How might the Christian church effectively engage today's politically charged, profit-motivated world while remaining faithful to its biblical and theological roots? The contributors in this book argue that public theology provides a promising pathway forward. The public theology emerging from these pages has been influenced by the theological interests and commitments of Gary M. Simpson, Lutheran pastor and systematic theologian. His approach to public theology is intersectional and global; he artfully weaves together Lutheran theology and the civil society arena of Critical Social Theory. These essays provide three angles of vision on faith active in twenty-first century public contexts: contextual, ethical, and theological. While not mutually exclusive, these distinct strands of thought engage and challenge the church to substantial reflection on the challenging and often bewildering circumstances of the twenty-first century social world. Some reflect on God's activity within particular global contexts, others offer new perspectives on Lutheran confessional traditions, still others step boldly into innovative theological assertions. As the Christian church is ever forming and reforming, this book urges it to grapple with the "publicness" of its timely and timeless mission.
Samuel Yonas Deressa is assistant professor of Theology and the Global South and Fiechtner Chair for Christian Outreach at Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota. Mary Sue Dreier is retired professor of pastoral care and missional leadership at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary of Lenoir-Rhyne University (Columbia, South Carolina).
Part I: Public Theology in Specific Global Contexts 1. Public Theology of Abundance: Reclaiming Africa's Abundance in Public Theological Discourse Ibrahim S. Bitrus 2. Leadership Solution to Africa's Enigma: Redefining Missional Leadership in African Context Samuel Yonas Deressa 3. We Can't Breathe: The Role of Public Theology in the Midst of Social, Political, and Institutional Unrest David L. Everett 4. The Burmese Struggle for Democracy Pum Za Mang 5. Diakonia and Justice in an African Context: Highlights from the Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church Margaret Kemunto Obaga 6. Global Public Theologians in Rural Contexts: Malawi and Wisconsin, Equipping Prophetic Public Companions for God's Mission in Rural Communities Laurie Skow-Anderson Part II: Implications for Ethics and Social Responsibility 7. The Polis in Luther's Theology Robert Kolb 8. Lesslie Newbigin's Idea of a Christian Society George R. Hunsberger 9. Love in Luther: Beyond Thesis 28 John R. Stumme 10. Citizenship as Co-Creation: Theological Foundations for Democratic Renewal Marie-Louise Stroem 11. Pandemic Politics: Critical Social Theory and Societal Chaplaincy Robert O. Smith Part III: Faith and Religion in Contemporary Society 12. Problems of a Theology of the Cross Gregory Walter 13. Stunned: David E. Fredrickson 14. The Sutures of Reason and the Short-Circuit of Faith: Belief in the Light of Contemporary Cognitive Theories Guillermo Hansen 15. A Stranger God: Sketch of a Religionless Theology Josh de Keijzer
