Church, Community and Power

In the era of 'post-Christendom', how can church as a sociological reality be switched on to the destructive dangers, yet constructive possibilities, of 'power' flowing in and around its community? Attuned to the current distrust of church power, this book creatively works out responses that could turn painful censure into a re-visioning of church power relations, helped by neglected critical studies. The approach exposes a complexity to power, and filters that insight into a theology of church. The book shows how lessons are available for a religious community from post-modern philosopher Michel Foucault and from recent feminism. The topic of power has universal importance in the study of religion, though the response to analysis and critique in this book is drawn specifically from Christian sources. Kearsley concludes with an exploration for a future renovated, self-critical, authentic and growing community, sensitive to power while remaining in line with classic Christianity.

Contents: Introduction: church as community in the presence of power; Church as a koinonia. The fellowship of the way; The contested concept. What is power?; Church and the environment of power; 'Power relations' and church; Strategies, church and freedom; Spirit, power and weakness; Power, authority and community; Twin problems on power and church; Conclusion: power in the future of koinonia community; Bibliography; Index.

Roy Kearsley has spent the last nine years teaching theology at Cardiff University and South Wales Baptist College. He has published in early Christianity (Tertullian's Theology of Divine Power (1998)) focusing on the specialist field of 'power', a project which helped to spark research for this book.