Andy Lord – författare

This is a reflection on the challenges and opportunities facing contemporary churches, emphasizing the need for a contemplative approach to reshape church life and mission. The author reflects on the beauty and fragility of the church, while addressing contemporary challenges and opportunities for renewal. He argues that we need to redefine what 'church' means, and re-evaluate our traditional assumptions about its structure and function. Worship and praise are crucial in shaping the church's identity and mission, and the church's existence, its life, ministry and renewal are shaped in the way of Jesus Christ as led by the Holy Spirit in the world. A contemplative approach encourages humility and wisdom in church practices, focussing on being before God. The church's ministry and structures need to adapt, but also to nurture unity and community, embracing a contemplative approach that integrates present realities with future aspirations.

Pentecostal and charismatic renewal movements have seen great growth over the last century and have engaged with many Christian traditions. Yet there are signs that all is not well, and there is a need to develop theologies of renewal that engage with practice and across the traditions if the movements are to continue to grow. In particular, this book seeks an ecumenical engagement between David Watson and Thomas Merton, leaders in the charismatic and monastic renewal movements. The aim is to reflect on the theological roots of these renewal movements through a study of particular people who lived them in practice and sought to help others understand how the triune God was at work. This is done against the wider background of contemporary renewalist theology to develop constructive proposals for renewal theology in the future. Receptive ecumenism provides the method for bringing the different voices into conversation in ways that also point forward in approaches to ecumenical dialogue. It is thus a study relevant to those seeking new ways in theology, those involved in renewal and ecumenical movements, students of Thomas Merton, and all who seek to better understand the Christian renewal movements that have swept the world.

Pentecostal churches have grown over the last century but only a limited amount has been written about their ecclesiology. Much of the existing work focuses on congregational models and contemporary practice. This book argues the need for a pentecostal systematic approach to ecclesiology. Utilising the method of Amos Yong a pentecostal ecclesiology based on a network church structure is developed. Systematic issues of catholicity are addressed through mission insights on partnership, and a hospitable approach to contextualisation is developed. This book, therefore, suggests new ways forward in pentecostal studies and ecclesiology.