ited and emerging approaches to church tact with the church and are suspicious of work of the source critics in advancing the
growth. Is this proclamation a transla- any who hold over-arching world views. classical theory – J, E, D, P and all that –
tion of the faith of the Church through Whatever your ecclesiology, if you share of the composition of the Pentateuch, he
the ages (inherited view) or is it a syn- this concern there will be something for is agnostic about the conclusions, and
thesis in which the local culture reshapes you in this book. opts for a conservative position on dating,
the Church (emergent view)? The writer,
John Twisleton
as on the historicity of Moses and other
a man and a missioner of his age steeped figures central to the Old Testament nar-
in post-modernism, favours the latter. Ian rative. The Book of Joshua ‘inspires con-
is frustrated by the Christendom mind- fidence and gives internal evidence of its
set that survives in the Church of Eng- LOVELY LIKE JERUSALEM closeness in time to the events it describes.’
land. In that frustration he is one with the Aidan Nichols op Likewise, Nichols argues, it
Anglo-Catholic pioneers, even if his inter- Ignatius, 279pp, pbk is more fruitful to find what
pretation of Anglican worship would be 978 1 58617 168 1, £12.50 unifies the prophecy brought
worlds apart from theirs. together under the one name
Since many of those early pioneers were When did you last than to carve it up into First,
Catholic–Evangelicals they would miss in listen to a good sermon Second and Third Isaiah.
this book passionate reference to Jesus and on the Old Testament? The deuterocanonical books
to the priest as Jesus’ man (sic). The main Come to that, when did are, of course, included in
theological bearing of the book is an inclu- you last listen to any the overview: the Wisdom
sive Trinitarianism that fits a less linear, sermon on the Old Testa- of Solomon is ‘a marvellous
missionary approach to church than that ment? Armed with Aidan book, which Protestantism
of Jesus e.g. in John 20.21 ‘As the Father Nichols’ excellent guide is unfortunate not to have in
has sent me, so I send you.’ you might, Fathers, feel its Bible.’
It is a book that speaks powerfully into more inclined to have a A combative but wholly
the current ecclesiological and missiologi- go – and you will certainly welcome chapter on ‘The
cal divide with a brilliance both traditional- find your congregations, pattern of revelation: a con-
ists and synthesizers can profit from it. The if they have read it, better tentious issue’ surveys the
perception that the miracles of information equipped to hear what you have to say. ‘reception’ of the Hebrew Scriptures in
technology are breeding forms of mysti- Fr Nichols writes with characteristic recent years, and finds Neo-Marcionism
cism is quite fascinating. High theological lucidity and panache, and is, as ever, una- alive and well via the unwholesome influ-
flight is sandwiched by sharp reality checks fraid to challenge liberal orthodoxies. He ence of Schleiermacher, Harnack and
such as the prediction that in 2040 average begins with an entirely helpful survey of Bultmann. Nichols notes that ordinands in
church attendance age will be 64 years. the contents of the Old Testament under Cambridge – and surely not only there –
Ian Mobsby is passionate that the good the headings of Torah, Prophets and Writ- ‘have great difficulty…getting any idea of
news of Christ should get out into the 60% ings, with notes on each book or collection how it [the Old Testament] might be used
of the population who now have no con- of books. While accepting the value of the in preaching or in the catechetical activity
of the Church.’
Diocese of Ripon and Leeds
The remedy lies in seeing how ‘the struc-
ture of the two Testaments is essentially one
Hunslet St Mary with Cross Green St Hilda
of promise and fulfilment.’ What is prom-
ised in the pages of the Old Testament, and
VICAR
fulfilled in Jesus Christ, is – broadly – the
messianic hope. What the Old Testament
Two inner-city parishes at the heart of regeneration on the outskirts
says about the Son of David (in the Royal
of the vibrant city of Leeds. The parishes are seeking a mature,
psalms), about the Gift of a New Spirit (in
experienced, prayerful and energetic priest in the Catholic tradition
Ezekiel and Joel), about the Bride of the
of the Church of England who is committed to:
Lord (in Isaiah and Hosea), about the Suf-
fering Servant (in Isaiah) and about the
• Mission and ministry in urban priority areas
universal mission of Israel (Isaiah again,
• Engagement with the wider community
Micah and Zechariah) is all fulfilled in the
• Work with young people
life, death and resurrection of Jesus and
• Developing stronger links with the local Church of England Primary
in his command to the apostles to preach
and other local schools
to all the nations. Nichols is careful not to
• Development of lay ministry read into the pages of the Old Testament a
• Enabling the parishes to work more collaboratively consistency of outlook which is not always
A new community hall is to be built at St Hilda’s which will become
there; he agrees that the Old Testament
a resource for the parishes outreach and mission.
cannot bring about its own fulfilment
St Mary’s will shortly begin a process of repair and restoration.
and that (quoting von Balthasar) ‘only the
The vicarage is next to St Mary’s church.
entire biblical revelation mediates in a total
form what God wanted to communicate to
Resolutions A, B & C are in place
us of his glory.’
For further details and an application form please contact:
Aspects of ‘the glory of God’ revealed
The Archdeacon of Leeds, 3 West Park Grove, Roundhay, Leeds LS8 2HQ
in the Old Testament are the focus of the
Tel 0113 2690594 Email: peterb@riponleeds-diocese.org.uk
third part of the book. It is here that we
Closing Date 11 January 2008 Interviews 25 January 2008
learn of God’s divinity, of his holiness, his
absolute otherness. We understand him
December 2007
■
newdirections
■
27
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36