GordW
History Book
Posted on: 07/26/2012 16:32
[First posted at my blog: http://followingfrodo.blogspot.ca/2012/07/book-7-of-2012-united-church-of-canada.html]
I first learned about this book when an announcement about its release came through my e-mail a few months ago. And at the time I knew I wanted to read it. A month or so ago I got around to getting it (in e-book form).
IT is a good read. As a part of my MDiv I took a course in the History and Theology of the United Church. This would be a good book to be included in the reading list for that course, possibly the best one in years.
The first chapters are a historical sketch of the UCCan, with choices made by the authors to focus on specific issues (otherwise the task would be incredible). The last section of the book is a series of essays on specific topics. As one who has followed from a bit of a distance (rarely reading the full reports but staying abreast of what is being discussed at the last few General Council meetings) I found the essay on the theology of ministry in our denomination very eye-opening [I particular found it interesting to learn that until 1966 call forms, which are signed by/on behalf of the congregation, included a promise to be obedient to the clergy person. Imagine how far such a proposal would get today!] Given the amount of press the last several meetings of GC have received around the Israel-Palestine question (one that is coming again next month) the chapter on that issue was very helpful. And Don Schweitzer's concluding essay about the social imaginary of the UCCan in 1925 and now was very well done. He notes not only that we are lacking a vision but is able to point out WHY we are lacking a sense of vision.
This is a good book to read by UCCan ordered and lay folks alike. And should end up in congregational libraries!
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GordW
Posted on: 07/26/2012 16:35
DArn forgot to preview:
here is the blog link (whixh does not appear to be live above:
http://followingfrodo.blogspot.ca/2012/07/book-7-of-2012-united-church-o...
and the words "this book" in the first line of the OP are a live link to the Chapters page for the book incase you want to order it. Or here it is again:
http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/United-Church-Canada-History-Don-Sch...
Mendalla
Posted on: 07/26/2012 19:58
Thanks for the recommendation, Gord. My local library actually has it (3 copies in the system and the one in my branch had just been returned).
Mendalla
AaronMcGallegos
Posted on: 07/27/2012 11:14
Thanks Gord. Nice overview.
Northwind
Posted on: 07/27/2012 11:36
You said you got it as an ebook. Did you get it from Chapters as an ebook?
GordW
Posted on: 07/27/2012 11:43
I did indeed
Mendalla
Posted on: 07/27/2012 12:17
I'm up to 1940 and quite liking the book. I found the first chapter on union seemed to ramble a bit, kind of jumping back and forth between the events of 1925 and various events in the lead-up (e.g. the Basis of Union of 1908), which may put off people who like their history to be chronological but it does all fit together in the end. When I think about it, even having grown up in the United Church, I never really got much teaching on the actual history of the UCCan except at a very broad level. I remember learning about various important figures in Reformed church history on a broader level (Wesley, Knox, etc.), but not much about the development of the UCCan itself. Is that still the case in current church curricula?
Mendalla
Hilary
Posted on: 07/27/2012 12:20
my library doesn't have it yet, but I'll be on the lookout!
Thanks, Gord.
Northwind
Posted on: 07/27/2012 12:24
Thanks Gord. I'll load it on to the kobo today. I checked and it is in the kobo site, so it will be easy. Maybe I will even get some of it read before GC41....
graeme
Posted on: 07/27/2012 18:52
That does sound interesting. I'm going to try for it on Kindle.
Dcn. Jae
Posted on: 07/27/2012 19:46
Thank you for the tip Gord. I'll look that book up should my university studies ever include researching the history of the UCCanada.