Word and Spirit
The vital partnership in Christian Leadership
Will Donaldson
£8.99 Add to basket Buy nowIn his wonderful new book Word and Spirit, he distils decades of walking close to God in faithful ministry, and his conclusion is that the biblical Christian will rely on the Spirit's power, and the truly Charismatic believer will be led by that Spirit to rely on God's Word.
From the foreword by Simon Ponsonby, Pastor of Theology, St Aldates, Oxford and Dean of Studies, Oxford Centre of Church Growth
Content
The Bible - the Word of God - and the Spirit of God are inextricably bound together, as the story of God's working throughout human history reveals. The Word of God tells the story of God's unfolding purposes for the salvation of his world, and teaches and trains us in godly Christian living. The Spirit of God inspires and illumines the text, breathes life into those who believe, and fills us with power and gifts for Christian ministry and mission. Sadly, 'Word' and 'Spirit' have in recent times become increasingly identified with divergent parts of the Church, impoverishing our witness and weakening the body of Christ.
Written with passion and urgency, this book issues a timely call to Christians to focus on what unites, rather than divides, and come together in a celebration of both Word and Spirit to build each other up and further the sharing of the Gospel. It not only traces the shaping of this 'vital partnership' through Christian history, but explores systematically their shared importance in key areas of church leadership and ministry.
The foreword is written by Simon Ponsonby, Pastor of Theology, St Aldates and Oxford and Dean of Studies, Oxford Centre of Church Growth.
Endorsements come from The Rt Revd David Urquhart, Bishop of Birmingham, The Revd Dr Liz Hoare, Wycliffe Hall, The Revd Hugh Palmer, All Souls Langham Place.
View items in similar categoriesEndorsements
In his wonderful new book Word and Spirit, he distils decades of walking close to God in faithful ministry, and his conclusion is that the biblical Christian will rely on the Spirit's power, and the truly Charismatic believer will be led by that Spirit to rely on God's Word.
From the foreword by Simon Ponsonby, Pastor of Theology, St Aldates, Oxford and Dean of Studies, Oxford Centre of Church Growth
An essential text for everyone who seeks to proclaim Christ and build the church for God's mission.
The Rt Revd David Urquhart, Bishop of Birmingham
A book for all of us who are tempted to put Christian faith into boxes or who insist on defining ourselves over against someone else.
The Revd Dr Liz Hoare, Wycliffe Hall
A useful opening for those who want these issues gently re-examined and explored.
The Revd Hugh Palmer, All Souls Langham Place
Will's book has the advantage of scratching where the church is itching and heading off at the pass a potential danger.
Steve Morris, Church of England Newspaper
I recommend you buy a copy of this book and start soaking in all the rich material.
The Revd Chris Boyce is Team Vicar at Emmanuel Bicester
We would all benefit from reading it, for this is no dry narrative but a book that came alive to me as I read it, backed by an engaging style full of personal experience and Biblical and historical evidence. I wholeheartedly commend it - and, as a bookseller, I shall be promoting it wherever possible!
Mark Clifford, Manager, Sarum Book
CPAS is very pleased to be working with BRF to publish Will's new book, Word and Spirit: the vital partnership in Christian leadership and for good reason: Firstly, because the centrality of Word and Spirit in Christian leadership is something that CPAS whole-heartedly endorses. Such a belief has been foundational to our work with leaders on our Arrow leadership development programme and our Growing Leaders course - and we are delighted that Will has been able to offer a theologically thorough examination of this in his new book. Secondly, because we are delighted to see a further book on Christian leadership coming from an evangelical institution of such historic and world-wide renown as Wycliffe. It is my personal conviction that the need for leadership in the Church of England is as great at this particular time as it has ever been - and we welcome this book as a contribution to nurturing leaders who will enable the church in the UK and Ireland to be more effective in winning men women and children for Christ. Thirdly, because this is a book that will enable, enthuse and encourage local church leaders. Since 1836 CPAS has been working to support leaders in local churches - and in Will we have someone who is not just writing about them - but someone who has lived, served, and led in them for much of his adult life. This is a book written by someone passionate about the local church - and its warmth and commitment towards local churches will secure it a good reception.
John Dunnett,
General Director, CPAS
Reviews
From New Wine - Winter 2011 edition
In Word and Spirit, Will Donaldson argues that an effective Christian leader must consider the Holy Bible and the Holy Spirit to be equal partners in developing our understanding of God and living out a life in Christ. This is a worthwhile read, so long as you have a good understanding of the evangelical and charismatic traditions. I wanted Donaldson to offer a better definition of his terms, as Christians from most traditions would believe that they are already operating in both Word and Spirit. I'd also have liked more on leadership in a secular workplace, but I'd recommend this book for anyone in a leadership role in the Church, not just the clergy.
Reviewed by Lizzle Feltoe, St Barnabas Church, North Finchley
From Reform Magazine - July 2011
Accessible insights linking conservative and charismatic traditions
This book is about the practice of local church ministry. Will Donaldson is an evangelical Anglican priest with experience in a variety of parishes. This is his first book; and in it, he aims to connect the emphases of the conservative tradition, with its concern to obey scripture, and the charismatic's desire to be constantly open to the Holy Spirit. The main portion of the book develops this theme, of dependence upon both scripture and spirit, in seven areas of local church life: preaching; vision; pastoral care; evangelism; worship and prayer; shared leadership; and every-member ministry. The chapter on vision, for example, urges leaders to read scripture together and to listen patiently to the spirit, and so to let biblical insights shed light on local context.
Plenty of the writing would readily cross from one denomination to another; this is not narrowly Anglican material. For example: 'a vision gives a great sense of purpose... Some churches are dying on their feet because they have lost that sense of what they are about... other churches are growing steadily because they have rediscovered God's vision for them as a local congregation, and this becomes a powerful internal dynamic that moves them forward' (p101).
While the author has some substantial points to make, he writes quite lightly. The style is concise and accessible. The layout and structure are clear throughout. Insights are grounded in experience, yet without any undue dependence on anecdote. The tone and approach reminded me of another Anglican, from a generation ago, David Watson - whom indeed the author mentions with high respect. In a diverse fellowship like the United Reformed Church, this book would not be everyone's cup of tea. But many of our people could both enjoy it and gain much from it. The author knows church life as a minister, so he will be most helpful to those who also lead a local congregation - meaning both ministers and elders too.
Written by John Proctor. John is director of New Testament Studies at Westminster College, Cambridge
This book strikes chords with me. I was nurtured at the feet of John Stott in his prime, massively influenced by David Watson and I'm an Alpha course enthusiast. Word and Spirit is where I like to be.
Emmanuel Church in Bicester, Oxfordshire, was started in December 2002 by two Bible study groups meeting in Bicester. God was prompting them to plant a new Church. They were from two well known Oxford Churches one known for its emphasis on the word and the other known for its emphasis on the Spirit. I was appointed to be their minister and I wish I'd had this book with me nine years ago. Donaldson's chapters challenged me and got under my skin to make sure the balance of Word and Spirit was being implemented at Emmanuel.
Using John Stott's vision, where he quotes Martin Luther King's speech in 1963 'I have a dream.... 'Donaldson continued to challenge me, focusing on how to get a whole church behind the vision. There is excellent material here to help do just that.
There are valuable insights into embracing a vision statement easily. Donaldson outlines the stages of listening to God, studying the Bible with leaders, days away with staff and the church council, listening to what the Spirit is saying in our unique location and then finally drafting a statement that articulates what the Lord has been saying. There is so much about mentoring leaders and leaving a church well equipped to run without depending on the minister all the time. There is also much about nurture, going beyond just caring and listening to feeding with the Word and training in discipleship so that God's people grow to become mature in Christ and effective servants of the gospel.
The last chapter called 'Motivating evangelism and mission', should quicken every evangelical heart. Donaldson obviously enjoyed his week at the Church Mission Society HQ browsing through their 31,000 volumes! The Bible's imperative is not hard to find. It is preaching and teaching to unlock the Bible's grand narrative which is "The Mission of God." John 20:31 says "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" . I recommend you buy a copy of this book and start soaking in all the rich material.
The Revd Chris Boyce is Team Vicar at Emmanuel Bicester
From The Good Bookstall - April 2011
Tragically, 'Word' and 'Spirit' have over the years been polarised and thinned our conviction, witness and unity in Christ. Donaldson offers a vital thesis that the biblical Christian will rely on the Spirit's power, and the truly Charismatic believer will be led by that Spirit to rely on God's Word. The author invites us to see 'the wonderful truth that God welds together Word and Spirit in a vital way. Word and Spirit work together to glorify Christ.'
If mildly controversial Donaldson puts forward an argument that is powerful and plain. His assertion - and the whole thrust of the book - is that God's two hands are 'Word and Spirit', that God has and only will work consistently throughout history through both his proclaimed Word and through the Holy Spirit's power. The application and implications section is particularly strong... Solid engaging interplay in vital matters regarding fresh theological, relational and unitary hope for the church in our nation and beyond!
Reviewed by Johnny Douglas
From The Church of Engand Newspaper - 25 March 2011
I wonder what Will's friends thought when he told them that he was leaving his role as beloved vicar at a highly effective charismatic evangelical Anglican church in Ealing to become Director of Christian Leadership at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford? Perhaps, some would have seen it as sleeping with the enemy - a risky choice. But not Will and not Wycliffe Hall - and both the institution and the man have benefitted hugely from the move.
You see Wycliffe Hall isn't monochromatic at all, and Will's blend of biblical faithfulness and Holy Spirit ministry have fitted very nicely. Indeed Will's book, Word and Spirit: the vital partnership in Christian Leadership, is a bold attempt to bring together all that is good in conservative evangelicalism and also the strengths of the charismatic variety and craft something which is refreshing and new. It is aimed squarely at those in Christian leadership at whatever level. And surely Donaldson is onto something here too, we need to give Christian leaders the very best tools for the job.
Will takes up the story. 'I want people to see the wonderful truth that God welds together Word and Spirit in a vital way. Word and Spirit work together to glorify Christ.'
Perhaps this needs a bit of unpacking and forgive me for some crude caricaturing. So your charismatic evangelical might think that conservatives believe that a church service all but begins and ends with the Bible-based sermon. And that the role of the minister is primarily to prepare and deliver the sermon. The conservative might think that charismatics believe that the worship and perhaps the spirit-filled ministry at the end are primary. And so the cliches go, that's why you get pretty dead worship at the conservative churches but faithful preaching and you get all the great worship at the charismatic services but thin preaching that has the smack of self-help and showing off.
Now, the thing with caricatures is that they work because they take a small truth and exaggerate it into a big truth. Will's thesis is that the teaching of the Word and the action of the Holy Spirit cannot be separated.
Says Will: 'If anyone is responsible for serving the Lord, if they are leaders in any form, then they need to know that the greatest resource they have are his Word and his Spirit.'
He has words of comfort for those who may feel a bit suspicious of their brothers and sisters who like to be happy and dare I say clappy during worship.
'Conservative evangelicals will find a great deal in my book that they will identify with. I absolutely say we must put a very high value on preaching the Gospel faithfully, bringing out the original meaning. But this is the point. Doing ministry of the Word means we are open to the Spirit of God too...'
But what would we notice if we went into a church service that really brought together Word and Spirit. Will pauses. 'Well they'll see a huge respect for the Bible, but not just during the sermon. That sermon will have good thoughtful application and it will permeate all aspects of the service. At the start, in the confession and in the blessing. What they'll also notice is that there is a real expectation that this is a place where God is going to work in people's lives through the Spirit. Yes through the sermon, but at all other points too, even in the fellowship afterwards.'
It is an attractive picture. I wonder if we really expect God to be at work in every part of the service. Some people can't wait to get the music out of the way so they can devour the sermon. Others are focussed on worship time. But what if both Word and Spirit were in every aspect of every service... leading us to know that we will experience the presence of God, not just be taught some truth or other.
Will has a word for Charismatic evangelicals. 'I hope that my book helps evangelicals to feel really dutiful and responsible servants of the Word. Yes they want the Spirit at the centre of the service, but can we also really take the time and prayer to explore the Bible text, understand the original meaning and apply it. Preaching is the most important way that God reveals his good news.'
Will's book has the advantage of scratching where the church is itching and heading off at the pass a potential danger.
'While I do want to celebrate the best of conservative and charismatic worlds, I also see a growing divergence. Ironically, this is happening as a result of growth. I see New Wine flourishing, with summer conferences getting bigger and bigger, and likewise the Proclamation Trust thrives: I was at EMA last year and it was absolutely packed to the walls. That's good, but the downside of this "success" is that these "two kinds of Bible People" (as Jim Packer calls them) stop talking to each other, stop needing each other, and grow further and further apart. But if God has forged Word and Spirit together in an eternal partnership, is that growing divergence going to help the cause of Christ? So, in the book, I express that concern, and try and give some pointers towards a closer partnership.'
The urbane Donaldson may ruffle the odd feather with his book. But one thing is for sure. The argument he puts forward is exceptionally powerful. I wonder what he's feeling hopeful about...
'Churches are already starting to bring together the Bible Word and a Spirit-filled heart. We are seeing strong expository preaching alongside a gracious openness and humility before the Spirit's work. And we're seeing real dialogue between conservative and charismatic brothers and sisters.'
The way forward? I think so.
Written by Steve Morris
Will Donaldson's new book offers a fresh and exciting challenge to all sections of the Christian church. Once I had picked it up, I found it extremely difficult to put it down, written as it is in a scholarly, serious yet highly accessible style. This is a book borne out of many years of experience in ministry and as such should speak to all of us in the church, as well as challenging us to reach out to others.
Will's assertion - and the whole thrust of the book - is that God's two hands are 'Word and Spirit'. God has worked consistently throughout history through both his proclaimed Word and through the Holy Spirit's power -that is self-evident. Yet today's church has adopted an 'either/or' approach. Why do we have to choose? We need to be rooted in Scripture, yet reliant on the Spirit's power. The author takes us on a breathtaking sweep through history to show that God has always been most powerfully at work when Word and Spirit go together in ministry - he makes this clear from the teaching of the Old Testament through Jesus and the Apostles to the Reformation and eventually to the ministry of twentieth century spiritual giants such as David Watson and John Stott.
I found it fascinating to see how preaching and teaching the Bible should go hand-in-hand with the Spirit's empowerment - again, Will draws on examples from the past such as CH Spurgeon and from the present such as RT Kendall. This book contains a real cross-section of Christian experience and is all the richer - and more effective - for it. What I read chimed with both my own experience and with what I believe the church in Britain desperately needs to do and to hear.
As he moves towards the end of the book, Will brings home the implications for the church - this is about mobilising every member into ministry, experiencing the Spirit's power while remaining rooted in the Word. He writes about the strategic importance of prayer, drawing on Biblical and historical examples, and about motivation for mission.
This is a title that I will be recommending to anyone - and not just those in full-time ministry. We would all benefit from reading it, for this is no dry narrative but a book that came alive to me as I read it, backed by an engaging style full of personal experience and Biblical and historical evidence. I wholeheartedly commend it - and, as a bookseller, I shall be promoting it wherever possible!
From Mark Clifford, Manager, Sarum Books
Two things appear crystal clear to me. The first is that throughout the journey of God's dealings with humankind, as recorded in the Bible, God consistently worked through both his proclaimed Word and through his demonstrated Spirit's power; the second is that today's church has largely opted for an 'either/or': seeking God's manifest power or studying and proclaiming his Word. Must we decide? Must we divide? Must we chose 'either/or'? Cannot we have 'both-and'?
Will Donaldson boldly and biblically declares 'Both'. In his wonderful new book Word and Spirit, he distils decades of walking close to God in faithful ministry, and his conclusion is that the biblical Christian will rely on the Spirit's power, and the truly Charismatic believer will be led by that Spirit to rely on God's Word. Will demonstrates convincingly from a sustained study of Scripture and Tradition that Irenaeus was correct to claim, 'The two hands of God are Word and Spirit.'
The book's tone is irenic: Will is a reconciler. He wants to bring together two brothers often in dispute, two communities and traditions that have often point-scored, or been suspicious of or separated from one another. What makes this book so unique, and so special, is that it is written by someone who has understood both 'camps', deeply listened to both, truly benefited from both, and truly loves both. Indeed, Will Donaldson is one of those rare Christians who embodies this message. I am thrilled to be able to commend this book and pray that it will equip its readers to imitate the Saviour 'powerful in word and deed' (Luke 24:19).
Simon Ponsonby Pastor of Theology, St Aldates, Oxford Dean of Studies, Oxford Centre of Church Growth
Book details
- ISBN: 9781841018256
- Published: 18 March 2011
- Status:
- Format: Paperback
- Pages: 192
