Denomination

Reviews / Votes

With the collapse of classical ecumenism and the emergence of new divisions in the church, the time is ripe for a fresh theological look at the contentious issue of denominationalism. This volume tackles the thorny issues cleanly and forthrightly. Both those who are repelled by the whole idea of denominationalism and those who want to retrieve and fix it will find this splendid volume invaluable in thinking through their positions. -- William J. Abraham, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, USA What is a denomination? Does it differ from a convention, fellowship, synod, or church? Is it primarily a sociological or a theological term? Denominational consciousness stands for particularity relative to the whole church. The premier ecclesiologists who discuss the nature, function, and relevance this term in an ecumenical age display the diversity of their denominational points of view. As denominations wane in the West and never quite take hold in cultures that do not share the history that generated them, will the gifts that each preserves for the whole church be lost? These analysts throw distinctive light on these issues and by so doing relativize the narrowness of denominational consciousness and help expand the vision of the larger church in which the denominations participate. This topic and these superb treatments of it provide a unique entree into the ecumenical vision that people from all the denominations will appreciate. As a whole the book represents a quiet, conversational but brilliant essay in comparative ecclesiology that no course in ecumenism can neglect. -- Roger Haight, S. J., Scholar in Residence, Union Theological Seminary, USA An important collection... looking at the issue of denominationalism from theological, ecumenical and sociological perspectives... Highly recommended. * Church of England Newspaper * As the blurb states, this book will indeed be a text for my next course on "Unity in Division". It offers challenging perspectives on bringing theological perspectives to the social realities which shape many churches in today's western world -- and beyond. * One in Christ *