Oct 17, 2025 | 2025 - Winter - Free, Book Reviews
Evangelism in an Age of Despair
Author Andrew Root
Publisher Baker Academic £22.99
Format pbk
ISBN 978154096875
Andrew Root is based at Luther Seminary, USA. This book is an attempt to re-think evangelism, contextualising it in our late modern times where ‘anxious, stressed, angry people’ live ‘sad’ lives, over-committed to striving for happiness instead of seeking a consolation that feeds soul rather than self, rooted in the theology of the cross. There are two distinct strands to the book: firstly, the moving story of a fictional church that shows us how an evangelism of consolation might work in practice. Secondly, extensive discussion of philosophical and theological thought through past ages, centred around figures such as Montaigne, Pascal, Gregory of Nyssa, Jean Gerson, Johann von Staupitz and Martin Luther. This is a complex book and is most suitable for academics and theologians, yet its central argument is something I can endorse from my own journey – that people often connect (and evangelise) best through sharing and owning times of loss and struggle, ultimately finding meaning and hope in a God who suffers with and for us.
Reviewed by APRIL McINTYRE
Evangelism
Oct 17, 2025 | 2025 - Winter - Free, Book Reviews
Curating Spaces of Hope
Author Matthew Barber-Rowell
Publisher SCM Press £40
Format pbk
ISBN 9780334065104
In uncertain times, with society in crisis, a shared sense of hope is ever more important. This book expounds how individuals, communities, institutions and faith-based organisations can work together locally to engender a sense of hope in the shared public spaces in society. Barber-Rowell argues for a local collaborative leadership practice which he terms ‘transformational,’ and shows how this can facilitate such hope. He draws on and reinterprets for contemporary relevance the Christian social ethics in the William Temple tradition. He also draws at length on his personal life journey and several case studies he has been involved in, to illustrate his argument for the creation and curation of hope in shared public spaces. Enlisting several intellectual writers to bolster his case (Gramsci gets a whole chapter), his erudition shows. In some passages I found that this, plus his deep analyses of terminology and concepts and detailed narration of case studies required concentrated, patient reading. However, his impassioned argument should interest all who can potentially contribute to the kind of social movements he advocates. He argues that means all of us.
Reviewed by PETER WRIGHT
Theology and social ethics
Oct 6, 2025 | News
Ely’s service for licensing and admission of Licensed Lay Ministers (LLMs) took place on Saturday 4 October 2025.
There were seven newly licensed lay ministers – Anne Carter, Angela Deavall, Julie Hughes, Simon Kershaw, Stewart Piper, Raine Thorold and Trevor Webb.
To listen to their stories, click here
Five of the LLMs received the John Hullock Award – Fiona Davis, David Ogilvie, Nigel Smith, Tony White and David Williams,
Celebrating 25+ years of their ministry in the Diocese of Ely were Kate Aylmer, Malcom Barrett, Maria Dorman and Jan Payne. In addition, Cyril Dodd celebrated 45+ years of ministry, but was unfortunately not able to join us for the service.
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