Read a review of the book >> 

The book is the result of a series of conversations Bishop Alastair had both with people in the  Diocese and in churches across North India. It is published by ISPCK (the Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge).   

£1 from the sale of each book will go towards the Bishop's Harvest Appeal for the Church of North India. 

Based on one of the most important New Testament Letters - the Epistle to the Hebrews, the book, through a series of meditations, looks at how the Bible can provide insights into the context of modern living.

"The essence of human being is a spiritual awareness that is more mysterious than the most highly developed systems can capture, but which emerges from the everydayness of the human journey," writes Bishop Alastair.

He challenges churches to bring people together and to offer hope to communities: "Churches are called to be reparative communities, practicing and surfacing in others, this life-giving process - based upon trust (faith) rather than upon understanding."

A central theme of the book evolves around the nature of citizenship in the context of faith: "Citizenship is a dynamic relationship with a greater agenda, sensed and yet unseen."

The Bishop hopes that the book will be as useful to individuals as it will be to groups wanting the use the meditations individually.

He has written widely on various theological matters including leadership and how structures can enable change. "Ministry and Priesthood" and "Being Anglican" are two of his previous works.

 

Notes:
Growing the Kingdom
Alastair Redfern
ISBN 978-81-8458-093-8

The book is available from The Derby Cathedral Coffee Shop or by post from:  Nicky Bate, The Bishop's House, 6 King Street, Duffield, Belper DE56 4EU (enclosing a cheque to be made payable to: UKLTG

Price £6 per book plus £1.80 postage and packing
Orders of 5 and over at £5.60 each plus £1.80 postage and packaging 
Limited copies of Being Anglican are also available from The Bishop's Office at a cost of £10.

 

Book Review: Restoring the Kingdom by Bishop Alastair
Review by Canon Andie Brown, Canon Theologian

I was pleased and flattered when Bishop Alastair asked me to read and comment on an early draft of his latest book, now published and available from the Cathedral Shop or the Bishop's Office, cost £6 of which £1 goes to the Bishop's Harvest Appeal.  

This slender volume is a prophetic call to the Church of Christ to live for the world, not for itself. It calls us to be a transformational community, salt and light and leaven; to make Christ real and present and active in our human society, and not to exist solely in private pieties and "customised rituals".

It is a conversation with the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews, and a conversation conducted at a challenging level by one who is unafraid to be contradicted and who is challenging the Epistle to yield its secrets for our day.  It is not a comfortable read, but it is an important one.

Bishop Alastair brings to bear much current thinking from the worlds of psychology, sociology and political science. There is some fascinating material on reparative action. There are some challenging and very welcome insights into the nature of "Sabbath" not least capitalism's contempt for it and humanity's need of it (one of the things I feel strongly about. Not only for theological reasons, but also because I have seen how well Germany has managed to safeguard Sabbath in a secular context).

Similarly the sharpness of the analysis of liberal theologies and ideologies of ‘progress' are set in sharp contrast to Hebrews' emphasis on purification, and with telling effect. Here is a theology of grace for the world written not from a Lutheran or evangelical perspective, but using models from contemporary thought and being all the more telling for that. But he isn't impatient only with liberalism, he has some clear and challenging words on the "defensive pathologies" of fundamentalism which will probably go unheard by those who need to hear them most, because even Christian fundamentalists and conservatives (let alone those of other faiths) are unlikely to read this book.

Dr. Redfern offers the Church a prophetic work of hermeneutic, not so much of Hebrews as on the whole of the Christian Good News. From the powerful imagery of Hebrews he points humanity beyond its own feelings and into an alternative reality - the reality of the heavenly realms where sacrifice and not survival is the rule and risk-taking not risk assessment is the norm.

Here is a challenge to current political dogma, both within and outwith the church. Here is a call to move from a shallow, consumerist ‘democracy' based on "liberal ideologies" to an "authoritative leadership" which models and mirrors the High Priestly, sacrificial role of Jesus. Here is a challenge to the church to make connections in our liturgy which will prophetically challenge our society rather than pander to our members.

There is a breadth of thought here which makes it clear why he is so highly regarded by his fellow bishops and all who value his passion for exploring the Christian faith with his clergy and lay leaders: for my money, a ‘teaching bishop' for our age.

I do have some quibbles, but which in no way undermine the great worth of this book.

It is hugely condensed as if written in haste - as well it might be, coming as it does from the pen of a busy diocesan bishop. There are tantalising hints and suggestions which are not worked out but which promise a rich vein of thought were they to have been. (Although I can tell you he is unpacking some of these in his next book).

This book is published in India and I wonder how much of his excellent material attacking the "god of Toleration" rings true for them, given the terrible deeds done in Orissa at the time this book was being prepared for publication.

And the use made of the Temple imagery is a Davidic model, not that of Hebrews middle Platonism. At times he could be speaking of Passover in Temple times, perhaps, but not Hebrews use of the Temple, I think. But this is not a work of biblical scholarship - the notes make that clear as there is not a single contemporary (nor any other) commentator on the Epistle. Rather, it takes Emily Dickinson's adage as its guide - "tell the truth, but tell it slant".

For my money, Bishop Alastair tells the truth: read it, pray it and let's try to live it.

Canon Andie Brown
Canon Theologian

ENDS