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A Church for the World: The Church's Role in Fostering Democracy and Sustainable Development challenges theologians and lay readers alike to think about the role of the church vis-à-vis its responsibility to the world. How may the church contribute to democracy and foster sustainable development? Contributors from mostly non-Western theological communities offer historical, developmental, ecclesiastical, and theological perspectives on the church-world relationship, challenging misconceptions and practices that prevent the church from living up to its transformational vocation as salt and light in the world (Matt. 5:13-16). The driving force behind the questions and perspectives discussed here is Gustavo Gutierrez's axiom in A Theology of Liberation: A theology which fails to address the most urgent needs of ordinary people is not worthy of the word "theology." Proceeding from this insight, this book creates awareness about the relationship between religion, democracy, and development, and aims to strengthen the self-understanding of the church with regard to its responsibilities in the world.
List of contents
Foreword: Toward a Postcolonial "Inescapable Network of Mutuality"
Gary M. Simpson
Introduction: A Church for the World: The Church's Role in Fostering Democracy and Sustainable Development
Samuel Yonas Deressa and Josh de Keijzer
Part One: Historical Perspectives
1. Church and Development in Post-Colonial Africa: Revisiting African Development Plan and the Theology of Reconstruction through the Lens of the Capabilities Approach
Samuel Yonas Deressa
2. Church and Development in Ethiopia: The Contribution of Gudina Tuma's Holistic Theology
Samuel Yonas Deressa
3.On Human Flourishing: A Call for Public Responsibility in Contemporary Ethiopian Christianity
Andrew D. DeCort
Part Two: Developmental Perspectives
4. Church and Human Development: An Asian Perspective
Lim Teck Peng
5 The Critical Role of the Church in the Development of Asia
Delfo Canceran, OP
Part Three: Ecclesiastical Perspectives
6. Church and Development in Nigerian Context: Theological Foundation, Practical Appraisal, and Prophetic Call to Action
Ibrahim Bitrus
7. Hospitality and Social Responsibility: the Church in the Age of Globalization
Nestor Ravilas and Wilfredo Laceda
8. On Not Answering the Public Cry for Justice: The Silence of the Ethiopian Evangelical Churches in the Context of National Crisis
Wondimu Sonessa
Part Four: Theological Perspectives
9. The Roles of Religions in Public Theology: An Asian Perspective on the Paradoxes of Religious Violence and Peace
David Thang Moe
10. Justice and Peace will Kiss Each Other (Psalm 85:10b): Integrating the Ethics of Justice and Peace in a Broken World
David Thang Moe
11. To Be Like Christ: Decolonizing Theology for an Incarnational Church
Josh de Keijzer
12. Capitalism as Divine Necessity: Toward A Political Theology of the Cross
Josh de Keijzer
About the Contributors
About the author
Edited by Samuel Yonas Deressa and Josh de Keijzer - Foreword by Gary M. Simpson - Contributions by Ibrahim B. Bitrus; Delfo Canceran, OP; Andrew D. DeCort; Samuel Yonas Deressa; Josh de Keijzer; Lim Teck Peng; David Thang Moe; Nestor Ravilas and Wilfredo
Summary
In A Church for the World, contributors from mostly non-Western theological communities offer historical, developmental, ecclesiastical, and theological perspectives on the church-world relationship, challenging misconceptions and practices that prevent the church from being salt and light in the world.
