WHAT are we to do and say? In these times of great challenges caused by the diminishing role of religion in Scottish society, and the continuing fall in membership and attendances of a Church with an increasing age profile, thoughts turn to ‘mission’ in the hope of regeneration. But how do we express the Gospel now in our changing society? Sometimes the task seems so complex and daunting that a stasis results.
Are there important inspirations to be drawn from the recent past which might help us? A new book seeks to re-discover and retrieve for the present day the dynamic models of mission that were exercised in Scotland in a recent time of revival and growth for the Church, during the two decades after World War II. It argues that what was achieved then to powerful effect, as well as the failures of those times, provide valuable lessons for us now. Whilst we cannot simply repeat what was done before the huge social changes of the Sixties began the ‘secularisation’ of our society, we might be more fully aware of our recent history, in order to shape what Christian mission could mean in today’s Scotland.
The book focuses principally on the work of Tom Allan, alongside his contemporaries: the parish mission of George MacLeod and the Iona Community; the incarnational action living amongst the urban poor of the Gorbals Group Ministry led by Geoff Shaw; and the ecumenical drive of Ian Fraser and Scottish Churches House. From their work, common themes can be identified which might inspire us: of mission beginning in the world as the work of ordinary people, grounded in their language and focused on Christianity being ‘contextual’; in other words, ‘made real’ for their lives and the rhythms of their communities.
Leggete l'articolo completo e molti altri in questo numero di
Life and Work
Opzioni di acquisto di seguito
Se il problema è vostro,
Accesso per leggere subito l'articolo completo.
Singolo numero digitale
October 2017
Questo numero e altri numeri arretrati non sono inclusi in un nuovo
abbonamento. Gli abbonamenti comprendono l'ultimo numero regolare e i nuovi numeri pubblicati durante l'abbonamento. Life and Work
Abbonamento digitale annuale
€39,99
fatturati annualmente
Abbonamento digitale di 6 mesi
€22,99
fatturati due volte l'anno