Book Reviews

Book reviewed in this article: A Vision for Man . Essays on Faith , Theology And Society , ed. Samuel Amirtham. einführung in die Theologie der Religionen , by H. Bürkle . Church And State : Opening A New Ecumenical Discussion . Christians or Capitalists , by Cosmas Desmond . The Orthodox Church in the Ecumenical Movement , ed. Constantin Patelos. Das Herrenmahl , ed. Gemeinsame Römisch-Katholische/Evangelisch-Lutherische Kommission. Nairobi : A Joke, a Junket, or a Journey ? by J. H. Jackson.     

Book Reviews

Book reviewed in this article: Fernando Enns, Friedenskirche in der Ökumene: Mennorutische Wurzeln einer Ethik der Gewaltfreiheit [A Peace Church in the Ecumenical Movement: The Mennonite Roots of an Ethic of Non‐Violence] Riccardo Larini (under the direction of), II libra di testimoni: martirologio ecumenico [A Book of Witnesses: An Ecumenical Martyrology] Horace Russell, The Missionary Outreach of the West Indian Church: Jamaican Baptist Mission to West Africa in the Nineteenth Century Daphne Hampson, Christian Contradictions: The Structure of Lutheran and Catholic Thought Joseph Liechty and Cecelia Clegg, Moving beyond Sectarianism: Religion, Conflict and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland     

Attempts to revive the council for religious affairs in Russia∗

The Russian Orthodox Church: Triumphalism and Defensiveness, by Jane Ellis. London: Macmillan Press, in association with St Antony's College, Oxford, 1996. 203 pp.

Christian Thinking and the End of Communism in Russia, by William van den Bercken. Utrecht‐Leiden: Interuniversity Institute for Missiological and Ecumenical Research (IIMO Research Publication 34), 1993. 154 pp.     

Book Reviews

Book reviewed in this article: Kaisamari Hintikka, The Romanian Orthodox Church and the WCC: 1961–1977 Eugene M. Skibbe, A Quiet Reformer: An Introduction to Edmund Schlink's Life and Ecumenical Theology. From a Gospel Voice in Nazi Germany to a New Vision of Christian Unity Gavin D'Costa, The Meeting of Religions and the Trinity     

Book Reviews

Book reviewed in this article: Letty Russell, Church in the Round: Feminist Interpretation of the Church. Jacob Neusner, Telling Tales: Making Sense of Christian and Judaic Nonsense. The Urgency and Basis for Judeo-Christian Dialogue. Irvin, Dale T., Hearing Many Voices: Dialogue and Diversity in the Ecumenical Movement. Martin Robra, Ökumenische Sozialethik. Ulrich Duchrow, Alternativen zur kapitalistischen Weltwirtschaft: Biblische Erinnerung und politische Ansätze zur Überwindung einer lebensbedrohenden Ökonomie.     

Missionary Institutes in the wake of the Second Vatican Council: the case of the Missionaries of Africa

It is legitimate to imagine that the Church would have been different had it not been for the courage and insight of Pope John XXIII, who convened the Second Ecumenical Council, completed after him by Pope Paul VI. It initiated extensive reform in the Catholic Church, both in the way she understands herself and as she sees her presence and interaction with the (secular) world. This Ecumenical Council also invited Religious Congregations and Institutes of Consecrated Apostolic Life to engage in a process of renewal (aggiornamento) that would bring them also into line with the new theology of the Second Vatican Council. The Missionaries of Africa, under the leadership of Fr Léo Volker, undertook this thorough renewal before, during and after the 1967 General Chapter. This article explores how aggiornamento changed our Missionary Family and how it impacted on the local churches in Africa which we served.     

Recent Books on Protestant-Roman Catholic Dialogues,Relations and Common Practices

Baptism and Eucharist: Ecumenical Convergence in Celebration, eds Max Thurian and Geoffrey Wainwright. Geneva: WCC, and Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 1983, 258pp. (Faith and Order Paper No. 117). The Churches as Peacemakers? An Analysis of Recent Church Statements on Peace, Disarmament and War. Rome: IDOC-International, 1985, 88pp. Congar, Yves: Diversity and Communion. London: SCM Press, 1984, 232pp. (Translated from the French Diversités et communion. Paris: Editions du Cerf, 1982). Derr, Thomas Sieger: Barriers to Ecumenism: the Holy See and the World Council of Churches on Social Questions. Maryknol, NY: Orbis Books, 1983, 102pp. Desseaux, Jacques Elisée: Dialogues théologiques et accords oecuméniques. Paris: Editions du Cerf, 1982, 199pp. Dialogi Ecumenici Ufficiali: Bilanci e Prospettive, a cura di Donato Valentini. Roma: Libreria Ateneo Salesiano, 1983, 168pp. (Biblioteca di Scienze Religiose, 53). Ecumenical Perspectives on Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry, ed. Max Thurian. Geneva: WCC, 1983, 246pp. (Faith and Order Paper, No. 116). Die Eucharistie der einen Kirche — Eucharistische Ekklesiologie: Perspektiven und Grenzen, eds. Albert Rauch and Paul Imhof. Munich: Verlagsgesellschaft Gerhard Kaffke, 1983, 231pp. (Koinonia. Schriftenreihe des Ostkirchlichen Instituts Regensburg, Band III). Fries, Heinrich and Rahner, Karl: Unity of the Churches: an Actual Possibility. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, and New York: Paulist Press, 1985, 146pp. (Translated from the German Einigung der Kirchen — Reale Möglichkeit. Freiburg: Herder, 1983). Huwyler, Christoph: Das Problem der Interkommunion: Dargestellt anhand kirchlicher Verlautbarungen, Ökumenischer Dokumente und der theologischen Diskussion. Bad Honneff: Bock und Herrchen Verlag, 1984, 2 volumes. Lazareth, William H.: Growing Together in Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry: a Study Guide. Geneva: WCC, 1982, 107pp. (Faith and Order Paper No. 114). Local Ecumenism: How Church Unity is Seen and Practised by Congregations, ed. André Birmelé. Geneva: WCC, 1984, 37pp. Peace and Disarmament: Documents of the World Council of Churches and the Roman Catholic Church. Geneva: (WCC) Commission of the Churches on International Affairs, and Rome: Pontifical Commission “Iustitia et Pax”, 1983, 255pp. Wachsende Übereinstimmung in Taufe, Eucharistie und Amt: Hilfen zur Beschäftigung mit den Lima-Erklärungen. Im Auftrag der ökumenischen Kommission der katholischen Bistümer in Bayern, herausgegeben von Gerhard Voss. Freising: Kyrios-Verlag, and Paderborn: Verlag Bonifatius, 1984, 96pp. Wainwright, Geoffrey: The Ecumenical Moment: Crisis and Opportunity for the Church. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 1983, 263pp.     

BOOK REVIEWS

Book reviewed in this article: WHAT IS DIALOGUE?: Oecumenica. Jahrbuch für ökumenische Forschung. Published by Institut für Ökumenische Forschung, Strasbourg; edited by F. W. Kantzenbach and Vilmos Vajta A LAYMAN'S VIEWPOINT: Borderlands of Theology by Donald Mackinnon AN INSPIRING RECORD: The Ecumenical Witness of the United Presbyterian Church in the USA, by W. Stanley Rycroft. THE ECUMENICAL MOVEMENT AND THE GERMAN CHURCH STRUGGLE: Kirchenkampf und Ökumene 1933 bis 1939, by Armin Boyens.     

BOOK REVIEWS

Book reviewed in this article: AGAINST THE SPIRIT OF THE TIMES: LE PAYSAN DE LA GARONNE, Un vieux laïc s'interroge à propos du temps présent, by JACQUES MARUAIN THE FINALITY OF CHRIST: THE FINALITY OF CHRIST, edited by DOW KIRKPATRICK CHURCH AND SOCIETY: WHO SPEAKS FOR THE CHURCH? A critique of the 1966 Geneva Conference on Church and Society, by PAUL RAMSEY ECUMENICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY: INTERNATIONALE ÖKUMENISCHE BIBLIOGRAPHIE. International Ecumenical Bibliography. Bibliographie ?cuménique internationale. Band 1/2, 1962/63     

Book reviews

Gunnel Borgegard, Olav Fanuelsen, Christine Hall (ed.), The Ministry of the Deacon, 2. Ecclesiological Explorations (Uppsala: Nordic Ecumenical Council, 2000), 91–85564–10–9, 285 pp.

Dennis M. Doyle, Communion Ecclesiology (Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books, 2000) 1–57075–327‐X, ix + 195 pp.

Nicholas M. Healy, Church, World and the Christian Life: Practical‐Prophetic Ecclesiology. Cambridge Studies in Christian Doctrine 7 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000), 0–521–78650–9 (pbk), 199 pp.     

Book Reviews

Book reviewed in this article: Justice in an Unjust World: Foundations for a Christian Approach to Justice, by Karen Lebacqz. Christian Spirituality: Origins to the Twelfth Century, eds Bernard McGinn, John Meyendorff and Jean Leclercq. Common Ground: Christianity, African Religions and Philosophy (American University Studies Series VII Theology and Religion, Vol. 25), by Emmanuel K. Twesigye. Quest for Belonging: Introduction to a Study of African Independent Churches, by Inus Daneel. African Church Historiography: an Ecumenical Perspective, edited by Ogbu U. Kalu. Die Rückkehr zur Weisheit. Philosophie angesichts des Abgrunds, by Milan Machovec.     

Reviews

Books reviewed: L. E. Keck et al. (eds), Numbers, Deuteronomy, Introduction to Narrative Literature, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1&2 Samuel S. E. Gillingham, One Bible, Many Voices: Different Approaches to Biblical Studies Michael D. Goulder, The Psalms of the Return (Book 5, Psalms 107–150): Studies in the Psalter IV James D. G. Dunn, T. & T. Clark, The Theology of Paul the Apostle D. Mendels, Identity, Religion and Historiography: Studies in Hellenistic History William Horbury, Jewish Messianism and the Cult of Christ James S. McLaren, Turbulent Times? Josephus and Scholarship on Judaea in the First Century CE J. Neusner and B. Chilton, Jewish-Christian Debates: God, Kingdom, Messiah Ben Pink Dandelion, Douglas Gwyn and Timothy Peat, Heaven on Earth: Quakers and the Second Coming Adnan Aslam, Religious Pluralism in Christian and Islamic Philosophy: The Thought of John Hick and Seyyed Hossein Nasr W. Cantwell Smith, Believing: An Historical Perspective W. Cantwell Smith, Faith and Belief: The Difference Between Them Norman Doe, Canon Law in the Anglican Communion: A Worldwide Perspective G. R. Evans, Discipline and Justice in the Church of England Alan Falconer (ed.), Faith and Order in Moshi: The 1996 Commission Meeting Lewis S. Mudge, The Church as Moral Community: Ecclesiology and Ethics in Ecumenical Debate T. F. Best and D. Hellar (eds), Eucharistic Worship in Ecumenical Contexts: The Lima Liturgy – And Beyond Timothy Bradshaw ed, Grace and Truth in the Secular Age José Comblin, Called for Freedom: The Changing Context of Liberation Theology Karen Kilby, Karl Rahner Rosemary Radford Ruether, Women and Redemption: A Theological History Ian Markham, Truth and the Reality of God: An Essay in Natural Theology Johannes A. van der Ven, Formation of the Moral Self Robin Gill (ed.), Euthanasia and the Churches Richard Swinburne, Providence and the Problem of Evil John Polkinghorne, Science and Theology: An Introduction John P. Burgess (ed.), In Whose Image? Faith, Science and the New Genetics Stephen Platten (ed.), Seeing Ourselves: Interpreting Contemporary Society Jacques Derrida and Gianni Vattimo (eds), Religion Ursula King (ed.), Faith and Praxis in a Postmodern Age     

Reviews

Books reviewed in this article: Justin J. Meggitt, Paul, Poverty and Survival. J. Trebolle Barrera, The Jewish Bible and the Christian Bible: an Introduction to the History of the Bible. Bonnie Thurston, Women in the New Testament: Questions and Commentary. Lewis Ayres and Gareth Jones (eds), Christian Origins: Theology, Rhetoric and Community. Malcolm Lambert, The Cathars. Jan Bonda, The One Purpose of God: An Answer to the Doctrine of Eternal Punishment. H. Richard Niebuhr, Theology, History, and Culture: Major Unpublished Writings. Michael Northcott (ed.), Urban Theology: A Reader. C. Dale White, Making a Just Peace: Human Rights & Domination Systems. Colin Buchanan, Is the Church of England Biblical? An Anglican Ecclesiology. Darrell L. Guder (ed.), Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the Church in North America. Bert Hoedemaker, Secularization and Mission: A Theological Essay. Walter Klaiber, Call and Response: Biblical Foundations of a Theology of Evangelism. Walter Brueggemann & George Stroup (eds), Many Voices, One God: Being Faithful in a Pluralistic World. Michael Root & Risto Saarinen (eds), Baptism and the Unity of the Church. S.M. Heim (ed.), Grounds for Understanding: Ecumenical Resources for Responses to Religious Pluralism. Yirmiyahu Yovel, Dark Riddle: Hegel, Nietzsche, and the Jews. Edward K. Kaplan and Samuel H. Dresner, Abraham Joshua Heschel: Prophetic Witness. M. A. Ryan & T. D. Whitmore (eds), The Challenge of Global Stewardship: Roman Catholic Responses. Rodger Charles SJ, Social Witness and Teaching: The Catholic Tradition from Genesis to Centesimus Annus. Rowena Robinson, Conversion, Continuity and Change: Lived Christianity in Southern Goa. James Luther Adams and Wilson Yates (eds), The Grotesque in Art and Literature: Theological Reflections. C. Gestrich, The Return of Splendor in the World: The Christian Doctrine of Sin and Forgiveness. D. Watts, Religion in Late Roman Britain: Forces of Change. Peter Byrne, The Moral Interpretation of Religion.     

REVIEWS

Book reviewed in this article:
Systematic Theology Volume 2by wolfhart Pannenberg, translated by Geoffrey W. Bromiley
The Church and the Churches: Toward an Ecumenical Ecclesiology by G. R. Evans
The Royal Priesthood: Essays Ecclesiological and Ecumenical by John Howard Yoder
The Promise of Pragmatism: Modernism and the Crisis of Knowledge and Authority by John Patrick Diggins
Barth, Derrida and the Language of Theology by Graham Ward     

Research on the diaconate: a retrospective view of promise and challenge

This editorial article briefly reviews retrospectively the research undertaken by the Anglo-Nordic Diaconal Research Project (ANDREP), which has been concerned primarily with the Churches of Sweden and Norway, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and the Church of England, with reference to ecclesiology and praxis in other churches, and to concommitant research and ecumenical developments elsewhere, in relation to the diaconate. From the publication of the WCC Faith and Order Paper on Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry (BEM, 1982) and throughout the period of the formation of the Porvoo communion of Churches, there appeared to be great promise for the renewal of the deacon's ministry. However, it became apparent that, in the Church of England at least, renewal of the diaconate was not generally regarded principally as an end in itself but as a means of advancing the cause of women's ordination to priesthood. Furthermore, mono-presbyterate and the variety of meanings given to the term ‘diakonia’ have presented a number of problems. Fundamental principles of ecclesiology pertaining to the diaconate also were – and remain – unknown or disregarded in much church practice. A number of challenges which consequently arise for the churches have been identified over time and are addressed in this issue of the International Journal for the Study of the Christian Church (IJSCC), vol. 13, no. 4 (2013), on the theme of ‘The Ministry of the Deacon in Times of Ecumenical Reconfiguration’.     

Book Reviews

Book reviewed in this article: Pastoral Counseling in Inter-Cultural Perspective, by Emmanuel Yartekwei Lartey. Household of Freedom: Authority in Feminist Theology, by Letty M. Russell. Risking Christ for Christ's Sake: Towards an Ecumenical Theology of Pluralism, by M.M. Thomas. History of the Ecumenical Movement, by Vasil Istavridis. Islamic Experience in Contemporary Thought, by Syed Vahiduddin. Ami de Dieu et Notre Ami: El Hadj Boubacar G. Sakho, by Gwenolé Jeusset and Raymond Deniel.     

BOOK REVIEWS

Book reviewed in this article: LONG-TERM PERSPECTIVES: THE VATICAN COUNCIL AND CHRISTIAN UNITY. A Commentary on the Decree on Ecumenism of the Second Vatican Council, with a translation of the text, by BERNARD LEEMING, S.J. MODERN CHURCH HISTORY: A STUDY OF SURVIVAL. The Church in Russia 1927–1943, by WILLIAM C. FLETCHER MODERN CHURCH HISTORY: PROTESTANTISM IN TRANSITION, by CHARLES W. KEGLEY. Harper and Row THE CHURCH AT WORSHIP: WORSHIP: ITS THEOLOGY AND PRACTICE, by J.-J. VON ALLMEN. Transl. H. Knight and W. F. Fleet THE NEED OF CLEAR ANSWERS: ULTIMATE CONCERN, Tillich in dialogue with students, by D. MACKENZIE BROWN A GREEK ORTHODOX THEOLOGIAN'S VIEW OF THE ECUMENICAL MOVEMENT: HISTORIA TēS OIKOUMENIKēS KINēSEōS (History of Ecumenical Movement), by VASIL T. ISTAVRIDIS A GREEK ORTHODOX THEOLOGIAN'S VIEW OF THE ECUMENICAL MOVEMENT: ORTHODOXIA KAI ANGLIKANISMOS (Orthodoxy and Anglicanism), by VASIL T. ISTAVRIDIS OUR OWN STORY: THE WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES. A Study of Its Background and History, by DAVID P. GAINES THROUGH THE EYES OF A JAPANESE THEOLOGIAN: THEOLOGY OF THE PAIN OF GOD, by KAZOH KITAMORI AN ECUMENICAL PIONEER: LAYMAN EXTRAORDINARY. A tribute to John R. Mott, 1865–1955, by ROBERT C. MACKIE and Others     

Book Reviews

Book reviewed in this article: The Trial OF Beyers Naudé: Christian Witness AND THE Rule OF Law, edited by the Der überholte Marx, by Walther Bienert Karl Barths Tauflehre, by Richard Schlüter Evangelischer Erwachsenen Katechismus: Kursbuch DES Glaubens, edited by Werner Jentsch, Harmut Jetter, Manfred Kiessig and Horst Keller The Common Catechism: A Christian Book OF Faith, edited by Johannes Feiner and Lukas Vischer The Ecumenical World OF Orthodox Civilization: Russia AND Orthodoxy Christian Ethics FOR Black Theology, by Major J. Jones La Cage DES Chrétiens, by Bruno Bürki. Yaoundé Cyprian OF Carthage AND THE Unity OF THE Christian Church, by Peter Hinchliff The Hindu Response TO THE Unbound Christ, by S. J. Samartha Gott IN Japan, edited by Yagi Sehchi and Ulrich Luz Entwicklung IM Paradies, by Ulrich Beyer A Theology OF THE Old Testament, by John L. McKenzie Papsttum UND Petrusdienst, by Heinrich Stirnimann and Lukas Vischer     

Book Reviews

Book reviewed in this article: Rita Mayne England and John Carol England, Ministering Asian Faith and Wisdom: A Manual for Theological Librarians in Asia Peter Matheson, The Imaginative World of the Reformation Jurjen Zeilstra, European Unity in Ecumenical Thinking, 1937–1948     

BOOK REVIEWS

Book reviewed in this article: “HISTORY”, AS PRESENTED IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION: Time and History — A Study on the Revelation, by Mathias Rissi, translation by Gordon C. Winsor. WORSHIP AND MISSION: The Church Worships (Concilium, Vol. XII), by Johannes Wagner and Helmut Hucke. WORSHIP AND MISSION: Worship and Mission, by J. G. Davies. ASIAN ECUMENICAL HERITAGE: Asia and the Ecumenical Movement 1896–1961, by Hans-Ruedi Weber CHURCH AND SOCIETY, VOLUMES I, II, III: Responsible Government in a Revolutionary Age, Edited by Z. K. Matthews CHURCH AND SOCIETY, VOLUMES I, II, III: Christian Social Ethics in a Changing World. Ed. John C. Bennett. CHURCH AND SOCIETY, VOLUMES I, II, III: Man in Community. Ed. Egbert de Vries. “GRANDCHILDREN, MEET YOUR GRANDPARENTS”: Brief Outline on the Study of Theology, by Friedrich Schleiermacher, translated by Terrence N. Tice. “GRANDCHILDREN, MEET YOUR GRANDPARENTS”: Faith and the Vitalities of History: A Theological Study Based on the Work of Albrecht Ritschl, by Philip Hefner. RESPONSIBILITY AMID CHANGE: Welt im Umbruch. Gesellschaftliche und geistige Probleme in den Entwikklungsländern, by Karl Heinz Pfeffer.