Clemens Sedmak, Doing Local Theology: A Guide for Artisans of a New Humanity (Faith and Cultures Series). Orbis Books, 2002. Referenced in: Theology of Ministry, Localized Theologies/Contextualization LifeandLeadership.com Summary There is a strong emphasis in missional church practice in constructing “local theologies.” Others refer to this as contextualization. This text by Sedmak, alongside the weightier
Soong-Chan Rah, The Next Evangelicalism: Freeing the Church from Western Cultural Captivity. IVP Books, 2009. Referenced in: Theology of Mission, Localized Theologies LifeandLeadership.com Summary Though not written specifically for this purpose, The Next Evangelicalism is a great companion volume to Philip Jenkins, The Next Christendom. Jenkins looks at how global shifts have moved “Christendom” to
Philip Jenkins, The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity, Revised and Expanded Edition. Oxford University Press, 2007. Referenced in: Theology of Mission, Missional Context LifeandLeadership.com Summary The LifeandLeadership.com Ministry Resource Guides are not focused on global missions, but upon work within established churches in North America (primarily U.S.). It is naïve, however, to fail
Timothy C. Tennent, Theology in the Context of World Christianity: How the Global Church Is Influencing the Way We Think about and Discuss Theology. Zondervan, 2007. Referenced in: Theology of Mission – Localized Theologies/Contextualization LifeandLeadership.com Summary LifeandLeadership.com is not focused on global missions, but upon work within established churches in North America (primarily U.S.). Nevertheless,
Dean E. Flemming, Contextualization in the New Testament: Patterns for Theology and Mission. InterVarsity Press, 2005. Referenced in: Theology of Mission, Localized Theologies/Contextualization LifeandLeadership.com Summary There is a strong emphasis on contextualization in missional church practice. Others call this “constructing local theologies.” Contextualization means two things. First, doing a substantive (research-based), personal (experience-based), and contemplative
J. Andrew Kirk, Mission Under Scrutiny: Confronting Contemporary Challenges. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press. 2006. Referenced in: Theology of Mission, Proposals and Formulations – Missio Dei LifeandLeadership.com Summary Most books on theology of mission will acknowledge that the church engages mission amidst cultural issues such as conflict, violence, and same gender relations. But few will actually
Brian D. McClaren, The Secret Message of Jesus: Uncovering the Truth That Could Change Everything. W Publishing Group (Thomas Nelson), 2006. Referenced in: Theology of Mission, Proposals and Formulations – Missio Dei LifeandLeadership.com Summary Brian McLaren is one of the most influential authors in the emergent movement. Some look to him as an apostle/prophet (in
Stanley Hauerwas and William H. Willimon, Resident Aliens: A Provocative Christian Assessment of Culture and Ministry for People Who Know that Something is Wrong. Abingdon, 1989. Referenced in: Theology of Mission, Proposals and Formulations – Missio Dei LifeandLeadership.com Summary While this is not one of the more recent missional theologies, it was one of the
Craig G. Bartholomew and Michael W. Goheen, The Drama of Scripture: Finding Our Place in the Biblical Story. Baker Academic, 2004. Referenced in: Theology of Mission, Proposals and Formulations – Missio Dei LifeandLeadership.com Summary The authors build upon the idea from N.T. Wright that the Bible offers a story that is “the true story of
Richard Bauckham, Bible and Mission: Christian Witness in a Postmodern World. Baker Academic, 2003. Referenced in: Theology of Mission, Proposals and Formulations – Missio Dei Theology of Mission, Localized Theologies/Contextualization LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is a brief but densely packed volume that offers a way of interpreting Scripture through the rubric of a missional metanarrative. It
