Archives

‘Located’ Questions for a Missional Hermeneutic

Good afternoon! It is a pleasure to be here for what is now the fifth of these annual special sessions at the AAR/SBL dedicated to exploring a missional hermeneutics, a forum that is heartening for those of us who have become convinced (1) that truly critical hermeneutical engagement with the Bible must incorporate missional questions and (2) that solid biblical … Read More

October 24, 2015

A Response at AAR to Hunsberger’s “Proposals…” Essay

[Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Religion, Chicago, Illinois, November 1, 2008] Let me begin by thanking George for this very thoughtful and stimulating paper, which admirably summarizes, critiques, and synthesizes the presentations and proposals made in these "missional hermeneutic" sessions over the past six years. I find his reading and assessment of the hermeneutical "streams" … Read More

October 23, 2015

A Response at SBL to Hunsberger’s “Proposals…” Essay

[Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, Boston, Massachusetts, November 22, 2008] I am grateful to George Hunsberger for his very helpful summary of a wide range of research. He has provided us with some useful categories for further reflection on "missional hermeneutics." I find George’s framework to be a helpful one, which summarizes an enormous … Read More

Community-friendly Theology

Real estate agents who know the Atlanta market will tell you that the single most stable middle-income neighborhood inside the perimeter is Toco Hills. Over the years shopping centers and road widenings have nibbled at the edges of this residential community but its quiet streets and modest homes have remained virtually undisturbed. Nor is there much turnover here. Homeowners seem … Read More

October 25, 2015

Ecclesiology of the Emerging Church

The emerging church. What is it? Who is it? And what exactly do they mean by church? In other words, what is the ecclesiology of the emerging church? It seems like “the church” should be easy to define. Yet throughout time and across various Christian movements people’s definitions of church – what it is, what it is for, who makes it up – have varied … Read More

October 24, 2015

In Memory of J. E. Lesslie Newbigin

Apostle of Faith and Witness, by George R. Hunsberger. Lesslie Newbigin, by H. Dan Beeby. A Tribute to Bishop Newbigin, by Wilbert R. Shenk.

November 17, 2015

Jesus Outside the Feast? A Sermon on Revelation 3:14-22

Listen first to these verses (14-18): And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the origin of God‘s creation: "I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, … Read More

October 24, 2015

Notes Toward a Framework for a Missional Hermeneutic

Introduction Perhaps some brief comments on my own story may help you to see what I am doing today. Four things have pushed me to consider the issue of a missional hermeneutic. The dialogue and cross-fertilization between mission and biblical theology in my teaching. For the last 15 years I have been teaching a number of courses in missiology along … Read More

Proposals for a Missional Hermeneutic: Mapping the Conversation

It is Sabbath year. Perhaps Jubilee year! The first three days of this creation week of gatherings at AAR/SBL were at breakfast. Our host was Tyndale Seminary of Toronto, and its then Academic Dean Jeff Greenman, a man with imagination and vision! (He has even larger visions about theological education waiting to be fulfilled!) Those three early morning (7:30am!) breakfast … Read More

October 23, 2015

Re-Imagining Congregational Ministry

What shape will congregational ministry become in the future? How can the Regional Synod of Albany help congregations live into a missional approach to ministry? These questions shaped the agenda for twenty church leaders in Albany Synod called together by the Congregational Service Commission at the Fowler Camp and Conference Center’s Chi Rho House in February 1997. Joining the retreat … Read More

October 25, 2015

Reflections for a Conversation on Theology in Congregational Life

When the Hartford Institute for Religion Research invited me to join 35 others at a consultation on the theme "Theology in Congregational Life," it set me to thinking about the variety of ways in which the accents of the Gospel and Our Culture Network conversations over the years have touched on that very thing. The conveners, particularly Carl Dudley, knew … Read More

The Church and the Powers

I. Discerning the nature of the powers in our context As we talk about the powers, we need to be careful about calling anything and anyone that wields power one of the "powers." In the New Testament, the powers have a character beyond individual human beings. They have a collective nature, or an institutional nature, or a political nature as … Read More

The Dialogical Imperative

In North America we are on the brink of interfaith living. This fact we cannot deny or avoid. The only uncertainty lies in whether it will be helpful or hurtful. Only those living in a Christian ghetto will be able to retreat from this issue–but the retreat is only temporary. Even small town, rural America is being challenged by religious … Read More

the Gospel and Our Culture: eSeries No. 1

In this issue Ecclesiology of the Emerging Church Jesus Outside the Feast? A Sermon on Revelation 3:14-22 Reflections for a Conversation on Theology in Congregational Life This issues begins the eSeries of the newsletter, sent by email and located on the new GOCN website, where comment and discussion around the themes of the articles can take place. Included here are … Read More

October 26, 2015

the Gospel and Our Culture: eSeries No. 2

In this issue Proposals for a Missional Hermeneutic: Mapping the Conversation A Response at AAR to Hunsberger’s “Proposals…” Essay A Response at SBL to Hunsberger’s “Proposals…” Essay Issue: eSeries No. 2 Publish Date: January 28, 2009 At the 2008 meetings of the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Biblical Literature, held in November in Chiago and Boston respectively, … Read More