Under the Oak Tree: The Church as Community of Conversation in a Conflicted and Pluralistic World - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1620321920 ISBN 13: 9781620321928

Publisher: Cascade Books, 2013

Synopsis

Two trends in the early twenty-first-century intersect to give this volume immediate relevance: 1) The emerging postmodern ethos in North America is calling into question many things we have taken for granted, including the purposes of the church; and 2) our time is increasingly fractious as groups with distinct worldviews become polarized and often antagonistic. Eleven noted contributors join a growing current that sees conversation as an image to refresh our thinking about the nature and purpose of the church, and as a process in which individuals and communities with different perspectives come together for real understanding. Under the Oak Tree employs the image of Sarah and Abraham greeting three visitors under the Oaks of Mamre as an image for the church as a community of conversation, a community that opens itself to the otherness of the Bible, voices in history and tradition, others in the contemporary social and ecological worlds. Furthermore, the book shows how conversation can lead the church to action. The book takes a practical approach by exploring how conversation can shape key parts of the church's life. Topics include preaching, worship, formation, evangelism, pastoral care, mission and ecumenism, social witness, and the relationship of Christianity to other religions. Foundational chapters consider God as conversational, the church as community of conversation, and the minister as conversation leader.

About this title

About the Author

Ronald J. Allen is Professor of Preaching and Gospels and Letters at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. His books include Reading the New Testament for the First Time (2012). John S. McClure is Charles G. Finney Professor of Preaching and Worship at Vanderbilt Divinity School. He has written Mashup Religion (2011) and other books. O. Wesley Allen Jr. is Associate Professor of Homiletics and Worship at Lexington Theological Seminary. Among his books are A Renewed Homiletic (editor, 2010) and The Homiletic of All Believers (2005).

Edition details

• Publisher: Cascade Books
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1620321920
• ISBN 13: 9781620321928
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 266
• Editor: Allen Ronald J., McClure John S., Allen O. Wesley Jr.