Shoki Coe was among the first to speak of "contextualization" in theology. Coe argued that theology is not a reiteration of past formulas or doctrines but a response to the self-disclosing initiative of the living God in history and human experience. Yet he remains little known outside his native Taiwan. Wresting with God in Context introduces Coe's work and social vision and evaluates his contributions to the field of missiology and ecclesiology. Eager to offer a creative and critical witness to Christian faith, Coe worked tirelessly to liberate theology from its Western captivity and shaped a generation of theological reflection on God, culture, and history. For thousands of students and church members around the world, Shoki Coe was the spiritual father that guided their contextual theological pursuit to the living reality of God. In order to reflect on his legacy, the chapters in this volume--including original essays from Stephen Bevans, Dwight Hopkins, and Enrique Dussel--tackle the critical, methodological issues related to doing theology, reading the Scriptures, and being the church.
M. P. Joseph, professor of ethics at Chang Jung Christian University, Taiwan, is the editor of Theologies and Cultures and his numerous publications include Theologies of the Non-Person (2015). Po Ho Huang, vice president and professor of theology at Chang Jung Christian University, Taiwan, is a member of the editorial board of Concillium and Theologies and Culture. His numerous works include Embracing the Household of God, (2014) and Mission from the Underside (2010). Victor Hsu was the associate general secretary of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan and now serves as the advisor to its general secretary.
Foreword, by Collin I. Cowan, General Secretary, CWM Acknowledgments Introduction Context, Discernment, and Contextualization: Theology of Shoki Coe, the Prophet from the Fourth World, by M. P. Joseph Part 1: Shoki Coe and the Reconstruction of Theological Methodology 1. Revisiting the Methodology of Contextual Theology in the Era of Globalization, by Huang Po Ho 2. Contextualization as Reception of the World: Shoki Coe and the Transformation of Theology, by Dale Irvin 3. Epistemological Decolonization of Theology, by Enrique Dussel 4. Doing Contextual Theology: Feminist and Postcolonial Perspectives, by Kwok Pui-lan 5. Religions and Scriptures in Actual Cultural Contexts: A Reflection in Honor of Shoki Coe, by J. N. K. Mugambi Part 2: Redefining Mission and Ecumenism 6. Implications of Shoki Coe's Thoughts on Contextualization for the Mission and Ministry of the Church, by S. Wesley Ariarajah 7. Contextualization, Ecumenism, and the Wider Ecumenism, by Edmund Kee-Fook Chia Part 3: Mission and Dialogue: Universality of Contextual Theological Discourse 8. Pope Francis as Contextual Theologian, by Stephen Bevans 9. Contextual Theology as Dialogue: An Asian Catholic Approach to Shoki Coe's Theological Legacy, by Anh Q. Tran 10. Christian Church among Religions: Toward a Hospitable Missionary Encounter with the Other, by Veli-Matti K"rkk"inen Part 4: Text and Context 11. Engaging the Context of the Tower of Babel and Listening to the Voices in the Text, by Archie C. C. Lee 12. Contextual Rereading of the Bible to Construct Hope in a World of Oppression and Marginalization, by Dhyanchand Carr Part 5: Theology Out of Context: Contextual Theologies of the Marginalized 13. Startling Paths in Latin American Theologies, by Diego Irarr zaval 14. Black Liberation Theology USA and Global Cross-Cultural Leadership, by Dwight N. Hopkins 15. Shoki Coe and Contextualization in African Christian Theology, by Augustine Chingwala Musopole 16. Beyond Context: An Intercultural Perspective from the UK, by Michael N. Jagessar 17. Asian Contextual Theology: Location and Methodology-An Indigenous Perspective, by Wati Longchar Part 6: Contextualizing Theological Education 18. Toward the Renewal of Theological Education and Church Ministry: A Reflection on Shoki Coe's Views on Theological Education, by Chen Nan-Jou Part 7: Political Witness of Faith 19. Christian Political Witness: Shoki Coe's Involvement in the Struggle for Self-Determination, by J. Ben Wei Part 8: Prophet from the Fourth World: Life and Legacy of Shoki Coe 20. A Watershed Figure in Asian Theologies: The Very Rev. Dr. Hwang Chiong-Hui (Shoki Coe, C. H. Hwang) 1914-1988, by John C. England 21. Shoki Coe: A Giant in His Time, by Yeow Choo Lak Essential Writings of and about Shoki Coe Contributors
"For over half a century now, Asian theologians have been struggling with ploughing Asian soil and planting theology in the Asian context. It has proven to be a task not easily said or done. Shoki Coe issued the prophetic call; there is no turning back for any theologians who are serious about God's revelation in the here and now. The authors of this book have demonstrated their continuous commitment to Coe's call in response to our immediate contexts--the challenging resurgence of extremisms, bigotry, and ethnic, religious, and sexual discrimination." --Angela Wai Ching Wong, Executive Vice President of United Board of Christian Higher Education, Hong Kong "What a pleasure to read this wonderful tribute to Shoki Coe, a true and faithful innovator who theologians of every faith continue to benefit from. I am profoundly grateful to Rev. Coe and theologians like him as they were instrumental in providing tools for me to mine my own tradition and create a Jewish theology of liberation that flourishes today in the renewed engagement of Jews of Conscience with our own indigenous prophetic tradition." --Marc H. Ellis, author of Toward a Jewish Theology of Liberation and Finding Our Voice: Embodying the Prophetic and Other Misadventures "This is a treasure chest of precious insights into the Asian reality, perceived as a divinely inspired context for Asian Christians to theologize--that is, to interpret the word revealed in the Scriptures and experienced in Christ Jesus. It is certainly not a dull, uniform work of a differently worded consensus of opinions. Rather, the various positions taken by the authors are complementary in some cases and critically corrective in others. It is a library that young theology students in Asia should consult." --Aloysius Pieris, SJ, author of An Asian Theology of Liberation
