A Ministry Shaped by Mission by The Rev Paul Avis

A Ministry Shaped by Mission by The Rev Paul Avis

The book falls into three symmetrical parts, each of which is subdivided (the subdivisions are listed in the analytical Contents, making a Subject Index redundant). The first part, 'The Mission of God that Shapes our Ministry', draws on the missiological insights of Karl Barth and the Second Vatican Council concerning the missio Dei and directly relates this theme to the tasks entrusted to the Church in 'The Great Commission' of Matthew 28: the ministry of the Word, the celebration of the sacraments and the exercise of pastoral responsibility. It shows how Christians share in the ministry of Christ himself. The second part, 'A Ministry Shaped by the Mission of God', carries the argument forward by clarifying the much abused term 'ministry' and offering a more rigorous and somewhat controversial definition of ministry as work for the Church that is mandated by the Church and explicitly related to its core tasks. Ministers therefore represent both Christ and his Church. The third part, 'Ordained to a Ministry Shaped by Mission', applies the insights of the earlier parts to ordained and lay ministry and offers a cogent answer to the question, What difference does ordination make? The book concludes with an agenda for the reform and development of ministry in the light of the arguments advanced.

"'In this book Paul Avis proposes a fresh look, whereby the whole church is seen as participating in God's mission, and its leaders have its conduct and oversight as their chief responsibilityAvis's vision holds promise for the internal reconcillation of the church and its structures, so that a restored unity mey itself make and continue a persuasive evangelical witness to a broken world.' Professor Geoffrey Wainwright, Cushman professor of Christian Theology at Duke University; 'will stimulate new thought about the relationship of ministry and mission, at the same time as it raises questions about their relationship to worship and to patristic prototypes. Avis offers a competent survey of the contemporary scene, especially in modern English theology, which is firmly grounded in reformation and ecumenical thought-forms.... there is no better introduction to its subject in print. J. Robert Wright Professor of Church History, General Theological Seminary, New York City, and Historiographer of the Episcopal Church."

Paul Avis is Honorary Professor in the School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh, UK, and Editor-in-Chief of Ecclesiology.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780567083685
ISBN 10	0567083683
Title	A Ministry Shaped by Mission
Author	The Rev Paul Avis
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Year published	2005-03-20
Number of pages	148
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.