A Church Drawing Near: Spirituality and Mission in a Post-Christian Culture

(Paperback)

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Description

The book begins by defining the core tasks (or mission) of the Church in biblical and theological terms, and then asks how these tasks can best be carried out in the conditions of modernity and post-modernity. Paul Avis describes and evaluates contemporary expressions of spirituality, drawing on many empirical studies; the functions of the Church's "occasional offices" or rites of passage; the ways in which the Church and its ministers can engage constructively with the community and with civil society; the pastoral method in mission and its practical, policy consequences. Throughout the book Avis urges the imperative for the Church and its ministers to break out from the privatization of Christian values into full participation in contemporary social issues and public life.

Reviews

"The basic lines of Avis' theses are certainly straightforward, but the execution is highly elaborated and complex, which may be both the strength and the weakness of this very worthy piece of work...I found much encouragement and affirmation, as well as novelty and challenge, in these pages. I would recommend the book for serious pastors, for anyone interested in the interplay between faith and culture, and for those who might have misgivings about words like spirituality' or mission.' Avis shows that they can indeed be rehabilitated, as can we all." Anthony J. Gittins, Mission Studies, Fall 2007 -- Anthony J. Gittins
''Paul Avis is a prolific writer and is always worth reading. This is as true of this book as any other...a very worthwhile book.' ~ Wesley Carr, Westminster Abbey, Ecclesiology -- Wesley Carr
"I would recommend this book to all those seeking to refresh their vision for parish ministry. To all those who wonder why we do what we do, this book provides some stimulating."Mark Hargreaves ANVIL Vol. 23 No. 4, 2006 -- Mark Hargreaves * ANVIL *
"A Church Drawing Near is an important work for pastoral ministry and missiology. It is a work that calls for further theological reflection as the church finds creative ways to garner the trust of the surrounding culture and discover credible ways of being involved in public life. Avis's work can help the whole church draw near to what God is truly doing in the world." - Journal of Church and State, Summer 2005 * Journal of Church and State *
'There is much here to provoke reflection....This book will speak to Church of England clergy who work with traditional conceptions of ministry and mission, and who seek an intellectual basis for its expression and development.' ~ Mike McCoy, Journal of Theology for South Africa -- Mike McCoy * Journal of Theology for Southern Africa *
"Here is a book that warrants a second visit almost as soon as you finish a first reading: sometimes as ornate as a rococo reredos, or a woodcarving by Grinling Gibbons, its details can easily be overlooked. The basic lines of Avis' theses are certainly straightforward, but the execution is highly elaborated. I found much encouragement, affirmation - as well as novelty and challenge in these pages. I would recommend the book for serious pastors, for anyone interested in the interplay between faith and culture, and for those who might have misgivings about words like spirituality' or mission.' Paul Avis shows that they can indeed be rehabilitated, as can we all." - Missiology, October 2005 * Missiology *

Author Bio

Paul Avis is Honorary Professor in the School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh, UK, as well as Honorary Research Fellow in the Department of Theology and Religion at the University of Exeter, UK, and Editor-in-Chief of Ecclesiology.