ABSTRACT
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. Avoiding abstract definitions of character, mission or friendship, John Thomson 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.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part |61 pages
Practice
chapter |14 pages
Friendship as Character 1
chapter |11 pages
Friendship as Love
chapter |9 pages
Friendship as Discipleship
chapter |10 pages
Friendship as Worship
chapter |13 pages
Friendship as Church
part |70 pages
Reflection
chapter |9 pages
Radical Friendship
chapter |13 pages
Gospel Friendship
chapter |17 pages
Graceful Friendship
chapter |13 pages
Listening Friendship
chapter |12 pages
Wise Friendship
part |32 pages
Challenge