainted with the rainbow as the bond between heaven and earth through both sources of culture which still nourish our civilisation. It hardly needs emphasizing, that each religion has its own view ofthe rainbow.
    [Show full text]
  • Sebastian Chang-Hwan
    CURRICULUM VITAE General information Name: Dr. Sebastian Kim, PhD, FRAS Address: Associate Dean & Executive Director, Korean Studies Center Professor of Theology and Public Life Fuller Theological Seminary 135 North Oakland Avenue Pasadena, CA 91182, USA Email: [email protected] Education 1997-2001 University of Cambridge, UK, PhD in Theology (Faculty of Divinity; Fitzwilliam College) 1992-1993 Fuller Theological Seminary, USA, ThM 1988-1991 Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary, Seoul, Republic of Korea, MDiv 1985-1987 All Nations Christian College, UK, Dip. Miss. 1974-1980 Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea, BSc (Electronic Communication Engineering) Employment 2017 (July)- Professor in Theology and Public Life and Executive Director, Korean Studies Center, Fuller Theological Seminary, USA 2005-2017 Professor (Chair in Theology and Public Life), School of Humanities, Religion and Philosophy, York St John University, UK 2002-2005 Director, Christianity in Asia, Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge, UK Coordinator, MPhil in World Christianity 2002-2003 By-Fellow, Robinson College, University of Cambridge, UK 2001-2002 Professor (teaching major), Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary, Seoul, Republic of Korea 2000-2001 Interim Director, Henry Martyn Centre, and Henry Martyn Lecturer in Mission Studies, Cambridge Theological Federation, Cambridge, UK 1993-1997 Visiting Lecturer, Union Biblical Seminary, Pune, India 1989-1992 Home Director, World Concern Korea, Seoul, S. Korea 1981-1982 Systems
    [Show full text]
  • The Place of Church Planting in Mission: Towards a Theological Framework
    ERT (2009) 33:4, 316-331 The Place of Church Planting in Mission: Towards a Theological Framework Richard Yates Hibbert KEYWORDS: Church planting; Missio points out, ‘theological reflection is the Dei; Kingdom of God; Holistic beginning point of ministry formation’.2 Mission; Theology of Mission While insights from the history of mis- sion and the social sciences are extremely helpful in shaping church I The Need for a Theological planting practice, a biblical and theo- Framework logical foundation is essential if church Until 1980, there were very few books planting is to fulfil God’s purposes for giving practical guidance to church it. Robinson and Christine are right in planters. The succeeding years have insisting that ‘we need to be sure that the activity of church planting lies not seen this vital need met through the just on the practical agenda of activists publication of scores of texts. Very few but that it also belongs to the purpose of these texts, though, provide any- and call of God for his church’.3 Murray thing approaching a satisfying theolog- warns: ical basis for church planting, one notable exception being Stuart Mur- An inadequate theological basis ray’s Church Planting: Laying Founda- [for church planting] will not nec- tions, first published in 1998.1 The biblical and theological founda- 2 Gailyn Van Rheenen, ‘The Missional Helix: tion for the planting of churches has Example of Church Planting’, Monthly Missio- generally been assumed rather than logical Reflections 26 (January 2001), explicitly articulated. As Van Rheenen http://www.missiology.org/mmr/mmr26.htm (accessed 21 May 2003).
    [Show full text]
  • Transforming Anglicanism: Elements of an Emerging Anglican Mission Paradigm
    255 JOHN CORRIE Transforming Anglicanism: Elements of an Emerging Anglican Mission Paradigm Few would question that Anglicanism is undergoing significant change at present but often this is not interpreted in a missional framework. John Corrie here offers such an approach to Anglican identity, arguing that we need to see beyond current conflicts to discern an emerging missional paradigm. He argues that this paradigm will be crucial for future Anglican unity and provide an approach to mission that is integral, sacramental and Trinitarian. Introduction You don’t need to be a missiologist to recognise my take on David Bosch’s Transforming Mission in the title of this article. The point of this echo is that I want to suggest that Anglicanism needs a new paradigm for its identity if it is to survive even to halfway through this century, and that that new paradigm needs to be missional. If a new paradigm is to emerge from out of the current crisis in Anglicanism then, as Bosch suggested was the case for his own thesis, it must have significant roots in the history of the tradition. The resources for renewed identity are, in other words, already there within Anglicanism. Bosch’s paradigm built upon six phases of Christian history identified by Hans Küng, taking from each of them what was of abiding significance and incorporating those elements into his own vision. Anglicanism needs to do something similar. It cannot deny its traditions and its history, but it has got stuck in an institutional and conflictual paradigm from which it can only be released by the transforming vision of mission.
    [Show full text]
  • 260 Mission Studies Bibliography David J. Bosch, Transforming
    260 Mission Studies Bibliography David J. Bosch, Transforming Mission. Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission, Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books 1991, 587 pp. A book such as this could only be written by someone who is really well acquainted with mission and missiological literature. David J. Bosch is Profes- sor of Missiology at the University of South Africa (Pretoria) and many publi- cations bear witness to his scholarship: Die Heidenmission in der Zukunfts- schau Jesu (1959), A Spirituality of the Road (1979), Witness to the World: The Christian Mission in Theological Perspective (1980), The Church as Alternative Community (1982), Mission in Creative Tension: A Dialogue with David Bosch (1990), etc. The author is aware of the escalation in the use of the word "mission" in recent times and the concomitant insecurity which the ambivalent under- standings of mission engender. He has no intention of restricting himself to one of the many "definitions" that may obstruct the view for an unprejudiced scrutiny of the "paradigms" of history. But in every phase of the book one thing is crystal clear: the Christian faith is missionary by its very nature; it is meant for all people; it is concerned with other-worldly and this-worldly salvation; the Church is both "sacrament and sign": sign in the sense of "pointer, symbol, example or model", sacrament in the sense of "mediation, representation, or anticipation" (p. 11). A thought which meanders like a golden thread through the whole book is that the "mission" of the Church cannot be detached from the "missio Dei," that mission belongs to the essence of the Church, as lasting concern and task of the Church inseparable from it.
    [Show full text]