Nils Ehrenstrom. Geneva: World Council of Churches, 197

Threinen, Norman J.

English

Scholars Commons

Consensus
Volume 2 | Issue 1 Article 4
1-1-1976
Confessions in Dialogue
Norman J. Threinen
Follow this and additional works at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus
This Book Reviews is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Consensus by an
authorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact scholarscommons@wlu.ca.
Recommended Citation
Threinen, Norman J. (1976) "Confessions in Dialogue," Consensus: Vol. 2 : Iss. 1 , Article 4.
Available at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol2/iss1/4
BOOKS INREVIEW
CONFESSIONS IN DIALOGUE
NILS EHRENSTROM
Geneva: World Council of Churches, 1975
266 Pages, S Fr. 12.50 (Canadian $4.90)
Confessions in Dialogue is now in its third edition, revised and enlarged. In its
present form it is even more complete than are previous editions, although for a
Canadian Lutheran who is aware of the five-year regional dialogues with Roman
Catholic participants, it is a bit disappointing to find only the Canadian
Lutheran-Reformed conversations covered.
One of the values of the present volume is that it does cover fourty-six separate
dialogues throughout the world (over half of them involving the Roman Catholic
and about a third involving Lutherans). Although most of the conversations have
taken place in Europe or North America, other areas - Australia, Japan, the
Philippines and South America are also covered. Almost half of the book is
devoted to a description of these various dialogues.
Of greater general value than the description of the various specific dialogues,
however, are the chapters on aims, methods and procedures, and subject
matters. The book identifies twenty-six topics which were dominent themes of the
various discussions. Understandably, one of the most frequent themes was the
Eucharist and the matter of intercommunion.
A very interesting summary analysis of shifts in self-understanding is contained
in the chapter on **Concluding Reflections**. The Anglican and Roman Catholic
trends identified are particularly helpful. Unfortunately the Lutheran and
Reformed trends are treated together and this analysis is less useful.
In making recommendations regarding the future ofbilateral conversations one
of the points made is that “part of the testing of consensus statements in the
churches is the task of communicating them to a wider readership**. Although
the present volume does not share the actual consensus statements, it provides
basic information about what conversations have occurred, what documentation
has been published and where it may be obtained.
31
NJT


Confessions in Dialogue

Wilfrid Laurier University

ConsensusVolume 2 | Issue 1 Article 41-1-1976Confessions in DialogueNorman J. ThreinenFollow this and additional works at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensusThis Book Reviews is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Consensus by anauthorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact scholarscommons@wlu.ca.Recommended CitationThreinen, Norman J. (1976) "Confessions in Dialogue," Consensus: Vol. 2 : Iss. 1 , Article 4.Available at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol2/iss1/4BOOKS INREVIEWCONFESSIONS IN DIALOGUENILS EHRENSTROMGeneva: World Council of Churches, 1975266 Pages, S Fr. 12.50 (Canadian $4.90)Confessions in Dialogue is now in its third edition, revised and enlarged. In itspresent form it is even more complete than are previous editions, although for aCanadian Lutheran who is aware of the five-year regional dialogues with RomanCatholic participants, it is a bit disappointing to find only the CanadianLutheran-Reformed conversations covered.One of the values of the present volume is that it does cover fourty-six separatedialogues throughout the world (over half of them involving the Roman Catholicand about a third involving Lutherans). Although most of the conversations havetaken place in Europe or North America, other areas - Australia, Japan, thePhilippines and South America are also covered. Almost half of the book isdevoted to a description of these various dialogues.Of greater general value than the description of the various specific dialogues,however, are the chapters on aims, methods and procedures, and subjectmatters. The book identifies twenty-six topics which were dominent themes of thevarious discussions. Understandably, one of the most frequent themes was theEucharist and the matter of intercommunion.A very interesting summary analysis of shifts in self-understanding is containedin the chapter on **Concluding Reflections**. The Anglican and Roman Catholictrends identified are particularly helpful. Unfortunately the Lutheran andReformed trends are treated together and this analysis is less useful.In making recommendations regarding the future ofbilateral conversations oneof the points made is that “part of the testing of consensus statements in thechurches is the task of communicating them to a wider readership**. Althoughthe present volume does not share the actual consensus statements, it providesbasic information about what conversations have occurred, what documentationhas been published and where it may be obtained.31NJT

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