A Eucharist-shaped Church: Prayer, Theology, Mission

(Hardback)

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A Eucharist-shaped Church: Prayer, Theology, Mission is a historical-theological survey of major movements and thinkers that have shaped sacramental theology and liturgical worship within the Anglican/Episcopal tradition. The contributors attend closely to the interplay between Christian thinking, praying, and living in order to distil lessons for liturgical revision and worship renewal. Each chapter explores a major thinker or movement, and explores how the theological, liturgical, ecclesiological, and missiological commitments of the thinker or movement interacted and shaped the thinkers or movements overall thought. This serves a two-fold purpose: 1.) Much scholarship about Anglican eucharistic theology treats some aspect of that theology in isolation (presence, sacrifice, etc.) from other aspects, and from the context in which the theology was developed. This approach shows how these various aspects and contexts in fact have mutual explanatory power. 2.) The interaction of these various aspects of eucharistic theology provide a framework for those involved in liturgical revision to think through the commitments communicated by the proposed revisions.

Reviews

Firmly grounded in the best of historical and theological scholarship on the various editions of the Books of Common Prayer, this collection of excellent essays merits wide readership especially among Episcopalians and Anglicans concerned with liturgical revision in a changed cultural, social, and ecclesial context today. The goal here is, indeed, to articulate clearly the relationship of the lex orandi, flowing from the Eucharistic Liturgy, to both the lex credendi, and lex vivendi. As such, this collection will be of interest also to those outside of Episcopal and Anglican circles for whom the articulation of this relationship is also paramount, not only because of changed cultural and social issues, but because of contemporary challenges to historic forms and interpretations of sacramental liturgy itself. I highly recommend it.

--Maxwell E. Johnson, University of Notre Dame

It wasn't too long after the galleys were finally set for the 1979 Book of Common Prayer that calls for revision began to rise. Memories are short and without the aid of the internet to amplify church-wide conversation and debate, we may have forgotten how much negotiation and compromise accompanied the deep theological and liturgical work that made the latest prayer book possible. As the Episcopal Church moves toward imminent prayer book revision with the technologies of social media and the urgencies of institutional preservation pressing in, this collection of essays focusing on Eucharistic liturgies provides the historical and theological grounding necessary for thoughtful consideration of the next revision. This text is at once accessible and thorough and I commend it to faithful worshippers, fellow bishops and theologians alike.

--Rt. Rev. Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows, Bishop, Diocese of Indianapolis

Taking the proposed revision of the 1979 American Book of Common Prayer as a point of reference, this richly informed collection of scholarly essays fruitfully unites historical and theological methodologies. It illuminates the patristic origins, historical phases, and pivotal trends in the development of an ongoing Anglican Eucharistic tradition, as illustrated in the theology of such key figures as Thomas Rattray, Samuel Seabury, John Henry Hobart, and Robert Isaac Wilberforce. Content is matched by context, with the thematic lodestar provided by the creative application of the three interlocking liturgical laws - 'lex credendi', 'lex orandi' and 'lex vivendi'. These core elements are skilfully utilised, avoiding liturgical antiquarianism by relating Eucharistic theology and liturgy dynamically to the worshiping life of the community. The past is thus drawn upon to inform and suggest blueprints or models for current and future liturgical revision in the Episcopal Church, uniting oranda with credenda to underpin vivenda, in support of renewal of a Eucharist-shaped Church. This is historical theology and liturgical study in the service of living praxis at its best. Based on innovative and high quality research, it is a worthy addition to the Anglican Studies Series.

--Peter Nockles, University of Manchester

This is a rare gem. A collection of high-quality essays on the eucharistic theology and ecclesiology of leading figures in the history of the Episcopal Church and the wider Anglican Communion, intended to provide a sound theological basis for future liturgical revision.

--Paul Bradshaw, University of Notre Dame, emeritus

Whether literally or metaphorically considered, this is a weighty book. It is the inaugural volume of a new Anglican Studies series through Lexington Books and Fortress Academic. As such, it sets a high bar of academic excellence and practical applicability for future contributions. The three editors are joined by three additional scholars to provide thirteen essays. Ideally, all persons interested in liturgical renewal and specifically those who will bear official responsibilities for revision, should read this book.

-- "Angelican & Episcopal History"

Author Bio

Daniel J. Handschy (PhD in Historical Theology, St. Louis University) is currently priest-in-charge of St. Davids Episcopal Church, DeWitt, NY.

Donna R. Hawk-Reinhard is director of Anglican House of Studies at Eden Theological Seminary and an instructor for the Diocese of Missouris Episcopal School for Ministry.

Marshall E. Crossnoe is an ordained priest in The Episcopal Church, currently serving as Interim Rector at Episcopal Church of the Advent in Crestwood, Missouri.