Christian Social Witness

by Harold T. Lewis

Book Overview

This volume surveys the teachings and witness of Anglicanism and the Episcopal Church concerning the Christian vision of a righteous social order, including the challenges of the new millennium.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1561011886
• ISBN13: 9781561011889
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Cowley Publications
• Length: 162 Pages
• Weight: 1.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Can I get a witness?

The Episcopal church in the twentieth century took advantage of the general availability of publishing to good advantage, compiling through several auspices different collections and teaching series, the latest of which was only completed a few years ago. There have been 'unofficial' collections of teaching texts, such as the Anglican Studies Series by Morehouse press, put out in the 1980s, as well as an earlier teaching series. However, each generation approaches things anew; the New Church Teaching Series, published by Cowley Publications (a company operated as part of the ministry of the Society of St. John the Evangelist - SSJE - one of the religious/monastic communities in the Episcopal church, based in the Boston area) is the most recent series, and in its thirteen volumes, explores in depth and breadth the theology, history, liturgy, ethics, mission and more of the modern Anglican vision in America. This tenth volume, 'Christian Social Witness' by Harold Lewis, continues to look at the issues of ethics and morality in an Anglican fashion, particularly as it relates to living in community in the world.Christian social witness, according to Lewis, is faith in action, what we do because of what we believe. The term `witness' is well known in religious and secular circles - social witness, however, modifies this to mean taking one's faith and belief into the world of others, the social arena, beyond the (usually) safe confines of the church and family of like-minded believers, into the streets if necessary. Examples from recent history include the likes of Martin Luther King, Jr., with his dramatic ministry, but also include the more spontaneous and simple action such as Rosa Parks. Anglicanism often suffers from a bad reputation of being a church of the propertied and politically powerful, disconnected from `the real world' of struggles and injustice. Lewis draws on Anglican figures such as F.D. Maurice and William Temple to trace a history of Anglican concern for social justice ministry developing from the concept of incarnation - that God is present in the world. Lewis traces the history of Anglican social witness from the Church of England through to the early Episcopal church, highlighting issues such as the Episcopalian response to slavery and the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement. Lewis looks in some detail at the issues of economic justice, both within the United States and the broader issues of economic justice between nations in the development/underdeveloped world; the issue of race relations in America, not just African-American issues, but other races as well; the issue of gender and gender equity both inside and outside of the church; and the most current hot-button issue of sexuality and orientation. These are not comprehensive or heavily detailed discussions, but rather intended to set the stage for beginnings of discussion and action in church contexts.Harold Lewis is an Episcopal priest in Pennsylvania, and also

Enhanced with a comprehensive list of resources

In Christian Social Witness, Harold Lewis (Rector of Calvary Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) surveys the teachings of Anglicanism and the Episcopal Church on a variety of issues including the bible understandings of social justice, and the challenges of a new social order facing the Episcopal Church today arising from liberation theology, third-world debt, economic justice, and considerations of race, gender, and human sexuality. Christian Social Witness is a very highly recommended and engaging study guide enhanced with a comprehensive list of resources for further study and "Questions for Group Discussion".