Since 2013 one project that has always been on my desk is the Edinburgh Companions to Global Christianity. I co-edit this book series with my American colleague Todd Johnson and we have just published the eighth volume in the ten volume series – https://edinburghuniversitypress.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=Edinburgh+Companions+to+Global+Christianity Each volume examines the presence of Christianity in a different part of the world and the new one is about Christianity in Western and Northern Europe.
Todd directs the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell in Boston, which is a leader in the study of the demography of Christianity. The unique feature of our book series is that it combines the state-of-the-art demography with interpretative essays written by scholars who are immersed in their own particular context. Todd leads on the demographic side while I lead on the interpretative side. The two sides, however, need to be speaking to one another so there is constant interaction.
Following the pattern of its predecessor volumes, the new one examines Christianity in every country in western and northern Europe as well as the different ecclesial traditions that are represented and selected themes that are influential across the region. A distinctive feature of the series is that it uses a World Christianity lens to the study of each particular region. It therefore looks at how global dynamics shape the expression of Christianity as well as the distinctive local features that give special character to the faith in each particular context.
In the case of western and northern Europe, Christianity is an old story – with a presence stretching back for 1,000 or 1,500 years. It already has a massive literature. But with many new questions arising today and with the analytical tools of the World Christianity perspective now available, we hope we are making a fresh contribution.
The Church of Sweden has very kindly offered to host an online launch event for the new book at 1200 CET on Tuesday 4 June. Everyone is welcome to attend by registering at Christianity in Western and Northern Europe: Registration
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