Dr. Paul Louis Metzger and Dr. Brad
Harper look forward to the release of their first joint-effort,
Exploring Ecclesiology: An Evangelical and Ecumenical
Introduction. The book will be released in April 2009 through
Brazos Press. In celebration, Multnomah
will host a book reading and signing on Thursday, April 30,
from 7-9 p.m.
Ecclesiology is the study of the
church's identity and its various functions. Drs. Harper and
Metzger offer a solidly evangelical yet ecumenical survey of the
church in doctrine and mission. Combining biblical, historical, and
cultural analysis, this comprehensive theological text explores the
doctrine of the church from a Trinitarian and kingdom community
standpoint.
Exploring Ecclesiology offers
practical application, addressing contemporary church life issues
such as women in ministry, evangelism, race reconciliation, social
action, consumerism in church growth trends, ecumenism, and the
church in postmodern culture. The book will appeal to all who are
interested in church doctrine, particularly college students and
seminarians.
Quotes
"This is an important new book. Evangelicals
have often emphasized individual faith in Christ at the expense of
the corporate character of the Christian community. This book shows
why that dichotomy is false by pointing us toward a more holistic
ecclesiology-the church biblical, trinitarian, sacramental,
missional, and eschatological. This book needs to be read and
heeded!"-Timothy George, Beeson Divinity School, Samford
University; senior editor of Christianity Today
"Harper and Metzger keep their promises with
an ecclesiology at once deeply ecumenical and sharply evangelical.
They offer a richly Trinitarian and eschatological orientation even
as they ground the doctrine of the church in an American context. As
a generation of younger evangelicals discover ecclesiology-no,
discover the church-I am happy and grateful to be able to
refer them to this book."-Matt Jenson, Biola University
"An evangelical ecclesiology that takes the
counter-cultural notion of divine communio as its starting
point merits reading. That this book also examines race,
sacraments, and Christian art will really grab the attention of a
serious and plentiful readership. Metzger and Harper deserve the
highest praise for pushing the envelope-in the generous catholicity
of their evangelical faith, in their sharp wisdom on US social and
cultural ills, and as noteworthy Christian theologians."-Peter
Casarella, DePaul University
About the Authors
Paul Louis Metzger (PhD, King's College
London) is professor of Christian theology and theology of culture at
Multnomah Biblical Seminary and director of its Institute for the Theology of Culture: New Wine, New Wineskins, editor of its journal
Cultural Encounters: a Journal for the Theology of Culture,
and the author of Consuming Jesus: Beyond Race and Class Divisions
in a Consumer Church.
Brad Harper (PhD, St. Louis University)
is professor of theology at Multnomah University in Portland, Oregon.
He is the college adviser for The Institute for Theology of Culture:
New Wine, New Wineskins and the book review editor for Cultural
Encounters: a Journal for the Theology of Culture. He has also
worked as a pastor and church planter.
Book Reading & Signing Event
In celebration of the release of Exploring Ecclesiology, Multnomah will host an on-campus book reading and
signing event.
- Thursday, April 30, from
- 7:00-9:00 p.m.
- Exploring Ecclesiology will be available for the discounted price of $18.50 ($24.99 retail)
- Location on campus to be determined (check calendar listing for updates)
More Info
For more information about Drs. Harper
and Metzger's book Exploring Ecclesiology: An Evangelical and
Ecumenical Introduction, or
about the book reading and signing event on April 30,
please contact Kristin Kendall at 503.251.6452 or
kkendall@multnomah.edu.
About Multnomah
Multnomah University is a fully
accredited, private, non-denominational, Christian institution of
higher education, located in Portland, Oregon. Made up of an
undergraduate Bible college, a biblical seminary, graduate programs,
an adult degree completion program, and an online distance-learning
program, Multnomah issues bachelor's and master's degrees, and
professional certifications and endorsements.