Customer Reviews

Living With History (New Church's Teaching Series)

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4 star:		(1)
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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.

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

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.

Dr. Thompsett is a competent historian but this work is not worthy of her standards. It leans too heavily on the '60s agenda and on a feminist viewpoint. She can do better.