09.01.2018
Book Launch: ‘Perspectives on Preaching: A Witness of the Irish Church’
Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, January 22
A new book Perspectives on Preaching: A Witness of the Irish Church, published by Church of Ireland Publishing (CIP) in conjunction with the Church of Ireland Theological Institute (CITI), will be launched by the Rt Revd Ken Good, Bishop of Derry & Raphoe, in the Music Room of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, on Monday 22nd January 2018 at 5.30pm. The new book, featuring contributions from a wide range of notable preachers and thinkers, has been edited by Canon Dr Maurice Elliott (Director of CITI) and the Revd Dr Patrick McGlinchey (Lecturer in Missiology and Pastoral Studies at CITI), and has been produced with, in the words of Dr Elliott, ‘the underlying conviction that biblically–grounded, Spirit–filled and culturally–relevant preaching is a sine qua non for the health of any local church’. He continues, ‘The place of preaching needs urgently to be re–established as a consummately noble one within the life of every Christian congregation’.
Ahead of the book launch, Bishop Ken Good said, ‘I warmly welcome this publication. A recurrent theme in it is the need for the preacher not only to stretch people’s minds but also to move their hearts. I have to confess that my heart was excited as I read these preachers’ convictions about God’s transformative power being released through the spoken word. Here we are reminded that the preacher, during his or her preparation, must be the first one willing to be touched by the Christ–centred message they are making ready to deliver. Then, as they speak out the message with authenticity and vitality, the hearts and minds of their congregation can be rekindled by the Holy Spirit in a way that enables influence for Christ to radiate out into the community. There is much in this book to encourage preachers and to raise their confidence in what God can accomplish in the Church and in the world through this vital ministry.’
The new publication engages with the themes of preaching Scripture, denominational charisms and preaching to the culture, across twelve different chapters. In addition to the editors, the contributors are: Archbishop Richard Clarke; the Revd Canon Patrick Comerford; the Revd Dr Shane Crombie; the Revd Dr Brian Fletcher; the Revd Barry Forde; Bishop Ferran Glenfield; Dr Katie Heffelfinger; Bishop Harold Miller; the Rt Revd Dr Trevor Morrow and the Revd Dr Robin Stockitt.
The 242pp book will be available at the launch and thereafter from https://store.ireland.anglican.org/store/product/140/perspectives-on-preaching-a-witness-of . It is priced €11/£10.