Partnering With God - A Collection of Essays on Open and Relational Theology

 

Is it possible for people to collaborate with God? If so, what does that involve? For some, God's sovereignty leaves little room for human participation in the life of God. Open and Relational Theology, on the other hand, suggests that this is not only possible but necessary. Now, what that looks like depends on a lot of factors, including theological vantage points. Open and Relational Theology covers a rather wide group of theological positions, but all assume that God welcomes our participation in the work of God. 

This book, Partnering with God, just released by SacraSage Press and edited by Tim Reddish, Bonnie Rambob, Fran Stedman, and Thomas Jay Oord, reveals this wide diversity of perspectives. The editors have gathered seventy-seven essays, each just a few pages long. One of those essays is mine. It carries the title "Participating in the Divine Energies" (pp. 59-62) and focuses on the implications of the medieval Byzantine theologian Gregory Palamas' concept of divine energies and the concept of theosis.

I will confess that my essay is more of a conversation starter than a definitive statement. The essays serve that purpose, offering thoughts and reflections that can stir the heart and mind to ponder what it might mean to partner with God. The seventy-seven essays are broken into three sections --- Principles (my essay is placed there), Practical, and Personal.  

If you've been wondering what Open and Relational Theology looks like then Partnering with God: Exploring Collaboration in Open and Relational Theology (SacraSage Press, 20201) might be an interesting place to start. You may discover yourself in one or more of these essays. You'll want to see what Curtis Holtzen has in mind with his essay titled "Friends with Benefits"  

Just a thank you to Tim Reddish (Tim invited me to contribute), Bonnie Rambob, Fran Stedman, and of course Thomas Jay Oord, for putting this together.