(How) can we live with disagreement?
Earlier this year, I took part in a consultation on the electric current conflicts in the Church of England, particularly on sexuality, and whether information technology is possible to disagree well. Out of that discussion has come the bookGood Disagreement? edited past Andrews Atherstone and Goddard and published very promptly past King of beasts Hudson. The back comprehend blurb runs as follows:
At every level ofchurch building life from the local congregation to worldwide denominations, Christians tin discover themselves in turmoil and divided over a range of important issues. Many conclude that harmony is not achievable, and never volition be. Tin can nosotros, as Archbishop Justin Welby has asked, transform 'bad disagreement' into 'practiced disagreement'? What would that look like in do? This book is designed to help readers unpack the idea of 'good disagreement' and employ it to their ainchurch building situations. It doesn't enter into specific contentious debates, simply instead considers problems such equally reconciliation, division, discipline, peacemaking, mediation and mission. Information technology asks what needs to happen for those from differing viewpoints to both listen and be heard, and does non shy away from hard questions nearly unity in the gospel and thechurch'due south public witness.
Non a few readers will immediately be suspicious that this is an exercise in 'holding things together' or papering over the cracks of important differences that might propose something is wrong with the foundation. Only in fact the collection of essays in this volume manages to avert that very conspicuously. This is, in function, indicated by the book'southward subtitle 'Grace and truth in a divided church' but is also highlighted in Justin Welby's foreword.
There is not a little irony in the fact that one of the greatest sources of tension between Christians is the issue of how they should disagree with 1 another. As alluded to at various points in this book, I have spoken of my hope that the Church might model 'good disagreement' in living out its differences and conflicts. Yet the telling question marker in this book'southward title, Good Disagreement?, points to the unease which the concept evokes in many people. Equally the editors set out eloquently in their opening chapter, this unease is frequently rooted in questions of profound theological importance which it is valuable and essential to explore: can disagreement exist 'skillful'? How can we find the balance between grace and truth or (as explored in Tom Wright'due south fantabulous fourth affiliate) unity and holiness?
Justin goes on to notation that this issue is inappreciably novel; it has been a concern from the writing of the New Attestation.
This book reminds usa that these questions are nix new. From the first years of the early Church building, Christians have grappled with the reality of deep partitioning and have sought to reply in ways which build, rather than hamper, the Kingdom of God. It is very advisable that Ian Paul's study of the meaning of reconciliation in Pauline theology should be 1 of the commencement chapters, laying as it does this crucial foundation: that we seek reconciliation because we have commencement been reconciled to God in Christ.
And whilst he clearly draws on his own experience and appreciate of processes of reconciliation, he is as well clear that there might be issues on which the right course of action is sectionalization.
I was struck again and again by the importance of truly encountering, in their full humanity, those with whom we disagree. Whether each side has much or piddling in common with one some other, whether the event is unanimity or separation, it seems the simply way to imitate Christ in our conflicts is to invest trust, honey and time in the people from whom we are currently divided.
I hope to write on a number of the essays in the coming days; I recollect the book could make a significant and honest contribution to our electric current discussions. Here is a full listing of contents.
Foreword (Archbishop of Canterbury)
- Disagreeing with Grace (Andrew Atherstone and Andrew Goddard)
- Reconciliation in the New Attestation (Ian Paul)
- Division and Bailiwick in the New Attestation Church (Michael B. Thompson)
- Pastoral Theology for Perplexing Topics: Paul andAdiaphora(Tom Wright)
- Proficient Disagreement and the Reformation (Ashley Zip)
- Ecumenical (Dis)agreements (Andrew Atherstone and Martin Davie)
- Adept Disagreement between Religions (Toby Howarth)
- From Castles to Conversations: Reflections on How to Disagree Well (Lis Goddard and Clare Hendry)
- Ministry building in Samaria: Peacemaking at Truro Church (Tory Baucum)
- Mediation and the Church building's Mission (Stephen Ruttle Q.C.)
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