Re-membering the Body: The Lord's Supper and Ecclesial Unity in the Free Church Traditions: 2 (Free Church Catholic Tradition)

For centuries Baptists have regarded the Eucharist or Lords Supper as merely symbolic rather than as sacramental. Historically speaking Baptists have also participated in the practice of the Supper less frequently than other Christian groups all the while lodging complaints about a lack of ecclesial unity. In response to these trends this book argues for a sacramental understanding of the Eucharist and focuses on the way in which the Eucharist conveys grace by drawing the church together as the body of Christ. It focuses especially on the theology of James Wm. McClendon Jr. who was Baptist but nonetheless illustrated that through the Eucharist God re-members the church as the body of Christ. Together with Lutheran theologian Robert Jenson and Catholic theologian Cardinal Henri de Lubac McClendons work has had an enormous impact on contemporary free church discussions about the Supper and ecclesial unity. In a final chapter therefore the study examines a number of contemporary Baptists dubbed the new Baptist sacramentalists. These men and women are influenced by McClendon Jenson and de Lubac and they offer a fresh approach to the ongoing puzzle of the churchs disunity through the Eucharist. Bullards fresh imagining of how free church observances of the Lords Supper are means by which God makes the church visibly one invites his readers to go further on the eucharistic path toward the ecumenical future than the Baptist traditions most creative systematician may have envisioned possible yet in ways fully consistent with the traditions distinctive insights . . . a must-read for anyone who dares dream the fulfillment of Christs prayer for the unity of his church. --Steven R. Harmon Gardner-Webb University School of Divinity This book recounts and appropriates serious theological reflection among a number of Baptist theologians aimed at retrieving a sacramental understanding of their tradition and of the Christian life. Scott Bullards focus on the Eucharist and Christian unity adds to this discussion in a significant way. A book to be welcomed read and applied! --Timothy George Beeson Divinity School of Samford University Scott W. Bullard is vice president and academic dean at Judson College in Marion Alabama.