Is it possible for a church that has been in the heart of Empire for as long as we have
to make a course correction and move intentionally from the center of the Empire to the margins?
Announcing the first book produced by UNCO’s publishing cooperative UNSHELVED, Rick Ufford-Chase’s Faithful Resistance: Gospel Visions For The Church In A Time Of Empire. For sale now in paperback and Kindle format on Amazon!
Rick Ufford-Chase has touched the deep longing that exists in so many of us who are Christian in the United States, and responded with ideas that offer a future we know God has in store for us but can’t seem to imagine is really possible. This is a book we should read and discuss with friends who share our longing and are ready to take a risk. If this book stays in our heads, it fails and we fail. If we use it as a springboard for daring, it is quite likely to change everything about being church in the heart of Empire.
Eleven contributing authors offer their own ideas for ways to move the Christian church to a place of faithfulness in the midst of the empire, and Rick adds his own observations about the compromised condition of our church institutions with concrete suggestions for bringing us home to the heart of the gospel.
CONTRIBUTORS
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
“What we have here is a wonderful, inspirational work, blending thoughtful analysis with theological and biblical reflection, upholding faith as the centre of solidarity, commitment and action, drawing on the voices of those in the trenches of struggles for justice. At the heart of this book is the unshakable belief that people of faith, courage, love and hope can indeed change our world, that the church, if it only heeds God’s call, could be a powerful instrument of change. Usually, it is a compliment to say, ‘I have read this book in one sitting.’ That won’t happen with this book, because it makes you pause: every chapter, every paragraph calls for deeper reflection, the testing of the spirits, reading anew the signs of the times,and opening oneself up to the voice of the Spirit, and it draws one into the heart of commitment. I came away disturbed, stirred, and greatly encouraged. What a great gift.”
– Allan Boesak, South African theologian and activist, Desmond Tutu Chair of Peace, Justice and Reconciliation Studies, Christian theological Seminary, Indianapolis.
“Rick Ufford Chase has presented the mainline Protestant Church with a new handbook. Building on his own foundation in the Presbyterian Church, he begins with a focus on who we have been, and helps us see that we could be so much more. In his own words, it is not a “how to, but a what if” proposal which takes the Church of yesterday and today into a place where new identities for BEING the Church are explored. Utilizing the gifted and even prophetic voices of a number of faithful women and men who see the emerging church as a new entity, his book is based on solid Biblical foundations. It provokes thought. It offers options. And it does not pretend to be the final solution to what must be done. I highly recommend it as a study guide for both individuals and for churches who are seeking to find new and renewed ways to serve Christ in a rapidly changing society. Reading it alone can be challenging and inspirational. Reading it with a group just might open new doors which likely would expand one’s horizons as bodies of faith filled people.”
– Dr. Heath K. Rada, Moderator, 221st General Assembly, PC(USA)
“Can we let go of our addiction to Empire? This foundational question takes many forms throughout this book. Can we fully embrace nonviolence as a way of being Gospel-communities? Can we let go of Empire-addiction and be the Church anew? I am so deeply grateful to those who offer the faith-challenges present in this book. They are my friends, my co-laborers, those who teach me faith each day – they are the community I most choose to live among as we lead the movement to let go of Empire and be the Church. Gather a group together with you to read and study this book. May we deepen our community of practice to faithfully resist Empire.”
– Rev. Shannan R. Vance-Ocampo
READ AN EXCERPT