Books BY IAN
Coming out Autumn (2024)
The Seeking Heart: A contemplative approach to mission and pioneering.
Drawing on my PhD research thesis, this adapted book seeks to explore a more contemplative and spiritual approach to mission by promoting prayer and dialogue as the medium of encounter with God through the processes of awakening, purgation, illumination and union. Further I explore the idea of becoming Christian as an ongoing process of encounter led by God drawing on contemplative, orthodox and a breadth of missional theology. I illustrate such approach by drawing on the narratives of those who took part in the research who largely self-identified as being ‘Spiritual But Not Religious.
Publisher: SCM Press (UK)
Date of Publication: To be agreed
Link to ordering site: To be confirmed
God Unknown: The Trinity in contemporary mission and spirituality. (2012)
The doctrine of the Trinity has the power to resonate with us deeply. Its focus on unity and community speaks with great prophetic challenge to both the world and the church. In God Unknown, Ian Mobsby shows how the Trinity’s divine unity, open-endedness and refusal to be bound by fixed meanings can illuminate our mission, worship and spirituality today. Weaving together Trinitarian theology, cultural exegesis and new monastic spirituality, he issues a timely call to the church to become a more authentic, effective expression of God’s love in an individualist, consumerist culture.
Publisher: Canterbury Press
Date of Publication: 30th April 2012
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Emerging and Fresh Expressions of Church: How are they authentically Church and Anglican (2008)
This Book draws on recent research to explore the theology, sociology and spirituality behind some Emerging & Fresh Expressions of Church in the UK and US. It looks at changes in society in our postmodern high tech and consumptive culture. It explores the development of new forms of mysticism as spiritual tourism as a form of spirituality in our post-religion culture. This book is a must for all those who work or who are interested in the interface between spirituality and culture.
Publisher: Moot Community Publishing
Date of Publication: 18th September 2008
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collaborations with ian
A New Monastic Handbook: From Vision to Practice. Ian Mobsby & Mark Berry (2014)
Two leading practitioners of new monasticism open up the movement’s spiritual landscape and its distinctive calling and gifts within today’s church. Practical experiences and stories are set alongside reflection and liturgies as a creative resource for all who are already involved in, or are exploring intentional living in community. Focusing on new monasticism's key characteristics of prayer, mission and community, this book explores: • continuity with traditional religious life • innovations, such as its use of social networking technology • potential for spiritual formation • preference for the abandoned places of society • transformative approach to mission • blend of the traditional and experimental in worship • growing international presence.
Publisher: Canterbury Press (UK)
Date of Publication: 24 January 2014
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‘Ancient Faith Future Mission Series’ Doorways to the Sacred: Developing Sacramentality in Fresh Expressions of Church. Ian Mobsby & Phil Potter (eds.)
Fresh Expressions of Church are key aspect of mission strategy for many denominations in the UK and beyond. Here, a stellar line-up of writers explores the central question of how Fresh Expressions turn from mission projects into authentic forms of church, developing a sacramental life of their own. Chapters include: • Lucy Moore on Messy Church and Holy Communion • Graham Cray on the sacraments for the unchurched • Jonathan Clark on baptism and mission • John Drane on seeing the world as sacramental • Sue Wallace on the sacramentality of sacred space • Reagan Humber (pastor at Nadia-Bolz Weber’s church) on liturgy and evangelism • Adrian Chatfield on healing.
Publisher: Canterbury Press
Date of Publication: 20th July 2017
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‘Ancient Faith Future Mission Series’ Fresh Expressions and the Kingdom of God. Ian Mobsby, Graham Cray, Aaron Kennedy (eds.)
This important book poses a challenging question: what are the aims of mission and are they being achieved through Fresh Expressions? This book argues that mission is equally about social transformation or, in biblical terms, building the kingdom of God, as well as building the church. Theological reflection and stories from front line practitioners in churches in the sacramental traditions (with their heritage of service in poor communities) combine to create a unique, timely and valuable resource which includes contributions from leading names in the study and practice of mission today.
Publisher: Canterbury Press
Date of Publication: 30th November 2012
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‘Ancient Faith Future Mission Series’ New Monasticism as Fresh Expression of Church. Ian Mobsby, Graham Cray, Aaron Kennedy (eds.)
The combination of Fresh Expressions and the explosion of interest in monastic spirituality is resulting in the emergence of new monastic communities inspired by historic patterns of religious life, but reframed for the contemporary world. This worldwide movement is seen as a radical expression of ecclesial community and was named in Mission Shaped Church as one of the leading new forms of church that would help people reconnect with Christianity. A new monastic community may be a dispersed group of families and individuals meeting to share meals and worship, it might be a group connected virtually; it might be a youth group exploring monastic spirituality. In this book, leaders of traditional religious communities and emerging 'new monastic' communities tell their stories and reflect on how an ancient expression of being church is inspiring and shaping a very new one.
Publisher: Canterbury Press
Date of Publication: 16th August 2011
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‘Ancient Faith Future Mission Series’ UK & EUROPE VERSION: Fresh Expressions in the Sacramental Tradition. Ian Mobsby, Steve Croft, Aaron Kennedy (eds.)
Mission Shaped Church, the groundbreaking report published in 2004 has sold over 20,000 copies and has changed the way mission is done. Fresh Expressions, which sprang into being in its wake, is now an established and growing presence in the church. 350 people are in training for Pioneer Ministry. Fresh Expressions conjures up children's clubs, cafe church and innovative youth work, yet this is not the whole story. Churches from the traditional wings of the church are being equally creative and imaginative, exploring alternative ways of worshipping and being Christian communities. Their focus may be more contemplative than action-packed, but the place of encounter with God needs space and silence. Practitioners from such churches tell their stories and reflect theologically on the initiatives they are exploring. Some of the very best names in the field have contributed to this book which will make a unique and important contribution to the understanding and practice of mission today. This title includes many well-known contributors: Rowan Williams, Brian McLaren, Steven Croft, Stephen Cottrell, Richard Giles, Phyllis Tickle and priest missioners from traditional Anglican parishes and emergent churches in the US.
Publisher: Canterbury Press
Date of Publication: 29th May 2009
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‘Ancient Faith Future Mission Series’ NORTH AMERICA VERSION: Fresh Expressions in the Sacramental Tradition. Ian Mobsby, Steve Croft, Stephanie Spellers (eds.)
The spiritual practices and insights of the Anglican tradition make an extraordinary contribution to mission efforts in our postmodern, de-churched, never-churched, yet spiritually hungry society. In this timely and practical book, pioneers, leaders and theologians from the US and the UK share their stories and offer reflections for building a future-focused, mission-shaped church that is deeply rooted in sacramental traditions. Fresh Expressions conjures up children's clubs, cafe church and innovative youth work, yet this is not the whole story. Churches from the traditional wings of the church are being equally creative and imaginative, exploring alternative ways of worshipping and being Christian communities. Their focus may be more contemplative than action-packed, but the place of encounter with God needs space and silence. Practitioners from such churches tell their stories and reflect theologically on the initiatives they are exploring. Some of the very best names in the field have contributed to this book which will make a unique and important contribution to the understanding and practice of mission today. This title includes many well-known contributors: Rowan Williams, Brian McLaren, Steven Croft, Stephen Cottrell, Richard Giles, Phyllis Tickle and priest missioners from traditional Anglican parishes and emergent churches in the US.
Publisher: Seabury Books, Episcopal Publishing USA.
Date of Publication: 1st January 2010
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ian writTen chapters in other people’s books
Episkope: The Theory and Practice of Trans-local Oversight by Roger Standing and Paul Goodcliff (eds.)
Bishops, Moderators, Apostles, Regional Ministers - the range of titles given to those who exercise some form of translocal oversight of Christian communities in contemporary Britain is wide indeed. Together they represent a spectrum of response to a range of dynamics that include biblical foundations, received church tradition, present felt needs and the demands of the wider cultural context of contemporary life.
In Episkope, Roger Standing and Paul Goodliff, together with experienced church leaders drawn from across the churches, establish the common foundations that inform our conversations about translocal ministry and map present models and experience of ecclesial oversight. Building on these shared insights a variety of themes are explored that might help the selection, training and deployment of translocal ministry be fit for purpose in the changing cultural context that faces twenty-first century Christian communities.
contributions include: Ian Mobsby on oversight in New Monastic communities
Foreword by Bishop Dr Joe Aldred and Rowan Williams.
Publisher: SCM Press
Date of Publication: 30th July 2020
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The Gospel After Christendom: New Voices, New Cultures, New Expressions by Ryan Bolger
Emerging and missional church movements are an increasingly global phenomenon; they exist as holistic communities that defy dualistic Western forms of church. Until now, many of the voices from these movements have gone unheard. This volume assembles some of the most innovative church leaders from around the world to share candid insider stories about how God is transforming their communities in an entirely new era for the church. "Here's proof that the emerging missional conversation is transcending the traditional ecclesial and cultural boundaries that so often limit the church's ability to speak to itself and have an impact on the world. Featuring voices from Latin America, New Zealand, Australia, Europe, and North America, The Gospel after Christendom is a compendium of ideas, warnings, inspirations, and suggestions that will move this important conversation forward."
Ian Mobsby writes on an Eco-New Monasticism drawing on liberation theology.
Publisher: Baker Academic
Date of Publication:1st November 2012
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Discovering the Spirit in the City by Andrew Walker and Aaron Kennedy
Thomas Aquinas is the most widely read and arguably most influential of the medieval philosophers. He is famous for his impressive and coherent synthesis of Greek Philosophy and Christian Theology and his magisterial Summa Theologiae is a hugely important, and enduring, text in the history of philosophy. Yet he is also a very difficult thinker and his ideas present a number of challenges to his readers. Aquinas: A Guide for the Perplexed is a clear and thorough account of Aquinas's thought, his major works and ideas, providing an ideal guide to the important and complex writings of this key thinker. The book introduces all the key concepts and themes in Aquinas's thought and examines the ways in which they have influenced philosophical and theological thought. Geared towards the specific requirements of students who need to reach a sound understanding of Aquinas's ideas, the book serves as a clear and concise introduction to his philosophy and natural theology. This is the ideal companion to the study of this most influential and challenging of thinkers.
Ian Mobsby writes here on the phenomenon of post-secular spirituality in the context of being based in the City of London and hosting the Moot New Monastic Community.
Publisher: Continuum Press
Date of Publication:9th September 2010
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