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Constants in Context: A Theology of Mission for Today
American Society of Missiology Series #30. Traces the history and theology of mission from the origins of Christianity to the present
488 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 22, 2010
Since one of the authors of this book, Roger Schroeder, is visiting South Africa right now, and I hope to attend a missiological conference where he will be speaking in a couple of days' time, I thought I would post this review, which I originally wrote six years ago for the International Bulletin of Missionary Research
This book is a survey of twenty centuries of mission history in the light of different models of mission theology, and ends with a proposal for a mission theology for the 21st century. The theological models the authors use are based on those proposed by Justo L. González and Dorothea Sölle, which they refer to as types A, B, and C.
Type A is mission as saving souls and extending the church;
Type B is mission as discovery of the truth;
Type C is mission as commitment to liberation and transformation.
The three models are typified in the early church by Tertullian of Carthage, Origen of Alexandria and Irenaeus of Lyons respectively.
The authors go on to describe each model of theology in relation to six constants: Christology, Ecclesiology, Eschatology, Salvation, Anthropology, and Culture. They then examine these constants in
six different historical contexts.
As an Orthodox Christian, I read the authors' description of Type A and Type B theology, and felt repelled. I could not identify with either of them. Type C, however, was familiar to me; it was Orthodox theology.
This is not surprising, since Irenaeus is regarded by the Orthodox Church as a saint and a Father of the Church; Tertullian and Origen are not. As I read on, however, I felt marginalized: in all six periods of mission history the authors identified Orthodox mission with Type B, and not with Type C, yet made no attempt to explain this (to me) glaring discrepancy. It is a pity that the book lacks a bibliography.
The book is a good introduction to Roman Catholic mission history and theology. Its coverage of Orthodox mission history and theology, however, is thin and misleading. There is a flaw either in the models themselves, or in the authors' application of them.
This book is a survey of twenty centuries of mission history in the light of different models of mission theology, and ends with a proposal for a mission theology for the 21st century. The theological models the authors use are based on those proposed by Justo L. González and Dorothea Sölle, which they refer to as types A, B, and C.
Type A is mission as saving souls and extending the church;
Type B is mission as discovery of the truth;
Type C is mission as commitment to liberation and transformation.
The three models are typified in the early church by Tertullian of Carthage, Origen of Alexandria and Irenaeus of Lyons respectively.
The authors go on to describe each model of theology in relation to six constants: Christology, Ecclesiology, Eschatology, Salvation, Anthropology, and Culture. They then examine these constants in
six different historical contexts.
As an Orthodox Christian, I read the authors' description of Type A and Type B theology, and felt repelled. I could not identify with either of them. Type C, however, was familiar to me; it was Orthodox theology.
This is not surprising, since Irenaeus is regarded by the Orthodox Church as a saint and a Father of the Church; Tertullian and Origen are not. As I read on, however, I felt marginalized: in all six periods of mission history the authors identified Orthodox mission with Type B, and not with Type C, yet made no attempt to explain this (to me) glaring discrepancy. It is a pity that the book lacks a bibliography.
The book is a good introduction to Roman Catholic mission history and theology. Its coverage of Orthodox mission history and theology, however, is thin and misleading. There is a flaw either in the models themselves, or in the authors' application of them.
May 19, 2022
comprehensive
This is a textbook, the reference book, as well as a book for enrichment, on the topics of mission theology, mission history, and mission movement.
This is a textbook, the reference book, as well as a book for enrichment, on the topics of mission theology, mission history, and mission movement.
July 9, 2012
This is an amazing tour de force of Christian Missionary history (and theology, as they point out). Even has the Mongolians in there (my ancestors)! From my Western mindset and perspective this is great, but i note from other reviews that the Orthodox and Pentecostal reviews don't feel like this sums their traditions/history/theology up well at all. As such i am reading with some caution, but a great reference book nonetheless.
June 20, 2013
Just this minute finished the book! It is well written, reads smoothly and interesting. I do feel that I learned a lot from it. The only objection I have is that there are many, many references to Roman Catholic documents, however this is not unexpected since the authors are both RC.
June 20, 2013
I didn't finish and what I read was very interesting. I hope I can find time to continue my study-reading.
August 13, 2012
Classic mission text. (shhhh... he's catholic!)
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews