Introduction and dedication: Engaging the spirit

For too long the Holy Spirit has tended to be either disregarded or the object of fanatical exclamation in the life of the Church, especially in western Christianity. However, in recent years there has been a renewal of interest in engaging the Spirit's presence and understanding the Spirit's activity. This calls for a discerning evaluation and exploration of pneumatology, the theology of the Spirit, so that we may grow in both experience and understanding of the Spirit. The essays in this collection give attention to many ways of the Spirit's life and activity-for salvation and healing, for making Christ present in our lives and in the Church, for empowering our prayers and liturgies, for our inspiration and gifting, for transformation of the way we live, for the redemption of the world and the ultimate coming of God's kingdom, for the unity of our relationships with each other and God. A variety of disciplines and perspectives are represented in this collection, but it is the one Spirit whom we seek to discern and describe. As we recognize the Spirit's activity in our traditions and doctrines, our prayers and liturgies, and in all aspects of the life we live, we may be better attuned to the leading of the Spirit into the future of faith and our life in God. I hope that purpose will be served by the writings presented here.

This collection is dedicated to Charles Price (October 4, 1920October 13, 1999), who died while this project was underway. After I invited him to contribute to this collection of writings on the Holy Spirit, he wrote to express interest and said "you've got a fascinating job ahead of you." He mentioned an essay of his on filioque as a possible starting point, among other ideas. With the help of Philip A. Smith, retired Bishop of New Hampshire, and Reginald H. Fuller, a colleague of Price's at Virginia Theological Seminary, his essay on filioque was located among his papers after his death. Many thanks are due to Reginald Fuller who assisted me in editing Charles Price's manuscript for publication.

I want to offer special thanks to James E. Griffiss and Jacqueline B. Winter, Editor and Managing Editor of the Anglican Theological Review, who have encouraged and supported this project and seen it through to completion. I also want to thank Susan E. Laws, Assistant Editor of the Anglican Theological Review, for her patient and careful work in preparing this issue for publication.

ROBERT BOAK SLOCUM GUEST EDITOR, ENGAGING THE SPIRIT

Copyright Anglican Theological Review, Inc. Summer 2001
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