The Rt Revd Dr John Thomson, Bishop of Selby, has written a new book, Sharing Friendship: Exploring Anglican Character, Vocation, Witness and Mission.
Published by Ashgate, as part of their Explorations in Practical, Pastoral and Empirical Theology series, Sharing Friendship represents a post-liberal approach to ecclesiology and theology generated out of the history, practices and traditions of the Anglican Church. Drawing on the theological ethics of Stanley Hauerwas, this book explores the way friendship for the stranger emerges from contextually grounded reflection and conversations with contemporary Anglican theologians within the English tradition, including John Milbank, Oliver O’Donovan, Rowan Williams, Daniel Hardy and Anthony Thiselton.
Bishop John said, “I wrote Sharing Friendship because I think Anglicanism has a lot going for it as a way of following Christ. My hope is that it will help clergy and laity alike to be confident in our Anglican mission today.”
Avoiding abstract definitions of character, mission or friendship, Bishop John explores how the history of the English Church reflects a theology of friendship and how discipleship in the New Testament, the performance of worship, and the shape of Anglican ecclesiology are congruent with such a theology. The book concludes by rooting the theme of sharing friendship within the self-emptying kenotic performance of Jesus’ mission, and looks at challenges to the character of contemporary Anglican ecclesiology represented by secularization and globalization as well as by arguments over appropriate new initiatives such as Fresh Expressions.
Sharing Friendship costs £60.00 from www.ashgate.com. Alternatively, you can contact the Bishop of Selby’s office on bishopofselby@yorkdiocese.org or 01757 429982.