Reviewed by Bob Faser.
I
need to make one admission at the outset.
When I was asked to review this book, my initial thought was “But hasn’t
the Basis
of Union been done to death already?”
However,
by writing this book, Geoff Thompson has provided the Uniting Church with a
strong resource for ministry, for three compelling reasons.
The
first reason is that Thompson prefers to allow the Basis of Union to speak
to us on its own terms, rather than placing the Basis into any particular
doctrinal straitjacket, whether “evangelical”, “progressive”, “neo-orthodox”,
or any other.
The
second reason is in the description of this book as “Post-Christendom”. This
study takes seriously the fact that the relationship between the Christian
churches and the broader society, both in Australia and in other western
nations, has changed radically in the decades since the Basis of Union was
written and the UCA was inaugurated.
The third
reason is in the fact that this study is structured in sixteen segments that
can be used for group sessions. Each
session contains a brief commentary on the relevant section of the Basis
of Union, brief statements on how our “Post-Christendom” situation
relates to the particular section of the Basis, discussion questions, and
relevant passages of scripture.
This
book looks like a good starting point for reflection by a more ambitious adult
study group in a local congregation, one which wants to spend an extended time
with a single resource. It would also
work well with a group of Ministers of the Word, Deacons, Pastors, and Chaplains in a local area
wanting some sustained opportunity for group theological reflection. If a group such as this exists in your
congregation or presbytery, this may be the resource for them. In either case, competent group leadership is
essential as this is not a pre-packaged small-group study.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Constructive comments, from a diversity of viewpoints, are always welcome. I reserve the right to choose which comments will be printed. I'm happy to post opinions differing from mine. Courtesy, an ecumenical attitude, and a willingness to give your name always help. A sense of humour is a definite "plus", as well.