Inspiring Service: Catholic, Anglican, Methodist and Latter-day Saint Traditions in Dialogue

Synopsis

Inspiring Service records and celebrates a key stage in the conversation and friendship between members of various Christian traditions (Roman Catholic, Methodist, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Anglican) encouraging bold commitment to serve together, and also a substantial contribution to a theological understanding of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in dialogue with other Christian churches.

The theological introduction contains a narrative, background, considerations of possibilities and problems in future theological explorations and current community relations. It also offers an outline agenda and an encouragement of work towards reconciliation between the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other Christian churches and the exploration of future opportunities of serving God and his people together.

This is a model of warm, authentic friendship, a pattern of outward-focused collaboration in service, and a model of critical but warm and committed theological exploration together.

The text will be of interest to anyone involved in ecumenical or interfaith dialogue. Teal demonstrates an exemplary ability to both design and execute dialogue. He is not afraid to broach contested topics, and shows a unique capacity to raise points of theological disagreement with grace and precision. … Without dismissing substantive differences, Teal probes areas of potential connection, even at these contentious sites. As a result, both his own Anglican and the LDS traditions are clarified, to the benefit of both parties. Inspiring Service is an able demonstration of the fruit that comes when Christians give an account for their hope.

Justus Hunter, The Living Church