Steve Holmes on strange voices

'When we learn to listen to the tradition faithfully, not assuming that we already know what we shall hear, but instead allowing earlier voices their own integrity, we will inevitably be surprised by the strangeness of much what is said. At that point we will be faced with a choice: we might take the modern way of patronising earlier voices by assigning them to their 'place in history', and so pretending that they have nothing to say to us; or we might believe that to listen to these voices in all their strangeness, and to regard their positions as serious, and live, options is actually a theological imperative. Perhaps the most two obvious areas where this will be true are sexual ethics and biblical interpretation ...'

(Listening to the Past, Paternoster, 2002, p.86)

Steve Holmes: An example of why 'deep church'

'I suggested in the first three chapters of Listening to the Past that one of the problems in listening to the tradition is the otherness of the historical contexts of the doctors of the Church - and, indeed, that one of the problems in listening to Scripture is the otherness of the historical contexts of the prophets and the apostles. This problem is, however, also in a way a benefit. Encountering - listening to - people who do not think the way we do, who assume different things in different ways, offers us the opportunity to have our own prejudices challenged. ... [A] clash between the tradition and the assumptions of our own age at least offers us the opportunity to ask the question. A respect for, and a disciplined listening to, the tradition can enable us to speak prophetically in our own day, calling our contemporaries to hear the challenge of the gospel.'

(Listening to the Past: The Place of Tradition in Theology, Paternoster, 2002, pp.135-136)

Remembering our Future: Explorations in Deep Church

I've been posting on the book over at my blog

chapter 1 recovering deep church
chapter 2 beyond the emerging church
chapter 5 deep calls to deep
chapter 8 baptism and catechesis
chapter 9 education, discipleship and community formation

chapter 10 mundane holiness

deep church book launch

On the 6th June the official book launch of Remembering Our Future: Explorations in Deep Church, edited by Andrew Walker and Luke Bretherton is taking place.

The book is a collection of essays first given as part of the deep church seminar series in London.

Contents:
Introduction: Why Deep Church? - Andrew Walker and Luke Bretherton
1. Recovering Deep Church: Theological and Spiritual Renewal - Andrew Walker (Professor of Theology and Education, KCL)
2. Beyond the Emerging Church? - Luke Bretherton (Lecturer in Theology and Ministry, KCL)
3. Deep Church as Paradosis: On Relating Scripture and Tradition - Andrew Walker
4. Reading Scripture in Congregations: Towards an Ordinary Hermeneutics - Andrew Rogers (PhD student, KCL)
5. 'Deep calls to Deep': Reading Scripture in a Multi-Faith Society - Ben Quash (Dean and Fellow of Peterhouse, University of Cambridge)
6. Holding Together: Catholic Evangelical Worship in the Spirit - Chris Cocksworth (Principal, Ridley Hall Theological College, Cambridge)
7. God's Transforming Presence: Spirit Empowered Worship and its Meditation - Ian Stackhouse (Minister, Guildford Baptist Church)
8. Baptism and Catechesis as Spiritual Formation - Alan Kreider (Associate Professor of Church History and Mission, Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary)
9. Education, Discipleship and Community Formation - Mark Wakelin (Methodist Minister and Director of the Guy Chester Centre, London)
10. Mundane Holiness: The Theology and Spirituality of Everyday Life - Luke Bretherton

welcome to the deep church blog

welcome to the deep church blog, where we hope to generate theological conversation in (and beyond) london. the title 'deep church' comes from a series of seminars that have been taking place in london over the last few years under this title. the phrase 'deep church' orginally was coined by cs lewis in 1952, but has more recently been utilised by andrew walker, professor of theology and education at king's college london. Along with others in london he has participated in conversations about what deep church might mean. it is hoped that these gatherings may continue and generate theological dialogue.