Andrew Purves – författare

Too often pastoral care is uninformed by historical practice and is overly influenced by psychological theory and practice, according to Andrew Purves. At least one consequence of this is that it is often disaffiliated from the church's theological heritage. Purves examines Christian writers from the past who represent the classical tradition in pastoral theology--classical in the sense that they and their texts have shaped the minds and practices of pastors in enduring ways. He reflects on texts from Gregory Nazianzus, John Chrysostom, Gregory the Great, Martin Bucer, and Richard Baxter. He includes a brief biography of each author, introduces the major themes in the writer's theology, and discusses the issues arising for pastoral work.

In this helpful introduction, the authors focus on the basic issues of Christian Faith as filtered through contemporary experience: the mystery of faith, justification and sanctification, salvation, sin, the sacraments, hope, and joy. Ideal for group or individual study, this guide brings these doctrines to life and helps readers understand their relevance in day-to-day experience.

In Pastoral Care in the Classical Tradition, Andrew Purves argued that pastoral care and theology has long ignored Scripture and Christian doctrine, and pastoral practice has become secularized in both method and goal, the fiefdom of psychology and the social sciences. He builds further on this idea here, presenting a christological basis for ministry and pastoral theology.

The meaning of compassion is more than just sympathy, empathy, pity, and concern. Compassion has a theological meaning. In this book, Andrew Purves sees compassion as the center of pastoral care, holding theology, spirituality, and ministry together. He examines how a renewed compassion gives ministry shape and content which "grows out of the life of God, and God's care for the world."

These essays and sermons articulate the basics of the Christian faith and are by some of the best-known evangelical voices in the Presbyterian Church today. The main ideas in these essays are congruent with the basic theology contained in "Union in Christ: A Declaration for the Church," which was adopted by the Presbyterian Coalition, a group that seeks renewal within the Presbyterian Church.Contributors include: Elizabeth Achtemeier, Joseph Rightmyer, James Logan, Scott Sunquist, Charles Partee, Catherine J. S. Purves, Jeffrey Bullock, Earl Palmer, Clayton Bell, Margaret Kim Peterson, Peter Barnes, Jack Haberer, Sherron George, James Singleton, and others.

As a pastor, do you ever get the feeling that no matter what you try, nothing much seems to change?That is because the ministries themselves are not redemptive--they are not up to you. Only Jesus'' ministry is redemptive. Jesus has to "show up."Theologian Andrew Purves explores at the deepest level the true and essential nature of Christian ministry. He says that the attempt to be an effective minister is a major problem. Ministers are "in the way." He radically claims that ministries need to be crucified. They need to be killed off so that Christ can make them live.Rooting church service in Christ''s own continuing ministry, Purves provides a vision for students and practicing clergy to reclaim the vital connection between Christ and participation in his ministry today, even if it means letting Christ put to death the ministries to which pastors cling so closely.A radical appraisal for a critical malady affecting the life of the Christian church written in plain, down-to-earth language.

Andrew Purves, the author of many works in pastoral theology, has spent his life exploring the significance of Jesus Christ for the life of the church. As a professor of historical theology, he has also investigated the significance of patristic and Reformed theology for understanding Christ. In Exploring Christology and Atonement, Purves brings these concerns together. If pastoral theology is about the person and work of Christ, then the study of Christology and atonement is essential to the ministry of the church.Drawing on his own Scottish heritage, Purves engages in a critical conversation about Christ?s person and work with three eminent Scottish theologians whose legacy stretches over two hundred years: John McLeod Campbell, Hugh Ross Mackintosh and Thomas Forsyth Torrance. Purves shows how their respective contributions to our understanding of Jesus Christ shape and inform the practice of the faith. The ministry of the church is rooted first and foremost in the ministry of God.

Andrew Purves is Professor Emeritus of Historical Theology at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He received his PhD in 1978 from the University of Edinburgh, in Scotland. He has written several books on ancient and modern pastoral theology. In these interviews, he discusses the work of the ministry. It's not their own work, but Jesus' work, and pastors join with Jesus in doing that work. Pastoral work is rooted in who Jesus is, and who we are in him, but it is tailored for the circumstances that people find themselves in.

Governments around the world are wrestling with the problems of enormous debts, low growth, high unemployment and a gap between the demands of public expenditure and what can be raised through taxation. This problem has been acute since the financial crisis, but has been a hallmark of western economies for decades.Only a few countries have been able to avoid this pattern, mostly those blessed with vast natural resources such as oil. However, there are two small islands with no natural resources which have also enjoyed high growth combined with low taxation: Hong Kong and Singapore. Nor do they have any public debts, in fact, on the contrary, they generally run a budget surplus, and investment income is a feature of their government revenue.Andrew Purves, who grew up on the island of Hong Kong, has gone beyond the conventional analysis of taxation, and asked what each jurisdiction has in common, to bring about this happy state of affairs.The result is quite surprising for two countries which sit at the top of the table for promoting free markets and other capitalist ideals of small government.All land in Hong Kong is owned by the government, who makes it available for use by lease in return for a Government Rent, while Singapore now controls over half of its land area, as well as significant stakes in its strategic industries, which deliver a steady stream of unconventional income.Although in Hong Kong this situation has developed almost by accident, Purves suggests that here lies a model for generating public revenue that could be adopted in other countries to allow a shift in taxation from production and consumption to the Economic Rent of land, as advocated by Adam Smith over two hundred years ago.As a businessman in London, Andrew Purves, is keenly aware of the damaging impact of current taxation on economic activity.