This historical background pre- erative relational symbol—a symbol
Johnson goes be-
pares the way for a theological inquiry. that honors creative fidelity in ordi-
Johnson sets out the significance of re- nary life, extends the range of models
membering, especially as it is under- and relationships, and lets "the Sym-
stood in feminist thought. She ex- bol sing again" in people s experience.
plores the notion of dangerous or sub- The book is something of a tour de
versive memories in various liberation force, challenging the church to let its
theologies and deals with the implica- "paradigmatic figures" be real, indi-
tions of 20th-century theologies of vidual, creative and varied. It explores
death and hope. In this context, John- the implications this challenge has for
son proposes ways of celebrating the our understanding of our own lives
communion of saints as a fruitful, gen- and times. There is little that is purely
Enduring Works for Lenten and Easter Devotion
We Have Se&n the Lord!
The Passion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ
William Barclay
Paper $10.00
Filled with enduring truths and insightful
anecdotes in Barclay's inimitable style, this
remarkable volume is sure to become a classic
for those seeking the true meaning of Easter.
Meditations on t h e Cross
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Paper $12.00
These sermons and letters contain
Bonhoeffer's personal and faithful words
about the crucifixion and the power of the
cross for all Christian disciples—an
excellent choice for devotional reading and
personal reflection.
Kneeling in
Jerusalem Kneeling in Jerusalem
Ann Weems
Cloth $14.00
Large-print Edition
Paper $ 14.00
Ann Weems brings new insight into the
Lenten season with these seventy-one
intuitive and heartening poems, taking the
reader on a pensive journey through Lent
and Easter.
At your bookstore,
your Cokesbury bookstore or WESTMINSTER
call (800) 227-2872 • www.wjk.org JOHN KNOX PRESS
C H R I S T I A N C E N T U R Y January20, 1999 62
negative in the book.
yond complaining about the dearth
and distortion of women saints; she
studies the underlying implications,
which go beyond gender. Though this
is, of course, the purpose of all serious
feminist theology, it is not always
achieved.
Johnson confirms and enhances the
authentic spirituality in this doctrine so
deeply rooted in Catholic experience
and sensitivities, and discreetly prunes
away all that is unhelpful to the spiritu-
al quest. Her book should be read
slowly, thoughtfully and prayerfully by
Christians of all denominations, for it
has much to say about belonging to the
communion of all the saints.
Studying Congregations: A New
Handbook.
Edited by Nancy T. Ammerman,
Jackson W Carroll, Carl S. Dudley
and William McKinney. Abingdon,
256 pp., $20.00 paperback.
M
ORE INDIVIDUALS belong
to congregations than to any
other voluntary association,"
the editors of this book de-
clare. More than 350,000 of these
local communities of faith dot Ameri-
ca's religious landscape. The well-
being of our society is surely depen-
dent on their character and quality of
life. Congregations are complex com-
munities that nurture and challenge
millions of people through worship,
education, fellowship, pastoral care
and outreach. They have enormous
influence on their members and com-
munities.
Nancy Ammerman, Jackson Car-
rol, Carl Dudley and William McKin-
ney provide a new handbook for un-
derstanding these rich and diverse
communities of faith. The book is not
only a thorough revision and update of
the earlier Handbook for Congrega-
tional Studies (1986), but an expanded
volume that explores theology in the
congregation, presents the congrega-
tion as an open system, and sees the
congregation through a frame of cul-
Reviewed by Robert E. Reber, dean of
Auburn Theological Seminary in New
York City
ture and resources. These changes re-
flect more than two decades of serious
scholarship by the Project Team for
Congregational Studies. The new vol-
ume adds chapters by Nancy Eisland,
Robert Schreiter, Scott Thumma and
Stephen Warner.
The handbook is a valuable re-
source for religious professionals,
laypeople, teachers or seminarians. It
is highly readable and relevant for
people in a variety of communities of
faith—small, medium or large, or in
urban, suburban or rural areas. The
"new ways of seeing a congregation" to
which the book invites us require ef-
fort and discipline. The different
chapters approach congregations
through theology, ecology, culture,
process and structure, resources and
leadership. The final chapter is con-
cerned with various methods of study.
Each author presents a particular
frame, gives concrete examples and
offers ways of both gathering and ana-
lyzing information. The book admon-
ishes us to maintain an attitude of
"playfulness in imagination, piety in
action."
The authors see congregational
studies as practical theology that
serves two related purposes: "First,
theology is important as you locate and
deepen the identity of the congrega-
tion; second, theology can help your
congregation to deal with change."
Their primary goal is to explore and
better grasp the faith that is being lived
out in particular settings. Identifying
the explicit and implicit theologies in-
herent in what congregations say and
do in various aspects of their lives is a
relevant way of doing theology.
When is the best time to study a
congregation—when things are going
well or when there is trouble? The an-
swer is any time. However, the temp-
tation is to do nothing when things
seem to be going well or to ignore pre-
sent or potential problems. Though
the book offers no panaceas, it pro-
vides a wealth of helpful and construc-
tive resources for seeking self-under-
standing and making informed deci-
sions. In the words of the authors, "It
is on the basis of such self-understand-
ing that congregations can become the
faithful communities their own high-
est ideals call them to be."
Nihil Obstat: Religion, Politics, inundated with analyses of political and
and Social Change in East-Cen- economic changes there, we are less in-
tral Europe and Russia. formed about the subtle and arguably
By Sabrina P. Ramet. Duke Uni- more fundamental shifts in religion.
versity Press, 340 pp., $23.95. Sabrina Ramet s book is thus most wel-
come. Professor of international stud-
N
EARLY A DECADE after the ies at the University of Washington and
rending of the iron curtain, a veteran observer of Eastern Europe
transition and flux still charac- and Russia, Ramet concentrates on
terize Europe's former com- how pre- and post-1989 political
munist lands. While we Americans are changes have affected religious institu-
8th Annual Wheaton Theology Conference
Healing, Health and Spirituality:
Evangelical Theology Engages Scientific Research
April 8-10, 1999
FEATURING - _
D a v i d B- Larson, National Institute for Healthcare Research
Alister McGrath, Oxford; John C Polkinghorne,
Queens' College, Cambridge; and D a l l a s W i l l a r d , USC
ALSO INCLUDING: C. Stephen Evans, Calvin Cottage;
Ray PaiOtttEian, Westmont College; Richard Gorsuch, Mler Theological Swiinary;
Margaret Kim Peterson, Eastern college, Phillip Kennesson, MUUgcm Coikge,
Duane Kaufmann, Goshen College, Peter Hill, Grove City College, and othm.
Do religious beliefs
& behaviors significantly impact
physical & emotional well-being?
Can these potential benefits
be measured scientifically?
Do specific religious beliefs
make a difference?
Sponsored by the John Tentpleton Foundation,
the Wheaton College Graduate School Department of Bible and Theology*
and the InterVarsity Press*
For further information or registration contact
Wheaton Theology Conference
Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois 60187
THEOLOGY.CONFERENCE@wheaton.edu
A
For cELJS I Vfotifton
630.752.5197
Call for papers. Send inquiries or abstracts to
James Callahan or Kichard Butman, Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL 60187
63 CHRISTIAN CENTURY January20,1999
 ^ s
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