This is the review by Cranmer's Curate in March's Evangelicals Now of an important book by the Revd John Richardson (see Ugley Vicar under Top Blogs):
Reclaiming the Land
A STRATEGY THAT CHANGES THE DENOMINATION
By John Richardson
Lulu.com. 104 pages. £3.25 from Lulu.com
ISBN 978 1 447 856 672
This is a passionate book because John Richardson is passionate about the conversion of England through the Church of England. Its quality merits wide readership by evangelicals whether or not they are Anglicans.
Readers need to be aware, though, that its underlying thesis is seriously open to question.
Mr Richardson begins in 1945 with the publication of the Church of England's superb report Towards the Conversion of England.
This report exposed the crying need for the re-evangelisation of the English people and the fact that the institutional church was ill equipped for the task. Mr Richardson then argues that because the challenge remains unmet in both nation and church, Anglican evangelicals should now be more committed to the institutional renewal of the Church of England for the sake of evangelism.
This is a noble aim but the fact is that Towards the Conversion of England was inspired and driven by Archbishop William Temple, who died in 1944. He wanted to see the nation converted to Christianity.
Therein lies the difference between the top leadership of the Church of England then and now.
Furthermore, anti-evangelistic liberalism has now been institutionally entrenched through the ordination of women to the presbyterate - another difference with then.
But this is nonetheless an important book - classic Richardson in its fine writing and intellectual panache.
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Thanks for this, Julian. In response, though, I feel rather like an ecclesiastical equivalent of the Bruce Bairnsfeather character, Old Bill, wanting to reply "Well, if anyone else has a better strategy, let's hear it!"
ReplyDeleteI wonder if you'd mind posting a link to where people can buy it on Amazon: here.
ReplyDeleteJulian,
ReplyDeleteI found John's thesis/book very helpful even though he is writing to an English context. I found his strategy is very applicable here in Australia also.
Josh, can hard copy be purchased in Australia or would we have to order it online?
ReplyDeleteI have to say I agree with Julian and then some. I think a number of John's suggestions are rehashes of some things that have been tried and found wanting (working occasional offices, DEFs etc.), without sufficient attempt to work out why and how to stop it going wrong again. This is especially unfortunate for younger clergy.
ReplyDeleteJohn,
ReplyDeleteIn terms of other strategies. I think the reality is that you disagree with the strategies followed by other, e.g. Reform, or some of the larger churches, or the gospel partnerships, or some of what is going on with NW Anglican Evangelicals who are rallying in the context of the women bishops legislation. They are not perfect, but they are other strategies.