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<Previous Edition | Volume 26 Numbers 3 &4 2009

Read the Editorial for this double issue

Anvil Volume 26 Numbers 3 & 4 2009

Lesslie Newbigin (1909-1998)

Krish Kandiah & Paul Weston

This year has marked the centenary of the birth of Lesslie Newbigin, arguably the twentieth century’s greatest missiologist. Two experts on Newbigin here offer introductions to his thought and writings. Krish Kandiah describes his personal journey, highlighting five key areas where he learned from Newbigin what is needed to work for the conversion of the West. Paul Weston then offers a brief guide to reading Newbigin for those wishing to explore his thought further.

Krish Kandiah is Executive Director, Churches in Mission at the Evangelical Alliance. He did his doctorate on Newbigin’s theology of evangelism and is the author of several books including Dysciples: Why I Fall Asleep When I Pray and Twelve Other Discipleship Dysfunctions (Authentic Media, 2009).

Paul Weston is Tutor in Mission and Homiletics at Ridley Hall, Cambridge and Chair of the Anvil Editorial Board and author of Lesslie Newbigin, Missionary Theologian: A Reader (SPCK, 2006).

Reinventing English Evangelicalism: Reviews & Response

Andrew Atherstone, Pete Broadbent & Robert E Warner

Rob Warner's Reinventing English Evangelicalism, 1966-2001: A Theological and Sociological Study (Paternoster 2007) is undoubtedly a major contribution to the study of recent evangelical history in England. Andrew Atherstone and Pete Broadbent here offer two different evangelical Anglican perspectives on Warner’s account, followed by a response from Warner himself which develops further some of the book’s analysis in the light of the reviews and recent discussions.

Andrew Atherstone is Tutor in History and Doctrine, and Latimer Research Fellow, at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford.

Pete Broadbent is Bishop of Willesden.

Professor Robert E Warner is Head of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Chester. His current major research project, funded by the Religion and Society programme (AHRC and ESRC), will examine the interaction of student experience and Christian faith among undergraduates, Roman Catholic, mainline Protestant and evangelical.

The Son of Man: Jesus, Eschatology and Mission

Andrew Angel

The question of the interpretation of the son of man sayings has been a debated area in contemporary New Testament scholarship. Here Andrew Angel provides an introduction to the arguments some of the key writers in that debate: the classic work of Albert Schweitzer and the contemporary debates between Tom Wright, Andrew Perriman, Maurice Casey and Eddie Adams. In explaining the points at issue and in offering his own proposal, he consistently draws out the implications of different understandings of Jesus’ sayings and their eschatology for Christian mission today.

Andrew Angel is Tutor in Biblical Studies at the South East Institute for Theological Education and author of Chaos and the Son of Man: The Hebrew Chaoskampf Tradition in the Period 515 BCE to 200 CE (London: T&T Clark, 2006), a study in apocalyptic language and how it was used at the time of Jesus.

Bringing Emotions to the Surface in Ministry

Peter Sanlon

In this article Peter Sanlon explores the need to engage with people's emotions, as part of biblical Christian ministry. Reflecting on our Christian heritage, he considers four historical figures – Augustine, Sibbes, Edwards and Wilberforce, each of whom engaged in the ministry of bringing emotions to the surface and discovered resources for this vital aspect of evangelical ministry.

Peter Sanlon is an ordinand at Ridley Hall. He is writing a PhD on Augustine's preaching and blogs at www.grace-city.blogspot.com.

Congregational Studies as Resource and Critique for a Mission-Shaped Church

John Williams

There is now a large body of literature exploring new and emergent patterns of church life aimed at re-shaping the church around the needs of mission in contemporary culture. Much of this literature is strong in its analysis of social and cultural trends but weaker in its engagement with the beliefs and practices of actual church congregations (whether 'inherited' or 'emerging' models). In this article, John Williams argues that the burgeoning discipline of congregational studies should be seen as a constructive and critical partner in the quest for fresh expressions of church oriented to mission.

The Revd Dr John Williams is Senior Lecturer in Theology and Ministry at York St John University.

Transforming Anglicanism: Elements of an Emerging Anglican Mission Paradigm

John Corrie

Few would question that Anglicanism is undergoing significant change at present but often this is not interpreted in a missional framework. John Corrie here offers such an approach to Anglican identity, arguing that we need to see beyond current conflicts to discern an emerging missional paradigm. He argues that this paradigm will be crucial for future Anglican unity and provide an approach to mission that is integral, sacramental and Trinitarian.

John Corrie is Tutor in Mission at Trinity College, Bristol.

Mission and the Gay Community

Andrew Marin

Andrew Marin's recent book, Love Is An Orientation, draws on his experience of bridge-building between Christian and GLBT communities. In this interview with Anvil, he provides some of the background to his work, explains its vision and principles and offers some challenges to those in the UK about the need to think and act in a Christ-like manner.

Andrew Marin runs The Marin Foundation. He has a daily blog about faith, sexuality and culture, and his book Love is an Orientation: Elevating the Conversation with the Gay Community (InterVarsity Press 2009) can be purchased on Amazon UK as well as at the website of Spring Harvest (where he will be speaking in 2010). Anyone interested in looking into the possibility of bringing the bridge building work of The Marin Foundation to their church, organization, university, or conference can make contact through the website.

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