A Heavy Yoke : Theology, Power and Abuse in the Church

Stone, Selina

SCM Press（2025/08発売）

• 製本 Paperback:紙装版/ペーパーバック版／ページ数 192 p.
• 言語 ENG
• 商品コード 9780334066699
• DDC分類 230

Full Description

What we believe about God becomes the basis for how we think about ourselves, as leaders and individuals, and how by extension, we think about and treat others. But the relationship between doctrine, practice and power is not always straightforward. The Christian call to humility when applied to people of global majority heritage or those living with disabilities, can simply add to their marginalisation. Servant-leader language has often been tarnished by the many leaders who adopt this as a mantra despite abusing their power in practice.

In A Heavy Yoke, Selina Stone lifts the lid on the ways Christian theology can, often unwittingly, uphold existing power structures to the detriment of the flourishing of the whole church. Engaging and timely, the book calls for a more rigorous and critical understanding of Christian theology and how it is shaping Christian leaders, churches and organisations.

Contents

Foreword vii
Introduction 1
1 Power and Theology 15
2 Words from God? Calling, Power and Speech 33
3 The Almighty: Power, Our Work and God's Ways 53
4 On Principalities and Powers 73
5 Sanctifying Suffering: The Cross and Christian Abuse 90
6 The Problem of Vulnerability 109
7 The Power of Discernment 131
Bibliography 154