Power and Identity in the Global Church

[DESCRIPTION] Power and Identity in the Global Church: Six Contemporary Cases applies contemporary sociological, theological, and New Testament insights to better understand how God’s people can, do, and should interact in the field, thereby laying the groundwork for better multicultural approaches to mission partnership.

The authors—six evangelical anthropologists and theologians—also show that faithfulness in mission requires increased attention to local identities, cultural themes, and concerns, including the desire to grow spiritually through direct engagement with God’s word. In this context, failure to attend to power imbalances can stunt spiritual and leadership growth. Attending to those imbalances should make Christian churches more truly brothers and sisters in Christ, equal members of the one global body of which Christ alone is the head. [/DESCRIPTION] [CREDIT] by: Brian Howell (Editor), Edwin Zehner (Editor) [/CREDIT] [PAGES] 260 [/PAGES] [BINDING] Paperback [/BINDING] [PUBLISHER] William Carey Library [/PUBLISHER] [PUBLISHYEAR] 2008 [/PUBLISHYEAR] [ENDORSEMENT1]

I found these essays to provide an excellent introduction to issues of ethnicity and identity in mission settings around the world. Any missiologist wishing to understand social realities formerly treated under crude categories (like “people group,” homogeneous unit principle, indigeneity) will find excellent tools for developing sophisticated analyses of the contemporary world, analyses that are needed for wise anthropologically informed mission practice.

Robert J. Priestdirector of the doctor of philosophy in intercultural studies program, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School [/ENDORSEMENT1] [TOC]

Contributors

Preface by Brian M. Howell

1. Contextualizing Context--Exploring Christian Identity in the Global Church through Six Contemporary Cases by Brian M. Howell

2. Paul in Japan: A Fresh Reading of Romans and Galatians by J. Nelson Jennings

3. Contextualization from the Ground: Longuda Lutherans in Nigeria by Todd Vanden Berg

4. Local Language and Global Faith: Choosing Church Language in the Philippines by Brian M. Howell

5. Identity Matters: Christianity and Ethnic Identity in the Peninsular Basque Country by Steven J. Ybarrola

6. Contextualization and Ethnicity: Millenarian Discourse among the Bayano Kuna in Panama by Eric J. Moeller

7. Beyond Anti-syncretism: Gospel, Context and Authority in the New Testament and in Thai Conversions to Christianity by Edwin Zehner

Afterword: Concluding Missiological Reflection by Robert J. Priest

Bibliography

Endnotes

index

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