- Explorations in Theology and Wisdom for Pioneering Leaders

Edited by David Male

Contributors are Richard Bauckham, Graham Cray, John Drane, Lucy Moore, Mark Russell.
This book includes article-length offerings from various authors, interwoven with stories from pioneering leaders engaged in grass-roots level church and evangelism. The articles are generally well-written and informative; they include an assessment of the contemporary scene by Graham Cray, insights from Paul and Acts by John Drane and Richard Bauckham respectively, as well as contributions from Mike Moynagh and George Lings. However, it was the selection of stories from practitioners which most caught my imagination! Details about some very exciting pioneer work are recorded here and these would be an encouragement to many others who are working at the coal-face of such ministry or contemplating a call to do so.
If you are interested in pioneer ministry, this book will be worth your while, both for its Biblical and theological thinking as well as its stories. It also includes a helpful list of web-based resources for pioneers which would help you explore this topic further.

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Review by Chloe Lynch (04/05/12)

Paperback
Price: £8.99
Publisher: BRF (Bible Reading Fellowship)
Published: August 2011
ISBN: 978-1-841-01827-0

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Church in the Present Tense

- A Candid Look at What’s Emerging

by Scot McKnight, Peter Rollins, Kevin Corcoran & Jason Clark

Brought together in this wonderful little book on the emerging church are four thinkers, theologians, writers and practitioners who all have a long history within the emerging church, and significant interaction with it on an academic level. In my years of reading books from the emerging church, there is no doubt that this collection of eight essays is by far the most incisive discussion of the fundamental changes and challenges that the emerging movement presents to the rest of the church.
Spanning philosophy, theology, worship, and doctrine, this collection gets right into the depths of the issues in each area - providing a level-headed discussion and argumentation along with an appreciation that the whole church is on the same side, which is a pleasant and vital change from the often-too-sharp rhetoric that emanates from some in the emerging camp.
Particularly impressive within this collection are Jason Clark's essays deconstructing consumerist liturgies whilst emphasising the fact of liturgy in everyday life, and Scot McKnight's essays on Scripture and Atonement that make small steps towards bridging the divide between more traditional evangelicals and the emerging church.

Review by Tim Goodall (02/04/12)

Paperback
Price: £12.99
Publisher: Brazos Press imprint of Baker Pub from SPCK
Published: April 2011
ISBN: 978-1-587-43299-6

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The Hospitality of God

- Emerging Worship for a Missional Church

by Mary Gray-Reeves and Michael Perham

Our God is a gracious, kind, welcoming and hospitable God. This title reveals a journey of exploration, celebration and compelling hope regarding our hospitable God. Sadly the church has grown weary or failed in sharing this hospitality to everyone and so this pilgrimage of theory and examples of practice regarding emerging worship for the missional church is a valued contribution. Analysis and cross-Atlantic resources and reflections are well mapped in this fresh and confident fusion of emerging and traditional churchmanship.
A well informed book that sensitively handles the deeply rooted Anglican traditions and gathers them together, through participation and dialogue, with core missional convictions. There is room for questioning and engagement, with grace and generosity, with liturgy, and the worship life of Emerging and Fresh Expressions of church. Truly both inspiring and insightful!

Review by Johnny Douglas (30/04/11)

Paperback
Price: £12.99
Publisher: SPCK (Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge)
Published: March 2011
ISBN: 978-0-281-06350-5

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A Just Church

- 21st Century Liberation Theology in Action

by Chris Howson

This excellent book marks a detailed renewal in the field of liberation theology. It demonstrates how the church, especially the contemporary stream can learn from a 'theology of the poor'. It deals in practical ways of how Christians can respond to issues of conflict, climate change and the increasing global poverty gap. It links local and global contexts and throws a challenge to all people of faith to work with their neighbours to build fairer and more just communities. Gardening, demonstration protests, regeneration, peace-making, activities, reflection and theology are some of many core qualities that are unpacked beyond theory, rather in the context of a challenging northern urban emerging church expression. The reign of God finds excellent celebration and probable advance in Howson’s chronicles. Attractively delivered and fully justifiable of the subtitle’s boast: 21st Century Liberation Theology in Action! Immensely readable, comprehensive, clear and compelling.

Review by Johnny Douglas (27/04/11)

Paperback
Price: £12.99
Publisher: Continuum
Published: 17 February 2011
ISBN: 978-1-441-19992-8

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New Monasticism as Fresh Expression of Church

- Ancient Faith, Future Mission

by Graham Cray, Ian Mobsby and Aaron Kennedy

Getting past the title of this volume of diverse contributions will enable the reader to look at one area of the Christian Family, and what might come under the heading of ‘monasticism.’ ‘There are evidently four kinds of monks.’ So begins St Benedict’s famous definition, and the reader can analyse the new communities and movements in the book in terms of the saint’s categories. Stability and time were the factors that either made monasticism flourish or wither, again according to St Benedict. How much the former is evident in the pages of this book can only be determined by time, and the time-scale for these movements so far, is uncomfortably brief. And so we must be patient.

Review by Ian Gibbs (07/04/11)

Paperback
Price: £14.99
Publisher: Canterbury Press imprint of Hymns Ancient & Modern Ltd
Published: 17 December 2010
ISBN: 978-1-848-25044-4

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Risk-Shaped Discipleship

- On Going Deeper into the Life of God

by Terry Biddington

Biddington offers us a chronological and theme based exploration of our faith that seeks to engage with the diversity, depth and dance of God. This book takes as its starting point the reality of change, and it seeks to explore how the church may see change positively. It also seeks to help reinvigorate its teaching and ministry and the way in which Christians understand their spiritual journey. Change is seen not only as a welcome dynamic of the life of faith, but also as the very source of unexpected and transformative encounters with God and the transcendent.
Through a strong scriptural base, Terry Biddington challenges Christians to redirect their faith in a proactive and risky manner, akin to the way in which Jesus lived out his life on earth. Complacency and a lackadaisical cloud have overtaken the modern day church, leaving little room for active discipleship or pre-emptive religious ministry. Biddington utilizes biblical examples to weave together an attainable and encouraging image of what discipleship within the modern church looks like — and it is a risky business. A flourishing world is the scale of what we are invited to engage with. It is a rigorous, risky, exploratory, hope-filled discipleship for a discerning readership! A gem of a resource for individual use or study groups, this book holds pearls of wisdom that offer revitalization and change to those willing to receive it!

Review by Johnny Douglas (21/02/11)

Paperback
Price: £18.50
Publisher: Resource Publications from Columba
Published: August 2010
ISBN: 978-0-893-90693-1

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Parishes in Transition Edited by Eugene Duffy
ISBN: 978-1-856-07706-4 Price: £12.99	Published: 2010
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Pioneer Mission and Fresh Expressions of Church by Angela Shier-Jones
ISBN: 978-0-281-06113-6 Price: £12.99	Published: 19 November 2009
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Mission After Christendom - Emergent Themes in Contemporary Mission edited by Ogbu U. Kalu, Peter Vethanayagamony and Edmund Kee-Fook-Chia
ISBN: 978-0-664-23465-2 Price: £16.99	Published: May 2010
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Churchmorph - How Megatrends are reshaping Christian Communities by Eddie Gibbs
ISBN: 978-0-801-03762-7 Price: £10.99	Published: 2009
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Through the Pilgrim Door - Pioneering a Fresh Expression of Church by Michael Volland
ISBN: 978-1-842-91399-4 Price: £7.99	Published: 2009
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The Challenge of Change - A Guide to Shaping Change and Changing the Shape of the Church by Phil Potter
ISBN: 978-1-841-01604-7 Price: £7.99	Published: Autumn 2009
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GloboChrist - The Great Commission Takes Post Modern Turn by Carl Raschke
ISBN: 978-0-801-03261-5 Price: £9.99	Published: 2008
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Punk Monk - New Monasticism and the Ancient Art of Breathing by Andy Freeman & Pete Greig
ISBN: 978-1-842-91330-7 Price: £6.99	Published: Autumn 2009
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Evaluating Fresh Expressions - Explorations in Emerging Church Edited by Louise Nelstrom and Martyn Percy
ISBN: 978-1-853-11816-6 Price: £16.99	Published: 2008
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Fresh Expressions in the Sacramental Tradition - Ancient Faith, Future Mission Edited by Steven Croft and Ian Mobsby
ISBN: 978-1-853-11973-6 Price: £16.99	Published: Autumn 2009
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Mission-shaped church - second edition - Church Planting and Fresh expressions of Church in a Changing Context by C of E’s Mission and Public Affairs Council
ISBN: 978-0-715-14189-2 Price: £10.95	Published: 2009
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Messy Church 2 - Ideas for Discipling a Christ-Centered Community by Lucy More
ISBN: 978-1-841-01602-3 Price: £8.99	Published: November 2008
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Coaching For Missional Leadership - Growing and Supporting Pioneering in Church Planting and Fresh Expressions by Bob Hopkins & Freddy Hedley
ISBN: 978-0-955-93631-9 Price: £7.99	Published: Autumn 2009
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Building Utopia? - Seeking the Authentic Church for New Communities by Laurie Green & Christopher R.Baker
ISBN: 978-0-281-05867-9 Price: £14.99	Published: 20 November 2008
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