A new book dealing with the historical and theological relationship between evangelicals and Anabaptists in the North American context is now available. The lead editor was Dr. Jared Burkholder of the Grace College history faculty. It includes a foreword by George Marsden and chapters from 14 scholars from various institutions.
Entitled The Activist Impulse: Essays on the Intersection of Evangelicalism and Anabaptism , the 444-page paperback is published by Pickwick Publications and retails for $49.
Publicity says, “Anabaptists have often felt suspicious of American evangelicalism, and in turn evangelicals have found various reasons to dismiss the Anabaptist witness. Yet at various points in the past as well as the present, evangelicals and Anabaptists have found ample reason for conversation and much to appreciate about each other.
“The Activist Impulse represents the first book-length examination of the complex relationship between evangelicalism and Anabaptism in the past thirty years. It brings established experts and new voices together in an effort to explore the historical and theological intersection of these two rich traditions. Each of the essays provides fresh insight on at least one characteristic that both evangelicals and Anabaptists share—an impulse to engage society through the pursuit of active Christian witness.”
Burkholder, who is also collaborating with Dr. Mark Norris of the Grace faculty on a book to appear in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of Grace Theological Seminary, is part of Winona Lake (IN) Grace Brethren Church. Next Sunday, April 22, at 6 p.m., he will be speaking at the Winona Lake church’s Sunday Night Praise service on “Living Out Anabaptist Principles in Modern American Society.”
