The Continuing Conversion Of The Church

Western society is now a very different, very difficult mission field. In such a situation, the mission of evangelism cannot succeed with an attitude of "business as usual." This volume builds a theology of evangelism that has its focus on the church itself. Darrell Guder shows that the church's missionary calling requires that the theology and practice of evangelism be fundamentally rethought and redirected, focused on the continuing evangelization of the church so that it can carry out its witness faithfully in today's world. In Part 1 Guder explores how, under the influence of reductionism and individualism, the church has historically moved away from a biblical theology of evangelism. Part 2 presents contemporary challenges to the church's evangelical ministry, especially those challenges that illustrate the church's need for continuing conversion. Part 3 discusses what a truly missional theology would mean for the church, including sweeping changes in its institutional structures and practices. Written for teachers, church leaders, and students of evangelism, this volume is vital reading for everyone engaged in mission work.

In Conversion and Church. The Challenge of Renewal, the contributors explore the challenges of renewal in the Church, and the call to conversion that plays a significant role in the dialogue on ecumenism and contemporary spirituality.

This book is a compilation of homilies of Fr. Henry Charles composed and delivered over a period of at least twenty years. The homilies were written out and were eventually typed up and it is possible that Fr. Henry had himself thought about publishing them, though we do not know this for sure. While many persons were privileged to receive emailed copies and others actually heard his preaching, the homilies were thought to be deserving of a wider audience. The underlying message of his preaching is that discipleship of Jesus Christ requires not only the grace of faith but also demands perseverance, courage and discipline, critical elements of the process he terms "ongoing conversion." In addition, Fr. Henry advocates moral excellence, not settling for the merely moderate or the mediocre, but striving always to "be perfect." Fr. Henry faces up to and wrestles with the "perplexities" of the Gospel and he believed that one of the keys to overcoming these is an appreciation of its many paradoxes and that as a consequence, we are required to see things from a different perspective, not as we are normally inclined to see them, but as God sees them. The homilies have been arranged thematically On God; On Jesus; What Jesus Calls Us To Be; What Jesus Calls Us To Do; Faith; Hope; Love; Loss, Suffering, Death and Heaven; Virtues and Vices; Human Dignity; Spirituality; Church, Liturgy and Ritual and Culture Society and Leadership. There is of course considerable overlap among the various themes. The subjects he refers to and the examples he gives are contemporary and relevant, not only to a Caribbean audience, but we think to audiences globally. The style is informal and conversational for the most part and this quality of the writing has been maintained. The homilies have been edited for clarity and for obvious errors and omissions in the transcripts, and some have been retitled, but they have otherwise been reproduced and stand as he wrote them.

Volume II develops a sacramental theology that addresses the needs of all adult Christians. The chapters on Marriage show how conversion both humanizes and Christianizes human sexuality, providing the context for a foundational rethinking of the meaning of the context for a foundational rethinking of the meaning of Christian Marriage. The discussion of Orders examines the responsibilities of ordained leaders and throws light on the rise of clericalism and on the meaning of priestly identity and ministry, in addition to clarifying the relationship between the priesthood of the laity and that of the ordained. A discussion of Christian nurture explains the practical and theoretical meaning of infant Baptism. This volume also examines the three sacraments that most foster ongoing conversion: Reconciliation, Anointing and Eucharist. After situating each of these rituals in its Biblical and historical setting, the author shows how each contributes to ongoing Christian conversion.

Volume II develops a sacramental theology that addresses the needs of all adult Christians. The chapters on Marriage show how conversion both humanizes and Christianizes human sexuality, providing the context for a foundational rethinking of the meaning of the context for a foundational rethinking of the meaning of Christian Marriage. The discussion of Orders examines the responsibilities of ordained leaders and throws light on the rise of clericalism and on the meaning of priestly identity and ministry, in addition to clarifying the relationship between the priesthood of the laity and that of the ordained. A discussion of Christian nurture explains the practical and theoretical meaning of infant Baptism. This volume also examines the three sacraments that most foster ongoing conversion: Reconciliation, Anointing and Eucharist. After situating each of these rituals in its Biblical and historical setting, the author shows how each contributes to ongoing Christian conversion.

Building on the work and legacy of Darrell L. Guder, Converting Witness: The Future of Christian Mission in the New Millennium, explores key questions and new possibilities in missiology in light of the world Christian context. The conversation around missional theology and the missional church has examined the gap between theology and mission with the intent of fostering renewal within North American Christianity. But this can only fully occur in relation to the reality of world Christianities and the framing significance of global cultural diversity. Many of the classic categories and methods—such as church planting, catholicity, and even the term “world Christianity” itself—are in need of fresh examination and thoughtful analysis. The contributors to this volume address a range of important missiological topics, including globalization, interfaith dialogue, integral mission, intercultural hermeneutics, and church practices.

“As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax office; and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he rose and followed him.” — Matthew 9:9 Conversion. The word is often associated with a one-time event, such as the call of Saint Matthew. But even for Matthew, that call was only the beginning, the moment when he started following Jesus. For Matthew, as for all the saints, his conversion lasted a lifetime. Real conversion — repentance and turning toward God — is a process that happens daily. It is our continual "yes" to the Lord and the grace he offers us. In A Life of Conversion, Derek Rotty walks through eight Gospel passages that reveal essential lessons about conversion. Through these stories from Scripture, you will encounter Christ again and again, and, with him as your model, you’ll be drawn into a deeper relationship with the master of conversion. Each chapter includes reflection questions that are perfect for both individual and group study. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Derek Rotty is a husband and father. For more than a decade, he has ministered in Catholic parishes, helping children, teens, and adults find deeper encounters and relationships with Jesus. He currently serves as Director of Evangelization and Discipleship at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Jackson, Tennessee. He has written for The Catechetical Review, Crisis Magazine, Catholic Exchange, and the West Tennessee Catholic. To learn more, visit www.derekrotty.com.

Using reflections, exercises, and suggestions for prayer and group sharing, this practical book explores five forms of conversion, the seven dynamics that structure the process and the significance for conversion of sacramental worship.