Like a Mighty Army?: The Salvation Army, the Church, and the ChurchesIn 1937, prior to the 1948 inauguration of the World Council of Churches, Karl Barth challenged the churches to engage in "real strict sober genuine theology" in order that the unity of the church might be visibly realized. At that time The Salvation Army didn't aspire to being formally known as a church, even though it was a founding member of the WCC. Today it is globally known as a social welfare organization, concerned especially to serve the needs of those who find themselves at the margins of society. Less well known is that seventy years after Barth's challenge it has made its peace with the view that it is a church denomination. Accepting Barth's challenge to the churches, and in dialogue with his own ecumenical ecclesiology, the concept of the church as an Army is interrogated, in service to The Salvation Army's developing understanding of its identity, and to the visible unity of God's church. |
Other editions - View all
Like a Mighty Army?: The Salvation Army, the Church, and the Churches David W. Taylor Limited preview - 2014 |
Like a Mighty Army: The Salvation Army, the Church, and the Churches David W Taylor Limited preview - 2015 |
Common terms and phrases
affirms aggressive Christianity apostolic Arminian Army’s baptism Barth’s account Barth’s Christological Begbie believe Body of Christ Bramwell Booth called Catherine Booth CD IV.2 Christian community Christian Mission Magazine Christological communion Community in Mission concept congregation conviction Council of Churches denomination divine and human doctrine ecclesial ecclesiology ecumenical election emphasis entire sanctification evangelical evangelistic existence expression Faith and Order fellowship Fiddes Finney Finney’s Firstly focus General’s God’s Church God’s grace gospel hierarchical holiness revivalism Holy Spirit human agency Hunsinger Hütter Ibid immediacy individualistic Jesus Christ John Wesley Karl Barth koinonia leadership living London Lord’s Supper man’s mediation Methodist Methodist New Connexion military metaphor ministry movement nature Needham obedience officers Orsborn Phoebe Palmer pilgrim practice pragmatic prevenient grace Railton reality reconciliation reform revealed revivalist sacraments Salvation Army Salvationists soldier souls strands suggests theological anthropology understanding unity visible form Wesley’s Wesleyan Whilst William Booth witness word World Council