Theology and Ethics for the Public Church: Mission in the 21st Century World
Ebook
How might the Christian church effectively engage today's politically charged, profit-motivated world while remaining faithful to its biblical and theological roots? The contributors in this book argue that public theology provides a promising pathway forward. The public theology emerging from these pages has been influenced by the theological interests and commitments of Gary M. Simpson, Lutheran pastor and systematic theologian. His approach to public theology is intersectional and global; he artfully weaves together Lutheran theology and the civil society arena of Critical Social Theory. These essays provide three angles of vision on faith active in twenty-first century public contexts: contextual, ethical, and theological. While not mutually exclusive, these distinct strands of thought engage and challenge the church to substantial reflection on the challenging and often bewildering circumstances of the twenty-first century social world. Some reflect on God's activity within particular global contexts, others offer new perspectives on Lutheran confessional traditions, still others step boldly into innovative theological assertions. As the Christian church is ever forming and reforming, this book urges it to grapple with the "publicness" of its timely and timeless mission.
Part I: Public Theology in Specific Global Contexts
1. Public Theology of Abundance: Reclaiming Africa’s Abundance in Public Theological Discourse
Ibrahim S. Bitrus
2. Leadership Solution to Africa’s Enigma: Redefining Missional Leadership in African Context
Samuel Yonas Deressa
3. We Can’t Breathe: The Role of Public Theology in the Midst of Social, Political, and Institutional Unrest
David L. Everett
4. Native Christian Mission in Burma
Pum Za Mang
5. Diakonia and Justice in an African Context: Highlights from the Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church
Margaret Kemunto Obaga
6. Global Public Theologians in Rural Contexts: Malawi and Wisconsin, Equipping Prophetic Public Companions for God’s Mission in Rural Communities
Laurie Skow-Anderson
Part II: Implications for Ethics and Social Responsibility
7. The Polis in Luther’s Theology
Robert Kolb
8. Lesslie Newbigin’s Idea of a Christian Society
George R. Hunsberger
9. Love in Luther: Beyond Thesis 28
John R. Stumme
10. Citizenship as Co-Creation: Theological Foundations for Democratic Renewal
Marie-Louise Ström
11. Pandemic Politics: Critical Social Theory and Societal Chaplaincy
Robert O. Smith
Part III: Faith and Religion in Contemporary Society
12. Problems of a Theology of the Cross
Gregory Walter
13. Stunned:
David E. Fredrickson
14. The Sutures of Reason and the Short-Circuit of Faith: Belief in the Light of Contemporary Cognitive Theories
Guillermo Hansen
15. A Stranger God: Sketch of a Religionless Theology
Josh de Keijzer
An astonishing volume that builds constructively and contextually on the research, teaching, and creative imagination of Gary Simpson! We witness the transformational influence of a master teacher to form students and colleagues for public theology globally and locally. Deep wisdom from Luther coupled with critical social theory serves the common good as it contributes to civil society through the exercise of reason and public leadership. Each chapter filled with gems!
- Title: Theology and Ethics for the Public Church: Mission in the 21st Century World
- Authors: Samuel Yonas Deressa, Mary Sue Dreier, Hak Lee, Gary Simpson, Ibrahim S. Bitrus, Josh de Keijzer, David L. Everett, David Fredrickson, G. Walter Hansen, Marie Y. Hayes, George R. Hunsberger, Robert Kolb, Pum Za Mang, Margaret Kemunto Obaga, Laurie Skow-Anderson, Robert O. Smith, Marie-Louise Ström, John R. Stumme, David Tiede, Gregory Walter
- Publisher: Fortress Academic
- Print Publication Date: 2023
- Logos Release Date: 2023
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9781978713246, 9781978713239, 1978713231, 197871324X
- Resource ID: LLS:9781978713246
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-12-13T06:45:28Z
Samuel Yonas Deressa is assistant professor of Theology and the Global South and Fiechtner Chair for Christian Outreach at Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Mary Sue Dreier is retired professor of pastoral care and missional leadership at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary of Lenoir-Rhyne University (Columbia, South Carolina).