A child of China missionary parents, Keith Clements looks back on a life rich in diverse experiences in many parts of the world as pastor, theologian, writer, and servant of the ecumenical movement. In so doing he finds hope "for the creation of true community in the world, of people among themselves, with God, and with creation. That is what the gospel of Christ is all about, what the church is about, and indeed what God who lives and loves as three-in-one is all about." He recalls instances of grace in which--even amid conflict and tragedy--people, churches, and communities discover the possibilities of new life together. It is both a very human story of personal faith, and an insider's account of ecumenical Christianity's quest for a more visibly united church and a world of peace and justice. Famous influences like Dietrich Bonhoeffer and present-day leaders such as Desmond Tutu figure prominently; but so do so-called ordinary people he has met over the years, whether in an English village, in communist East Germany, or in a South African squatter camp, who have shown by the way they live that another world--and another kind of church--is possible.
A child of China missionary parents, Keith Clements looks back on a life rich in diverse experiences in many parts of the world as pastor, theologian, writer, and servant of the ecumenical movement. In so doing he finds hope ""for the creation of true community in the world, of people among themselves, with God, and with creation. That is what the gospel of Christ is all about, what the church is about, and indeed what God who lives and loves as three-in-one is all about."" He recalls instances of grace in which--even amid conflict and tragedy--people, churches, and communities discover the possibilities of new life together. It is both a very human story of personal faith, and an insider's account of ecumenical Christianity's quest for a more visibly united church and a world of peace and justice. Famous influences like Dietrich Bonhoeffer and present-day leaders such as Desmond Tutu figure prominently; but so do so-called ordinary people he has met over the years, whether in an English village, in communist East Germany, or in a South African squatter camp, who have shown by the way they live that another world--and another kind of church--is possible. ""One is struck time and again by the rare combination of intellectual depth, theological insight, and ecumenical passion that pervade [this book's] pages; echoing in so many ways the life of Clements' great hero, Dietrich Bonhoeffer. . . . This is theological biography of the highest quality and greatest wisdom."" --Sean Winter, Pilgrim Theological College ""Many who are deeply indebted to Keith for his enormous contribution to the life of the ecumenical church will feel equally indebted to him for this remarkably thoughtful account which confirms him as one of the most important ecumenical leaders and thinkers of our time."" --John de Gruchy, University of Cape Town ""This fascinating account of a lifetime of the author's ecumenical ministry, locally and in international affairs, celebrates signs of hope but is also clear about missed opportunities and failures of the churches to move together. The vision, with its passion for unity inseparable from a passion for justice and peace, is compelling."" --Dame Mary Tanner, Past President for Europe, World Council of Churches ""Clements's memoir combines intriguing eyewitness testimony to the inner workings of the ecumenical movement during the second half of the twentieth century, perceptive theological insight and commentary over a range of ecclesiastical and social topics, moving reminiscences of family and church life, and detailed travelogues that take us to remote locales which many of us will only visit vicariously through the author's keen eye."" --Barry Harvey, Baylor University Keith Clements, after ten years pastoring local congregations, was tutor at Bristol Baptist College and taught theology at Bristol University. From 1990 he worked full-time on the international ecumenical scene, and was general secretary of the Conference of European Churches, Geneva, 1997-2005. Writing on modern Christian life and thought, his special interests have included Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the ecumenical pioneer J. H. Oldham. He is a minister of the Baptist Union of Great Britain.
Churches and ecumenical bodies are often criticized for saying too much, or too little, on social and political affairs. But how can churches speak out on such affairs? How can churches participate effectively? Keith Clements questions the present preoccupation with making 'statements', which not only presupposes that a church has ready-made 'answers', but is also symptomatic of modern Western society's obsession with publicity and instant 'solutions' to what are often complex problems. Clements examines such historically famous statements as the German Barmen Declaration of 1934 and the South African Kairos Document of 1985, before exploring the biblical and theological roots of the key motifs of prophesy and discipleship. He suggests that Western churches must continue to listen and learn, not least from the way churches in regions such as South Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe are relearning their roles. Clements concludes that Western churches must be prepared to talk modestly. They must be prepared to be both more disciplined and more imaginative. They must also be prepared to be more theological. Drawing on a wide range of sources, Catholic and Protestant, contemporary and historical, Clements points the way forward for a Christian community learning to speak in the world and to the world.
Patriotism continues to be a serious issue for Christians, brought about by recent wars and events. Is patriotism 'a love that asks no questions,' or does it insist on critical self - analysis? In Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Keith Clements finds a profound and many - sided understanding of what it means to love and serve one's country. The witness of Bonhoeffer's life, his writings and his death is used asa counterpoint reflection of the national and international situation we face decades after Nazi Germany. A warm, receptive and revealing portrait of Bonhoeffer emerges from these pages, and one which brillitantly illuminates the complex issues of patriotism today.
Wipf & Stock,has produced this Secondary Study Series on Bonhoeffer's theology. We welcome this new series that makes available again some of the foundational texts that continue to influence the way we approach and interpret Bonhoeffer's legacy. The books you will find here are works of quality that still hold the power to inform. They represent the best of the early in terpretations of Bonhoeffer and his theology. H. Gaylon Barker, Series Editor
A child of China missionary parents, Keith Clements looks back on a life rich in diverse experiences in many parts of the world as pastor, theologian, writer, and servant of the ecumenical movement. In so doing he finds hope "for the creation of true community in the world, of people among themselves, with God, and with creation. That is what the gospel of Christ is all about, what the church is about, and indeed what God who lives and loves as three-in-one is all about." He recalls instances of grace in which--even amid conflict and tragedy--people, churches, and communities discover the possibilities of new life together. It is both a very human story of personal faith, and an insider's account of ecumenical Christianity's quest for a more visibly united church and a world of peace and justice. Famous influences like Dietrich Bonhoeffer and present-day leaders such as Desmond Tutu figure prominently; but so do so-called ordinary people he has met over the years, whether in an English village, in communist East Germany, or in a South African squatter camp, who have shown by the way they live that another world--and another kind of church--is possible.
This book introduces the life and thought of two British contemporaries who were decisive in shaping the modern ecumenical movement: the Scottish layman J. H. (Joe) Oldham (1874-1969) and the Anglican bishop G. K. A. (George) Bell (1883-1958). Their careers were rather different but closely related. Oldham was a missionary statesman, the organizing secretary of the 1910 Edinburgh World Missionary Conference, and a pioneering thinker and writer on race and social ethics who set the agenda for the crucial ecumenical conference on Church, Community, and State at Oxford in 1937. A quiet, skillful diplomat, he was the decisive mind behind the formation of the World Council of Churches (WCC). Bell was the public, prophetic voice of the ecumenical fellowship from the 1930s onward, steadfastly leading the churches' support for the Christian opposition to Hitler in Germany, tirelessly working for refugees and all victims of oppression, and after the war pioneering the work of reconciliation. After the inauguration of the World Council of Churches in 1948, he served as the first chairman of its central committee. It was widely believed that he would have become Archbishop of Canterbury but for his courageous and outspoken opposition to the British and American policy of bombing civilian populations during the war. The book outlines the life and main engagements of each figure in turn, and then provides a selection of their key writings to illustrate their thinking and their impact on ecumenism. A final chapter reflects on their pioneering significance and their relevance today.
Churches and ecumenical bodies are often criticized for saying too much, or too little, on social and political affairs. But how can churches speak out on such affairs? How can churches participate effectively? Keith Clements questions the present preoccupation with making 'statements', which not only presupposes that a church has ready-made 'answers', but is also symptomatic of modern Western society's obsession with publicity and instant 'solutions' to what are often complex problems. Clements examines such historically famous statements as the German Barmen Declaration of 1934 and the South African Kairos Document of 1985, before exploring the biblical and theological roots of the key motifs of prophesy and discipleship. He suggests that Western churches must continue to listen and learn, not least from the way churches in regions such as South Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe are relearning their roles. Clements concludes that Western churches must be prepared to talk modestly. They must be prepared to be both more disciplined and more imaginative. They must also be prepared to be more theological. Drawing on a wide range of sources, Catholic and Protestant, contemporary and historical, Clements points the way forward for a Christian community learning to speak in the world and to the world.
Patriotism continues to be a serious issue for Christians, brought about by recent wars and events. Is patriotism 'a love that asks no questions,' or does it insist on critical self - analysis? In Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Keith Clements finds a profound and many - sided understanding of what it means to love and serve one's country. The witness of Bonhoeffer's life, his writings and his death is used asa counterpoint reflection of the national and international situation we face decades after Nazi Germany. A warm, receptive and revealing portrait of Bonhoeffer emerges from these pages, and one which brillitantly illuminates the complex issues of patriotism today.
Wipf & Stock,has produced this Secondary Study Series on Bonhoeffer's theology. We welcome this new series that makes available again some of the foundational texts that continue to influence the way we approach and interpret Bonhoeffer's legacy. The books you will find here are works of quality that still hold the power to inform. They represent the best of the early in terpretations of Bonhoeffer and his theology. H. Gaylon Barker, Series Editor
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