Clergy: The Origin of Species

(Paperback)

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Clergy: The Origin of the Species explores the origins and development of the clergy and offers a study of a profession that, although mostly confined to clerics in the Church of England, will nonetheless have implications for students of cultural studies, social theory, pastoral studies, theological and religious studies. The book uses insights from Darwin and Foucault to chart the rise of the professional clergyperson in modern society. It uses a variety of sources to illustrate how clergy identity has been constructed: 'thumbnail' sketches from various periods of church history, primary sources, pastoral theology, literature and other media. The aim is to show how the identity of the clergy has steadily evolved, so that each variant of the 'species' has proved highly adaptable to each new context/climate. The book offers a serious treatment of material that is, at times, humorous: of hierarchies, manners, clerical dress, stipends, and other 'material' that are often implicit within standard church histories. Percy suggests that although the clergy have now become a highly specialized profession within contemporary society, there are consequences for which Darwin and Foucault can offer insights that provide further illumination. For example, the shape of the profession today - selecting, training and deployment - makes the clergy more remote from the 'clerisy culture' that Coleridge envisaged in the late eighteenth century. The manner of everday dress also distinguish the clergy from the public in ways that were not known before 1860. The modern clergyperson is, relatively speaking, an innovation.

Reviews

'Utilising the metaphorical rubric of evolution Martyn Percy reframes the theology of ministry by looking at the adaption of ecclesiology and clerical practice to and through cultural change. What this compelling thesis achieves is to provide a practical theology of ministry grounded in social reality rather than a fixed and unchanging theology plucked from the skies.' Professor Andrew Walker, King's College, London -- Professor Andrew Walker
I welcome a book that takes the context of ministry seriously. Martyn Percy is particularly well-placed to do this - combining the insights of sociology and theology in order to think in new ways about the ministerial task. This book is for scholars and practitioners alike. -- Grace Davie, Professor of Sociology, University of Exeter
"This is an important and timely book...and offers a wide range of insights into many of the problems and issues that face the church today." -- Church Times
"a delightful, provocative, interesting and a very informative book." "Martyn Percy offers not just history and theology, but also carefully considered and wide understanding." "a book well worth reading, enjoying and pondering over." -- Keith Lamdin, The Door
"Martin Percy here presents his undestandings of the nature of ordained ministry in the churches, and particularly within the Anglican Communion...However, Percy's arguments fails to explain certain crucial points" Reviewed by Neil Burgess, Theology, 2008 * Theology *

Author Bio

The Very Reverend Professor Martyn Percy was until recently The Dean of Christ Church Oxford. Previously he was Principal of Ripon College Cuddesdon, in Oxfordshire. He is the author of a number of books and learned articles including The Humble Church, Untamed Gospels and Clergy: the Origin of Species. He will shortly be taking up a new appointment as Professor of Theology in the University of Aberdeen. His wife is also an ordained theologian. He has two daughters and a dog.