Another Plug

Although his opinions on such matters as he has addressed below are generally considered reliable, you don't have to take David's word for it.  Thomas C. Oden in his new and highly informative Turning Around the Mainline (Baker, 2006) says "The journal that best gives voice to many aspects of the new ecumenism is Touchstone, a magazine of 'mere Christianity,' published by the Fellowship of St. James." 

In a footnote he says, "I am deeply indebted to David Mills, former Anglican theologian, now Catholic, editor of Touchstone, for providing me with sharp categories I have considered before, but never seen presented more intelligently or systematically.  In his essay "Necessary Doctrines: Why Dogma is Needed and Why Substitutes Fail," he has stated a new form of the classical argument on how the unity of the church is grounded in the truth of its doctrine.  Everything hinges on the seriousness with which it takes its guardianship role in relation to the revealed truth."

Thanks, Dr. Oden.  We think so too.

Comments

[dilys]

The close observation of the "let's just all get along" crowd, religious and otherwise, is priceless:

"I have heard some very conservative Christians end such a discussion—of first principles, mind you—by declaring that all views on the subject are of equal value and then looking all around with the perky smile of someone who expects to be praised.

David holds out a promise eventually to "reflect on why they do this." Soon please.

In other news, the local First Baptist Church is hosting Borg/Chittister/Crossan's touring Mysticism, Empowerment & Resistance New Doctrine road show, "promot[ing] a Christianity that we in fact think really goes back to the first century before all of the Christian orthodoxy began." (according to the organizer).

"They're calling for a radical commitment to living authentic lives of witness that are compassionate and oriented toward justice and mercy and not just empty phrases of belief that people haven't examined. And isn't that what the church ought to be doing?" (from an interview with the Baptist pastor.)