Books published by SCM Press

What does it mean to be a small missional community in a deeply secularized society? Drawing on a wide range of practical insight with mission in one of the most secular contexts of the West, Pilgrims and Priests blends this experience with a thorough analysis of relevant biblical, historical, sociological, theological and spiritual sources that bear relevance to missional identity in the challenging circumstances presented by the secular West. It presents a hopeful perspective, rooted in a realistic appraisal of reality and rich theological reflections. The result is an important resource for thinkers, practitioners and all who are fascinated by the future of Christianity in the West.

Anglicanism is one of the largest and most widely dispersed of all religious traditions. How it reached this status is replete with irony and with conflict. The origins of Anglicanism lie in the Church of England, still its largest branch and arguably its defining center. But the majority of Anglicans now reside in sub-Saharan Africa and do not speak English as their primary language. Given AnglicanismΓÇÖs roots, and its integration into British colonialism, the expansion of this branch of Christianity seems puzzling. Moreover, intramural Anglican conflict, from the end of colonialism onward, seemingly has torn the fabric of Anglican life. It seems problematic that this tradition, and the church bodies that represent it, will remain intact. By looking at the Church through the lens of the biblical theme of promise, this book seeks to offer neither lament for a tattered tradition nor facile hope for an expanding one. It considers the key phases of Anglican history, each defined by clear intentions, from securing English national life, to mission, to finding contextual roots in various locales. Whilst not denying that the ongoing contestation about the proper shape of Anglican faith and practice has become central, the book highlights the emergence of fresh consensus among Anglicans, centered on grassroots initiative and innovation, creating informal patterns of collaboration that can transcend context and overlook divergence.

How are cathedrals and churches understood? Are they shop windows, through which to gaze at the riches on offer within the Christian life? Are they flagships of the Spirit? Are they both sacred spaces and community utilities?'Shop-window, flagship, common ground' views the rich ministry and innovative mission of cathedrals through the novel lens of metaphor; and it offers comparative insights on cathedrals and cathedral-like churches.Located in the emerging international field of cathedral studies, the book explores the usage and inferences of a range of metaphors, including 'shop-windows of the Church of England', 'flagships of the Spirit', 'beacons of the Christian faith', 'magnets', and 'sacred space, common ground'.This volume also shows how such metaphors can stimulate different types of research about the function of cathedral and church buildings.With a Foreword by Professor Grace Davie, the book suggests that cathedrals and cathedral-like churches may play a role within 'vicarious religion' theory. It will provide a thought-provoking critique for practitioners and a valuable contribution for scholars of cathedral studies, congregational studies and ecclesiology.

Should women who preach, preach as women? Preaching Women argues that far from being a gender-neutral space, the pulpit is a critical place in which a gender imbalance can begin to be redressed. There is a vital need for women preachers to speak out of their experience of living as women in today’s culture and church Filling a glaring gap in the literature around homiletics, Filling a glaring gap in the literature around homiletics, Preaching Women considers reasons why women preachers should preach from their experiences as women, what women bring to preaching that is missing without us, and how women preachers can go about the task of biblical preaching. With a foreword by Libby Lane.

The title ‘the Son of Man’ evokes the different aspects of the whole Christ: the humanity and divinity of Christ, his earthly ministry, his sacramental presence, and the eschatological consummation of his work. It is also a term of relationship, suggestive of both the relations constitutive of the life of the Holy Trinity, and also of the way that our knowing and loving the Son of Man is always an invitation to communion - with the Triune God, as the Body of Christ, and for the life of the world. Contributors to this collection explore some of the many registers of the mystery of Christ, both historically and thematically. Contributors include some of today’s leading theological thinkers, including N.T. Wright, Rowan Williams, Lydia Schumacher, Kallistos Ware and Oliver O’Donovan. With poetic reflections from Malcolm Guite.Chapters include: "Son of Man and the New Creation" (N.T. Wright), "The Son of Man in the Gospel of John" (John Behr), "Sound and Silence in Augustine’s Christological Exegesis" (Carol Harrison),  "According to the Flesh?: The Problem of Knowing Christ in Chalcedonian Perspective" (Ian Mcfarland),  "Christ and the Moral Life" (Oliver O''Donovan),  "Christ and the Poetic Imagination" (Malcolm Guite)

There is a clear lack in the Church of England of a coherent and thought through treatment of evil and the devil within the texts which the Church of England traditionally identifies as the repositories of doctrine. Focusing on initiation, healing and deliverance liturgies within the church, Fight Valiantly seeks to rectify that deficit, considering the Church of England's liturgical practice in the parishes, and highlighting the present danger of worshippers receiving an inconsistent and potentially incoherent account of the relationship with evil.

Flexible Church proposes an ecclesiology for innovative expressions of church that is grounded in biblical texts whilst self-consciously and intentionally developed for the contemporary Western milieu. The result is a framework serves as a guide and auditing tool for pioneering church planters.

The Church by its very nature is called to be hope filled and future orientated - it exists as a sign, instrument and foretaste of the coming Kingdom of God. Christian leadership, therefore, is at heart all about eschatological influence.Engaging with the work of influential theological voices such as Leslie Newbigin, Tom Wright and Martyn Percy, "Hopeful Influence" argues that it is in the process of helping others to see, participate in or experience the world to come that Christian leadership becomes manifest.With contributions from influential leaders in different spheres of life, including Dr Eve Poole, Stephen Timms, MP, along with theologian and activist Selina Stone, Jude Padfield explores how this eschatatologically-fuelled vision might lead us towards a new manifesto for future leadership in the church, in politics, in business and the third sector, and in the home.With foreword from Paul Bayes, Bishop of Liverpool.

The Trinity: A Philosophical Investigation considers the competing accounts of the Trinity doctrine, whether orthodox or heterodox, and aims to respond to objections and explicate their motivations and entailments.

Engaging with critical scholarship but designed to be accessible for those beginning formal theological study or Christians who want to go deeper in their understanding of the book, The Kingdom of Our God demonstrates that the words of the prophets can still speak to us today.

Resisting the urge to instruct with a more polemical voice, the SCM Studyguide to Church Leadership will encourage ordinands and trainee church leaders to reassess modern pressures and priorities and to re-orient creatively around the callings, giftings, and approaches that are suitable to Christ and particular to the Church.

Everyday Public Worship has been designed to engage with the ordinary experience and ordinary theology of Christian disciples as they work to develop and deepen their discipleship learning.

The Christian faith is something people practice. The Church prays, listens to the Scriptures, celebrates the sacraments, cares for the suffering, and liberates the oppressed. This is where the task of theology begins.In Love Makes No Sense, each chapter engages central issues of theology but remains focused on the Christian life. Although it is a book about doctrine-Christian teaching-it insists that one cannot present a doctrine of the Trinity, or Incarnation, or anything else in the abstract. Teaching divorced from everyday life is not Christian teaching. This does not mean this book is primarily 'practical' as opposed to 'theological'. It is an invitation to Christian theology that refuses to separate the two. The aim of this book is not to satisfy the intellect, but to train its readers through approachable theological teaching to live the love that Christian theology proclaims.Suitable for people looking to explore Christian theology more deeply, be they life-long Christians who want a deeper understanding of their faith, new Christians, or those who are interested in the Christian faith and looking to find out more.

What is genuine church growth? Is it, at heart, the numerical growth of regular congregations or are there other dimensions and, if so, what are they? How can we learn from other contexts in order to properly inform our understanding of what we mean by church growth?Mara is one of the most marginalised regions in Tanzania, which in turn is a country in the most marginalised continent on the planet, and yet, Spencer argues, the church in the region has exhibited remarkable growth.Looking beyond the usual dimensions of church growth discourse, Stephen Spencer weaves in his own experience in Tanzania, finding in that wholly different context an approach to church growth which might entirely change the discourse in the global north.

Theology Reforming Society tells the story of Anglican social theology from its roots in the writings and work of F.D. Maurice and the Christian Socialists, Charles Kingsley and John Ludlow, and on to the work of William Temple. This is an important and comprehensive account for all those interested in Anglican theology and Christian ethics

An introduction to the principles and skills of pastoral liturgy. Inter-denominational, this text can be used across different Christian traditions, in both formal and informal contexts and to meet traditional and non-traditional pastoral needs.

The third volume of Paul Tillich's most important work, his Systematic Theology. Volumes 1 and 2 are also available.

The first volume of Paul Tillich's most important work, his Systematic Theology. Volumes 2 and 3 are also available.

"Living in the Gaze of God" offers an accessible exploration of the theme of ministerial accountability through the lens of one reflective tool - that of formal supervision of ministerial practice.

"Straw for the Bricks" explores theological reflection as a tool for ministerial training and development. The book offers a new resource for theological conversation and breaks new ground in exploring how a model of conversation can be used to lay a foundation for learning for both academic curriculum and personal formation.

Written by liturgists - pastoral and academic - who make up the Liturgical Formation Sub-Committee of the Department for Christian Life and Worship of the Roman Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, this studyguide offers an introduction to Catholic Liturgy

Development Beyond the Secular aims to provide a new resource for those interested in the study of religions and development (primarily postgraduate and academic), and for those development practitioners wishing to contextualize their discipline within a religious frame.

This innovative and original book argues that the qualitative thinking about organizational narrative can provide significant insights into how churches function. As well as analysing how stories and storytelling work in churches, it also provides practical ideas for how they can be used to improve church leadership.

With contributions from Oliver O' Donovan, Rowan Williams, Andrew Louth and Ayla Lepine, 'A Transforming Vision' explores what it means to know and love the Triune God, and how the knowledge of God can be a transforming and saving knowledge.

Apophatic theology attempts to describe God, the Divine Good, by negation, in terms of what may not be said about the perfect goodness that is God. Seeking the God Beyond explores the difference a negative theological approach might make to our faith and practice and offers an introduction to this oft-misunderstood form of spirituality.

Beginning with an exploration of the practice of mindfulness in its Buddhist origins, Peter Tyler reflects on the practical use of mindfulness, its place within the Christian tradition of prayer, and its future within the Christian tradition.