Living With History (New Church's Teaching Series) [Paperback]

Fredrica Harris Thompsett (Author)

Book Description

Series: New Church's Teaching Series | Publication Date: January 25, 1999

Fredrica Harris Thompsett, a scholar of the English Reformation, introduces us to the role that history has played in creating and shaping the Episcopal Church as we know it today. In giving us the broad lessons of Anglican history, she explores in detail both the historian's task and Anglicanism's distinctive history, from its roots in Scripture and the English language Bible and prayerbook to its seventeenth century flowering in poetry and prose and the different forms it has assumed in the American landscape from the time of the Revolution right through to the late 20th century. Thompsett begins by discussing the relationship between history, tradition, and change, and goes on to outline ten key "touchstones" or milestones in Christian history that are of particular interest to Anglicans. Since it is the historian's task to write the "unwritten" as well as the official story of the church, chapter three is a history of ministry in the church, especially of lay ministry. Chapter four looks at three ways that Anglicans have handled conflict and controversy throughout its history, concentrating on the Elizabethan Settlement, the American Civil War, and the impact of Darwin and the new science. Chapter five discusses how theological insight can be "recycled" to shed new light on the problems of today, focusing on Anglican theology of creation and how it helps us address ecology as a spiritual crisis. Finally, chapter six focuses on how a living historical tradition affects the life and mission of the church today, and how we are a part of that history.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Fredrica Harris Thompsett offers a lively, engaging introduction to Anglican history and demonstrates its significance for the contemporary church. (Anglican Theological Review )

Living with History is well titled. It's about life, and it's conversational—Fredrica Thompsett has some great one-liners. In this fifth volume of the New Church's Teaching Series, she has made history accessible to non-historians. . . . We can thank Professor Thompsett for reconnecting us to our rich and speckled past, a human path infused with the divine. (Episcopal Life )

Living with History is well titled. It's about life, and it's conversational—Fredrica Thompsett has some great one-liners. In this fifth volume of the New Church's Teaching Series, she has made history accessible to non-historians. . . . We can thank Professor Thompsett for reconnecting us to our rich and speckled past, a human path infused with the divine. (Episcopal Life )

Each denomination has its own history and related perspectives, and Living With History is written from a particularly Anglican slant. It should prove to be a valuable resource for Anglicans interested in the forces that have shaped the denomination, as well as reminding us that history is relevant. (Christian Library Journal )

Each denomination has its own history and related perspectives, and Living With History is written from a particularly Anglican slant. It should prove to be a valuable resource for Anglicans interested in the forces that have shaped the denomination, as well as reminding us that history is relevant. (Christian Library Journal )

Living With History . . . is a fascinating book, not of the details of history but of how we interpret and use it, how we remember past events in order to deal with present questions. (Anglican Journal )

Living With History . . . is a fascinating book, not of the details of history but of how we interpret and use it, how we remember past events in order to deal with present questions. (Anglican Journal )

Fredrica Harris Thompsett . . . 'looks backward in order to move forward.' Using ten touchstones of history ranging from Common Prayer to the civil rights movement, she provides context for contemporary controversies by examining ancient ones. . . . Thompsett has created a valuable primer, written in an accessible anecdotal style for those who seek to renew their knowledge of the historical church even as they shape its future. (Cathedral Age )

Even longtime Episcopalians should find material in Living with History which will make them think and ask questions about their church and their faith. . . . Thompsett's book is written for the inquirer with late twentieth-century sensibilities. It begins with the author's personal views, and in its contents includes as wide a spectrum of the church as possible. It should encourage readers to continue their investigations of a variety of aspects of church history. (Anglican and Episcopal History )

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Cowley Publications (January 25, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561011606
• ISBN-13: 978-1561011605
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #893,756 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars History for today's world..., June 13, 2004

By 

FrKurt Messick "FrKurt Messick" (Bloomington, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Living With History (New Church's Teaching Series) (Paperback)

The Episcopal church in the twentieth century took advantage of the general availability of publishing to good advantage, compiling through several auspices different collections and teaching series, the latest of which was only completed a few years ago. There have been 'unofficial' collections of teaching texts, such as the Anglican Studies Series by Morehouse press, put out in the 1980s, as well as an earlier teaching series. However, each generation approaches things anew; the New Church Teaching Series, published by Cowley Publications (a company operated as part of the ministry of the Society of St. John the Evangelist - SSJE - one of the religious/monastic communities in the Episcopal church, based in the Boston area) is the most recent series, and in its thirteen volumes, explores in depth and breadth the theology, history, liturgy, ethics, mission and more of the modern Anglican vision in America.

This fifth volume, 'Living with History' by Fredrica Harris Thompsett, takes a look at the role of history in a unique way. Rather than looking at the linear description of history as a timeline of dates, times, places and people (some of which is covered in other volumes of this series anyway), she develops the idea of history in a 'backwards' fashion, by looking at key issues alive in the church today, and then tracing back to the historical forces that shape and influence those issues.

In one chapter, Thompsett looks at 'ten touchstones' of the history of the church and community. These begin with the call to be in covenant relationship with God (this occurs several times in the biblical texts, actually), through various points such as the Incarnation (Jesus in the world), the development of the Bible in English, etc. One may quibble with some of her choices; as an historian with a purpose, she is necessarily selective with regard to her developmental strands (indeed, every historian is selective, given the astonishing amount of detail available and limited number of pages any publisher is willing to print).

Issues Thompsett weaves together in this text include living with change (at one point she confesses there was a point that she thought the church would, and possibly should, never change), living with community (which includes history), and living with traditions and continuity. This is a very forward-looking volume.

Fredrica Harris Thompsett teaches church history at EDS, the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. A lay leader in the church (one of few laypersons among the authors of books in this or other church teaching series), she is a popular lecturer and conference leader.

Each of the texts is relatively short (only two of the volumes exceed 200 pages), the print and text of each easy to read, designed not for scholars but for the regular church-goer, but not condescending either - the authors operate on the assumption that the readers are genuinely interested in deepening their faith and practice. Each volume concludes with questions for use in discussion group settings, and with annotated lists of further readings recommended.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Living with History New Church's teacing series v. 5, March 2, 2010

By 

Diana Mooney "Minnie44" (Placerville,Ca USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Living With History (New Church's Teaching Series) (Paperback)

For me the book is helping me very much. It gives a new understanding of my church

4.0 out of 5 stars History and the Episcopal Church - Exploring Influences, May 14, 2011

By 

Edward J. Barton (Tukwila, WA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Living With History (New Church's Teaching Series) (Paperback)

The book outlines the Episcopal Church as it has developed through history - emphasizing the effect of history on the Church and the effect of Church on history. The author, at the end of the book, summarizes 7 tenets which I wish she would have placed in the front - as the entire book serves to support these 7 pillars of Episcopal thought as influenced by and developed through history:

*Seek Common Ground
*Value Conservation
*Seek the Broadest Understanding
*Appreciate Ambiguity
*Make Room for Imagination
*Ask Questions
*Encourage One Another

Within these 7 tenets as they evolved through Episcopalian Church history are the elements that make the Episcopal Church unique. A good read for the perspective of "why" some of these tenets developed.