From the Abundance of the Heart: Catholic Evangelism for All Christians
Stephen CottrellDLT, 2006, £10.95
ISBN 0-232-52636-2
In some parts of the Church, evangelism has become the unmentionable poor cousin of Mission. It is for evangelicals, and involves things ‘we’ would not even do to our dog. Bishop Cottrell, from his long ministry in Anglo-catholic mission, rightly reminds us that it is a duty for ‘all Christians’, including those from the Catholic wing, and that we need a change of church culture if we are to grow. But he recognises at the outset that this is not just about techniques or courses or ‘fresh expressions’ – it is about attitude and our understanding of discipleship; it is about motivation; it is about longing for justice and a renewed society; it is about our love for Jesus and the riches of our spiritual life and worship in him – it is ‘from the abundance of the heart’.
Cottrell’s introduction is a very succinct essay drawing out the distinctions between mission, evangelism and discipleship, considering their reflection in the Anglican Consultative Council’s five marks of mission. The two main sections of the book then explore the theology of an evangelising church and the practice of evangelism. The real situations that he uses to illustrate his points add both colour to the book and raise expectations that this sort of evangelism could happen in our parish with our congregation – in our own lives. In the theology section he looks at ways in which authentic prayer helps to reshape our thinking and can provide a springboard for evangelism. He recognises that conversion and discipleship require a nurturing and outward looking church, and in the second part of the book he encourages us to imagine what an evangelistic catholic church might look like. His down-to-earth chapter on liturgy and worship suggest a number of simple modifications which evangelicals have long since realised help open a door to the nervous unchurched.
In many ways it is all reminiscent of the sense of excitement and passion for evangelism which was abroad in the late 60s and 70s after Vatican II, and although it is outside the scope of Cottrell’s brief work, it reminds all of us that the roots of 19th century Anglo-catholicism reach deep into the 18th century evangelical revival. There is a very helpful thematic bibliography and the endnotes demonstrate the breadth of contemporary and historic sources that the author has tapped. With sermons, and other interludes, including a meditation on Mary the Evangelist, this is a very accessible and readable book for priests and people alike, and I hope it will enable us all to share in building a mission shaped church, and indeed a Christ shaped church.
Church Times
