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Thursday, 24 August 2006
Towards Baptist Catholicity: Chapter 1
Steven Harmon's book, Towards Baptist Catholicity: Essays on Tradition and the Baptist Vision, begins in Chapter 1 with a taxonomy of the main features of recent work from American and British Baptist theologians, all of whom fall into the broad category of "catholic Baptists". The seven features are:
1. Tradition is seen as a source of theological authority
2. There is a place for the historic creeds in Baptist liturgy and catechesis
3. The liturgy is the appropriate context for formation by tradition
4. The authority of tradition lies in the community and its practices
5. A sacramental theology, broadly understood
6. The contructive retrieval of the tradition
7. A commitment to thick ecumenism.
This opening chapter is only a review of recent scholarship and is helpfully detailed (I was familiar with the British work, but less up to speed on some of the more recent North-American contributions. Harmon's own constructive contribution to the catholic Baptist vision is offered in the chapters that follow.
One point struck me in particular, and that is the suggestion that Baptists might want to consider signing up to the 'Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification', signed in 1999 between the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation. The Methodists are apparently considering signing the Declaration. See here. The suggestion for Baptist involvement has been made by T. Toom, 'Baptists on Justification: Can We Join the Joint Declaration on Justification?', Pro Ecclesia 13 (2004), 289-306 and is affirmed by Harmon on p.199. It is probably worth noting that Jüngel believes that in the Declaration "decisive insights of the Reformation were either obscured or surrendered" Justification: The Heart of the Christian Faith, trans. Jeffrey F. Cayzer (Edinburgh / New York: T & T Clark, 2001). For an exposition of Jüngel's views see this excellent summary series by D. W. Congdon.
18:40 Posted in Theology | Permalink | Comments (4) | Email this
Comments
Nice summary, Sean. Thanks for it.
Posted by: Jim | Friday, 25 August 2006
Thanks for your link to "The Lutheran" magazine. Much appreciated.
Posted by: Amber Leberman, Web Manager, The Lutheran magazine | Tuesday, 29 August 2006
I know I'm probably thick, and please don't tell me to read the book for the answer, as my 'to read' heap is too tall already, but what is 'thick ecumenism'? It conjures up some bizarre ideas which I'm sure are not entirely helpful (if vaguely amusing to my warped mind)
Posted by: Catriona | Tuesday, 29 August 2006
Thanks for the tip-off about this book Sean. Looks good.
What interests me about this whole discussion is that it could provoke some similar responses within the Roman church to those that eminated post ordination of women vote in the Anglican communion in England. Then, when there were disillusioned members of the C of E expressing an interest in joining the Roman church, many catholics were heard to say, "don't join a church about which you know little - we have moved on from the stereotypical church of pre-Vatican II. Don't drag us back, we are progressing."
Now, I am NOT saying that Baptist/catholic relationships are like this - the only profile person i can remember joining the catholic church is Nick Mercer (say no more!) - but we would certainly need to be certain in opening up this discussion to people that they understand the current state of catholic church life in our country. Whilst some may not like it, increasing numbers of catholic churches are running Alpha, and many are discovering the RCIA suggestions for the Baptist of Believers by Immersion. There has been a proliferation in the Lancaster Diocese of churches looking to promote personal engagement with the Bible, and their musical and liturgical life not only includes Bernadette Farrell, Marty Haughen, Michael Joncas, Dan Schutte to name but a few, but the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement has introduced many contemporary worship songs into the life of their churches. Not all catholics welcome this, but there is more life around than we may care to imagine, and Baptists have a lot to give and receive in this ongoing relationship. I hope to post about this matter soon, particularly from the angle of inter-communion relationships.
Posted by: Paul J Lavender | Wednesday, 30 August 2006
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