Anglicanism’s Impossible Dream (SCM, London 2024. 197pp: £19.99) by Charlie Bell, a Fellow in Medicine & Theology and Girton College, Cambridge, examines the current crisis in the Church of England, where the debate on gay marriage has split the Church. . For Bell unity is not to be equated with uniformity, rather unity involves a willingness to disagree. The book is divided into three sections: 1. ‘Where we find ourselves’; 2. ‘Reflections on unity’; and ‘The search for Anglican unity’. If the Church of England is to survive then it needs to learn to walk together. This is an important book and needs to be involved by all Anglican ministers.
The Big Bang and the Holy Trinity (Sacristy Press , London.100pp: £9.99) by Paul Cobb, a Reader Emeritus at Oxford University, has written a most interesting book. He rightly believes that the separation of science and religion is not a good thing. For, he says, “It leads us to the situation where religions feel no pressure to review doctrine in the light of scientific discovery. When religion fails to interpret its historical message for the current age it deservedly loses is influence.”
A Month with St Augustine (SPCK, London 2024. 66pp: £7.99) edited by Rima Devereaux is a wonderful collection of quotation from The Confessions, written by Augustine (354-430 AD) when he was 43. There are readings for both morning and evening.
Discerning Inclusion: How an Evangelical church had the conversation about LGBT+ inclusion (Wipf & Stock, Eugene, Oregon 2024. 120pp: £16) by Ashley Hardingham, the minister of Altrincham Baptist Church in South Manchester, is for Baptists a controversial book, for most churches have made it clear that marriage is the union of a man and of a woman, and that any other relationship is sinful. Indeed, there are some ministers who are convinced that an inclusive church as ABC (Altrincham Baptist Church) should be ‘drummed out’ of the Baptist Union of Great Britain. I read this book with considerable interest because between 1973 and 1986 I was minister of ABC. In some ways it makes for sad reading, for many members left the church because of the direction that the Ashley Hardingham was leading the church. Although the decision to welcome LGBT+ people was based on an understanding of how Jesus would have us live, the author states that first and foremost this book is not about ethics, but about leadership – and in many ways he is right, because much space is given to process. As for my own position, over the years I have become an ‘open’ Evangelical. I agree with Evangelicals who say that marriage can only be the union of a man and of a woman, and yet somewhat reluctantly I have come to the decision that if I were now minister of a church I would be willing to bless a same sex ‘partnership’. Why? Because my perception is that if Evangelical churches shut their doors to people of a LGBT+ orientation, in a world where most people see nothing wrong with same sex relationships, they in turn would have nothing to do with the church. Ultimately, I believe that for the sake of the Gospel Evangelical Baptists need to compromise. One thing for sure, God loves everybody, including LGBT+ people, and the way my more conservative brothers and sisters are speaking, it is as if that is not true. The reality is that none of us are perfect – we are all sinners. This is a book which needs to be read and discussed with an open mind by ministers and their churches, and for that reason I warmly commend it.
A Calendar of Carols: Christmas reflections, prayers and songs of praise (BRF, Abingdon 2024. 92pp: £12.99) by Gordon Giles, a Canon of Rochester Cathedral, is a fascinating ‘read’ for in 25 short chapters the author explores the spiritual and biblical allusions to be found within our best-loved carols. As I know from experience, it is often difficult to find something fresh to say at the many Christmas services ministers are called to take. This book suggests a fresh approach and is therefore to be warmly welcomed.
The Song of the Poor and other Stories of El Salvador (DLT, 2024. 208pp: £19.99 hardback) by Tommy Greenan, A Scottish Roman Catholic priest who choose to live and work among the poorest of the poor in civil war-torn El Salvador in the 1980s and early 1990s, is a selection of 92 short chapters in which in a very moving way speaks of his concern for the poor. For anybody interested in how God is at work in /central America, this is a good book to read.
Embracing Humanity: A journey towards becoming flesh (BRF, Abingdon 2024. 146pp: £9.99) by Isabelle Hamley, the principal of Ridley Hall, one of the two Anglican theological colleges in Cambridge, guides readers through daily reflections and prayers on the wonder of Jesus embracing our humanity, and can be used both for personal study or within a small Bible study group. It is the BRF Advent book. As with most BRF books, this will be a very useful book for churches and their leaders.
The Poetry of Pilgrimage: Reflections on Celtic pilgrimage sites in Ireland and Britain (BRF, Abingdon 2024. 173pp: £12.99) by Michael Mitton, Canon emeritus of Derby Cathedral, looks at 25 different locations in England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, is suitable for people who are not able to join an organised pilgrimage. Each poem is accompanied by a reflection and a Bible reading. Although I confess that as one living in the South of England I have little interest in Celtic Christianity, for those who are interested in Celtic Christianity then this will prove a thought-provoking book.
A Joyful Noise: Some authors, their times and their hymns (DLT, London 2024. 238pp: £16.99 hardback) by Charles Moseley, a life fellow of Hughes Hall, Cambridge, is a fascinating account of 25 people who have written hymns from St Ambrose followed by many others including Thomas Aquinas, Isaac Watts, Charles Wesley, John Newton, John Henry Newman, Cecil Frances Alexander, Percy Dearmer, and up to Sydney Carter, is to be highly commended.
Sublime Virtue: ‘Sainthood’ as rendered problematic by a dozen novelists (DLT, London 2024.315pp: £16.99) by Andrew Shanks, a former Canon of Manchester Cathedral, looks at the writings of twelve leading novelists: George Eliot, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Nikos Kazantzakis, Yiyun Li, Colson Whitehead, Andrew Schwarz-Bart, Georges Bernanos, Marilynne Robinson, Morris West, Graham Greene, Shusaku Endo, and Ford Madox Ford. The author in his introduction states that sublime virtue is highly contagious, “the virtuous individual’s peers being inspired by his or her beautiful example, so far as possible to go and do likewise”. This is an intellectually stretching book and will not appeal to some who are not philosophically incline or have little interest in in novels. However, those who persevere in reading this book, will find it quite stimulating.
Chaplaincy: Contemporary and Global Perspectives (SCM, London 20244. 237pp: £35) edited by Grace Thomas and Kim Wasey, both of whom are involved in chaplaincy in Manchester, is divided into five main sections: 1. Chaplaincy in organizational contexts’; 2. ‘Inhabiting public ministry’; 3. ‘Multifaith and secular dimensions’; 4. ‘Chaplaincy and Christian mission’; and 5. ‘Research and reflective practice: Chaplain theologians’. The book consists of 22 essays by chaplains from all the major Christian denominations both in the UK and elsewhere in the world. The contexts of the chaplaincies present in this book are extraordinarily varied, including NHX chaplaincy, university chaplaincy, police chaplaincy, hospice chaplaincy, prison chaplaincy, community chaplaincy, multi-faith chaplaincy’ oil and gas chaplaincy, chaplaincy for older people; retail and retail chaplaincy. This is a book which should be read by all chaplains. My one concern is that this book is relatively quite expensive for a book of this size,
The Narrow Path: How the subversive way of Jesus satisfies our souls (Hodder & Stoughton, 2024. 187pp: £16,75 hardback) by Rich Villodas, the American pastor of a New York Life Fellowship, has written a book which will be most helpful to preachers. He writes, “The narrow way of Jesus gets to the core of what it means to be human, what it means to love well. It focuses our energy on what truly leads to the good life, a spacious kind of existence that makes room for God and others”. He goes on, “The greater the demand. The deeper the payoff”. A little later he points out that the Sermon on the Mount is not how we achieve salvation, it’s how we demonstrate it”. I warmly commend this book.
The latest Grove booklets, all 28 pp in length and priced at £3.95 include: Three or More: reflections on polyamory and consensual non-monogamy (Ethics 214, 2024) by Andrew Blunt, Emerging Generations Director of a charity that helps people, churches and society talk about their faith and sexuality, has written this unusual book. Apparently polyamorous and sexually non-monogamous relationship are becoming increasingly common. Many assume that polyamory is just about sex, but the heart of polyamory is about love and emotional connection. In the UK 39% of adults think that humans are not naturally monogamous and think that polyamory is morally acceptable. In the Christian world too, some are putting forward arguments for such a lifestyle. In the Old Testament we have examples of polygamy, and there are also places where the Old Testament speaks against polyamory. However, if we reclaim the Bible’s vision for friendship, a relationship does not need to be polyamorous to be close, loving and committed. Being a Disciple with a Body: How our physical life is part of our discipleship (Discipleship 14, 2024) by Miranda Heathcote, who has been in cross cultural ministry for 25 years, explores the difference a healthy view of our bodies can make in relationship with God and others. She looks at experiences both positive and negative. She has written this book for those who have struggled with aspects of life in the body, as well as those for whom physical life has brought much joy. The Clergy’s Experience of Pastoral Care: What (Really) Promotes Clergy Week Being (Pastoral 178, 2024) by Sean Cathy, an Anglican minister who after ten years in parish ministry trained as a psychotherapist) focusses on various ways in which clergy can deal with stress. Spiritual Wisdom for the everyday Christian: Walter Hilton and the ‘Mixed Life’ (Spirituality 170, 2024) by Ian Bunting, a retired Anglican minister who was engaged in theological education, looks at the pastoral wisdom of one of England’s famous 14th century mystics. Embodied Prayer as Mission: A Response to Cultural Change (Mission and Evangelism 147, 2024) by Rachel Michael, who belongs to the Association for Dance Movement Psychotherapy UK, argues for a holistic approach to spirituality, which incorporates a healthy biblical approach to wholeness. Language, Gender and God (Worship 260, 2024) by Charles Read, is an advisor to Christians for Biblical equality, is both thoughtful and creative. Dyslexia in Ministry: A Personal Reflection {Pastoral 179, 2024) by Abi Harris, a recently ordained curate, is a helpful book for the 10% of young ministers who suffer from dyslexia. The Four Seasons of Youth Work: How to Survive and Thrive for the Long Term (Youth 76, 2024) by Paul Beautyman an experienced youth worker, takes a helpful look at the four seasons common to all youth work: the ‘beginning season’ marks the initial stage of being a young person in a youth club; the ‘early season’ is the volunteer youth worker stage; the ‘middle season’ is the new professional youth worker stage; and the ‘late season is the experienced professional youth worker stage. Handling Texts with Integrity when Preaching (Biblical 113, 2024) by Margaret Cooling a preacher with thirty years of experience, takes an interesting look at the five marks of preaching: love, honesty, humility, wisdom, and honour and respect.