Good Disagreement? Grace and truth in a divided church
Ebook
At every level of church life from the local congregation to worldwide denominations, Christians can find themselves in turmoil and divided over a range of important issues. Many conclude that harmony is not achievable, and never will be. Can we, as Archbishop Justin Welby has asked, transform 'bad disagreement' into 'good disagreement'? What would that look like in practice? This book is designed to help readers unpack the idea of 'good disagreement' and apply it to their own church situations. It doesn't enter into specific contentious debates, but instead considers issues such as reconciliation, division, discipline, peacemaking, mediation and mission. It asks what needs to happen for those from differing viewpoints to both listen and be heard, and does not shy away from hard questions about unity in the gospel and the church's public witness. The book draws lessons from the New Testament, church history, and contemporary experience, with chapters from a dozen theologians and practitioners. They are editors Andrew Atherstone and Andrew Goddard, Tory Baucum, Martin Davie, Lis Goddard, Clare Hendry, Toby Howarth, Ashley Null, Ian Paul, Stephen Ruttle, Michael B. Thompson, and Tom Wright.
Can the Church of England find a way of disagreeing without being disagreeable - or splitting entirely?
Contents
Contributors ix
Foreword
Archbishop of Canterbury xi
1 Disagreeing with Grace
Andrew Atherstone and Andrew Goddard 1
2 Reconciliation in the New Testament
Ian Paul 23
3 Division and Discipline in the New Testament Church
Michael B. Thompson 43
4 Pastoral Theology for Perplexing Topics: Paul and Adiaphora
Tom Wright 63
5 Good Disagreement and the Reformation
Ashley Null 83
6 Ecumenical (Dis)agreements
Andrew Atherstone and Martin Davie 109
7 Good Disagreement between Religions
Toby Howarth 131
8 From Castles to Conversations: Reflections on How to Disagree Well
Lis Goddard and Clare Hendry 151
9 Ministry in Samaria: Peacemaking at Truro Church
Tory Baucum 171
10 Mediation and the Church’s Mission
Stephen Ruttle 195
Notes 219
Product Details
- Title : Good Disagreement?: Grace and Truth in a Divided Church
- Author: Andrew Atherstone, Andrew Goddard
- Publisher: Lion Books
- Publication Date: 2015
- ISBN: 9780745968360