Visser 't Hooft and the Shaping of Ecumenical TheologyVisser 't Hooft is, perhaps, the most distinguished figure in the modern ecumenical movement, emerging in the postwar decades as a pivotal figure. Under his leadership, the World Council of Churches was officially constituted in 1948 by 147 Protestant and Orthodox Catholic denominations, and the organization grew to include nearly 300 denominations in the following decades. Visser 't Hooft played a major role in the inclusion of churches from communist countries in the World Council, and he also sought to enlarge the role played by African, Asian, and Orthodox churches in the organization. He served as editor of the Ecumenical Review from 1948 to 1966. He was also the author of numerous books on the ecumenical movement and the nature and functions of the church.
Michael Kinnamon, a seminary and university professor for thirty years, is the author or editor of numerous volumes in ecumenical studies, including The Ecumenical Movement: An Anthology of Key Texts and Voices. He formerly served as an Executive Secretary of the WCC's Faith and Order Commission and as General Secretary of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA.
Introduction Chapter 1: The Shaping of an Ecumenical Theologian Chapter 2: The Writings of an Ecumenical Theologian "The Ground of Our Unity" "How Does Unity Grow?" "Renewal and Unity" "The Mandate of the Ecumenical Movement" "The Rediscovery of Christocentric Universalism in the Ecumenical Movement" "The Significance of the World Council of Churches" Chapter 3: A Theology of Wholeness Chapter 4: A Theology for Today? Notes Bibliography Index
"From being the voice of youth at the 1925 Stockholm Conference on Life and Work through to his work as the first general secretary of the World Council of Churches, W. A. Visser 't Hooft exercised a decisive influence on the ecumenical movement in the twentieth century. I am delighted that, with this book, Michael Kinnamon is introducing W. A. Visser 't Hooft to a new generation and showing how Visser 't Hooft's insights continue to challenge the churches today." --Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary, World Council of Churches "Unity as Prophetic Witness is a clear, concise, and thought-provoking volume on the theological convictions and ecumenical insights that motivated one of the architects and pioneers of the ecumenical movement. It is an invaluable resource to anyone interested in ecumenical theology and deserves to be a required text in courses on ecumenism." --S. Wesley Ariarajah, Drew University School of Theology "Is your interest in and energy for Christian unity low? This book, with substantial excerpts crystalizing the teaching and writing of the most influential leader of the ecumenical movement in the twentieth century, Willem Visser 't Hooft, is a multivitamin protein shake for laity, clergy, and church leaders to perk energy and action. Kinnamon offers some of the most insightful and motivating reasons for staying the course in the ongoing journey toward Christian unity. With its evaluation of Visser 't Hooft's legacy for our times, this book is high-octane fuel for both ecumenical and interreligious relations and can help us find a better balance in the dialectics of unity we face today." --Fr. Thomas Ryan, author of Christian Unity: How You Can Make a Difference "Engaging the Christian community through the heart and mind of its most seminal ecumenical voice, W. A. Visser 't Hooft, is profoundly exciting! Michael Kinnamon, himself a seasoned ecumenical theologian of first rank, opens the door. In this book, we see how Visser 't Hooft grounded his leadership and theology in a vision of 'coherent unity,' and how he built bridges while also warning about modern idolatries. For those who seek a resurrected church, this is a must read!" --Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbell, former General Secretary of the National Council of the Churches
