The Cambridge Centre for Christianity Worldwide library is continually growing: purchasing new books throughout the year and adding donated ones to the collection. Here is a selection of six new ones just in:

Moreau, A. Scott (2018) Contextualizing the faith: a holistic approach Baker Academic

This major statement by a leading missiologist represents a lifetime of wrestling with a topic every cross-cultural leader must address: how to adapt the universal gospel to particular settings. This comprehensive yet accessible textbook organizes contextualization, which includes “everything the church is and does,” into seven dimensions. Filled with examples, case studies, and diagrams and conversant with contemporary arguments and debates, it offers the author’s unique take on the challenge of adapting the faith in local cultures. — publisher

Peterson, Paul Silas, editor (2018) The decline of established Christianity in the Western world: interpretations and responses (Studies in World Christianity and Interreligious Relations) Routledge

While Church attendance in the West is often cited as being in decline, it is argued that this applies primarily to the older established forms of Christianity. Other expressions of the faith are, in fact, stable or even growing. This volume provides multidisciplinary interpretations of and responses to one of the most complicated and controversial issues regarding the global transformation of Christianity today: the decline of “established Christianity” in the Western world. It also addresses the future of Christianity in the West after the decline. — publisher

Ross, Cathy and Smith, Colin (2018) Missional conversations: a dialogue between theory and praxis in world mission SCM Press

Missional Conversations introduces the reader to key themes in contemporary mission through global conversations between theory and praxis. Exploring emergent themes in missiology, the book takes the form of a conversation between reflective practitioners – both those in academia and with those who are practically engaged. — publisher

Ross, Kenneth R., Tadros, Mariz and Johnson, Todd M., editors (2018) Christianity in North Africa and West Asia (Edinburgh Companions to Global Christianity series) Edinburgh University Press

This comprehensive reference volume covers every country in North Africa and West Asia, offering reliable demographic information and original interpretative essays by indigenous scholars and practitioners. It maps patterns of growth and decline, assesses major traditions and movements, analyses key themes and examines current trends. — publisher

Shaw, R. Daniel and Burrows, William R., editors (2018) Traditional ritual as Christian worship: dangerous syncretism or necessary hybridity? (American Society of Missiology Series, No. 56) Orbis Books

Highlighting the voices of non-Western scholars, this collection recognizes the importance of ritual and ceremony in the life of communities that seek to worship God in ways that reflect culturally appropriate responses to Scripture. The contributors―some of missiology’s leading lights―offer expositions of rituals, beliefs, and practices of diverse peoples, all supporting the conclusion that orthodox Christianity is hybrid Christianity. — publisher

Zink, Jesse A. (2018) Christianity and catastrophe in South Sudan: civil war, migration, and the rise of Dinka Anglicanism (Studies in World Christianity) Baylor University Press

Christianity and Catastrophe in South Sudan is rooted in extensive fieldwork in South Sudan, complemented by research in the archives of South Sudanese churches and international humanitarian organizations. The result is a detailed profile of what Christianity means to a society in the middle of intense crisis and trauma, with a particular focus on the roles of young people and women, and the ways in which the arrival of a new faith transformed existing religious traditions.

Christianity and Catastrophe in South Sudan stakes out a new field of inquiry in African Christianity. Jesse Zink has written a must-read for all interested in the ongoing crises in Africa and, in particular, the vexed relationship between violence and religion. — publisher

Do come and see these for yourself in the library, and feel free to borrow them. Two are still waiting to be catalogued but should be completed by the end of next week.

Look out for a future post with all our new books added to the collection throughout the year.

Ruth MacLean, Librarian

To find out how to apply for an encounter scheme bursary, which enables recipients to spend a sustained period of time in a Christian community in a culture other than their own, overseas, or in the UK, click here.

The new dates for deadlines have just been released too!

Revd Colin Chapman gave a seminar at the Divinity Faculty on Tuesday 9 October, on ‘Can Religion and Politics be Separated in the Middle East?’

This was part of the CCCW & Divinity Faculty series on World Christianity.

Click here to listen to the talk.

The CCCW, in collaboration with the Divinity Faculty, University of Cambridge have a brand new series of seminars for the forthcoming academic year.  Click here to read more.

The seminars will be held on TUESDAYS.

Have you noticed the black and white photo challenge for libraries that has been taking Twitter by storm? It appears to have started in America, as far as my research goes, and has come over to England and spread rapidly through the Cambridge University libraries.

The Cambridge Centre for Christianity Worldwide library was challenged by the Divinity Faculty library, which was challenged by the Haddon library, which was challenged by Trinity library, which was challenged by Christ’s library, which was challenged by both Queens’ library and the ARU library, and so it goes on…

The idea is to post a black and white photo of library life each working day for seven days, challenging a new library each day. No people. No explanations. Just library life as we know it. You can see our response to the challenge on Twitter. Here are the gallery of photos now turned into colour:

Ruth MacLean

Fr. Matthew Chandrankunnel, Director of the Ecumenical Christian Centre in Bangalore, India visited the CCCW and spent time in discussion with our director, Dr Muthuraj Swamy.

Please be aware, the CCCW opening hours during the summer will be from 9am to 1pm only.

This will start from the week beginning 30 July until 3 September.

A new government-funded initiative is allowing free access to a significant number of scholarly journals through participating public libraries, including several journals relating to Christianity and mission. You can take a look at it here: Access to Research

Students can search the database and view abstracts from any computer, but must visit a public library to get full-text access.

The list of journal titles included is here.

The list of participating public libraries is here.

There are plenty of Cambridgeshire public libraries on the list, so you may want to pop along to your local public library to do some of your research!

Ruth MacLean

What does Paul’s missions strategy mean for today? A century ago Roland Allen published Missionary Methods: Saint Paul’s or Ours?, a missiological classic which tackled many important issues, including what biblically rooted missions looks like in light of the apostle Paul’s evangelistic efforts. Although Allen’s work is still valuable, new understandings have been gained regarding Paul’s milieu and missionary activity, and how his practices ought to inform missions in our ever-changing world.        — back cover

In this book, published in 2013 on the centennial anniversary of Allen’s work, experts in New Testament studies and missiology seek to revisit first century missionary methods and apply these in our contemporary world.

Paul’s missionary work is studied in two parts: first, Paul’s missionary efforts in the first century context, looking at his environment, mission strategy and teaching; second, the implications of his example for today, asking whether his model is still relevant and what this would look like in the modern context.

The contributors offer “fresh, key insights from their fields, analyzing Paul’s missionary methods in his time and pointing the way forward in ours.”

Do come and take a look at this insightful book. It is classified 227 PLU. See for yourself the original works by Roland Allen too on mission. They are found at 266 ALL.

Contributors include:

• Michael F. Bird

• Eckhard J. Schnabel

• Benjamin L. Merkle

• Christoph W. Stenschke

• Don N. Howell Jr.

• Craig Keener

• David J. Hesselgrave

• Michael Pocock

• Ed Stetzer

• M. David Sills

• Chuck Lawless

• J. D. Payne

Ruth MacLean