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Title: A Credible and Timely Word: Process Theology and Preaching by Clark M. Williamson, Ronald J. Allen ISBN: 0-8272-0457-4 Publisher: Chalice Press Pub. Date: 01 October, 1991 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $15.99

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Average Customer Rating: 5 (1 review)

Rating: 5
Summary: Appropriate and sound
Comment: This book by Clark Williamson and Ron Allen combine several of the aspects their (and my) seminary is known for - practical guidance in preaching with process theology as an important component. One of the first tasks of this book, given that many divinity students can make it through seminary without being exposed to process theology, is to explain the key ideas. In the introduction, Williamson and Allen give a quick overview of the key points in a nonspecialist, nontechnical manner. Looking at preaching as authentic and adequate only when it addresses both the biblical text and our deepest convictions, the authors build a framework in which, as the title suggests, credible and timely preaching can be done.

Process theology addresses many of the problems traditional theologies from the origins of Christianity to the twentieth century struggled with, namely, how to look at God as involved and caring in the world where there seems to be so much injustice and violence on an ever-increasing scale. Process theology also seeks to build bridges between philosophy, science and religion in ways that reduce the antagonism between the disciplines. Since what we think of who and what God is is often at the centre of preaching, an early chapter is devoted to looking at historical models of God, alternative models of God, old and new metaphors for God, and different aspects of God's action and relationship with humanity.

Williamson and Allen also look at injustice in the world - what are preachers preaching about, anyway? The authors identify five primary systematic injustices in current society - ecological injustice, classism, sexism, racism, and militarism. These terms are carefully defined and are examined from the standpoint of individual responsibility and societal capacity for change. The authors call upon the church (and thus, the preachers in the church) to take a strong stand against such evils.

In looking at process hermeneutics (the way that one engaged in process theology would interpret the bible), Williamson and Allen argue for a norm of appropriateness that is intellectually credible and morally plausible - any interpretation that fails these three criteria should be considered suspect. 'The gospel requires us to make sense,' the authors contend, and this is not always easily done. This chapter presupposes some familiarity with different hermeneutical ideas, as process hermeneutics will not attempt to be a closed-circle method of interpretation, but rather draws from the strengths of other types of interpretation (literary criticism, canonical criticism, etc.). This might be a difficulty for readers not seminary- or graduate school-trained.

Following this discussion on principles and theory of process hermeneutics, the authors provide a chapter on methodology for exegesis, theological analysis, and coming to a meaning relevant for the current day. Specific texts from the Bible are used to demonstrate the 'how' of this.

Concluding the book are two sermons (one assumes from the two authors, but who gave which sermon is not immediately apparent, and does not seem to have been specified in the text - knowing the authors as I do, I was able to discern who gave which sermon, but the average reader would likely not be able to do so). These are not held up as ideals or patterns to be followed, but rather as examples of the method of interpretation and adaptation. Both are credible, timely, faithful to the gospel witness, and appropriate to their context of delivery.

The book ends with an extensive bibliography on theology, biblical interpretation, and other topics, but is not arranged topically. There is no index (the rating might lose a star for that if it weren't such a wonderful text). These are minor flaws in an otherwise great text.