Book Description

In this volume, Jason Radcliff offers an introduction, critical appreciation, and constructive extension of the Orthodox-Reformed Theological Dialogue spearheaded by Thomas F. Torrance in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Focusing upon the Greek Patristic foundations of the Dialogue, as seen particularly in the ""shared rapport"" between Torrance and Archbishop Methodios Fouyas as well as the monumental theological outcome of the Dialogue, ""The Agreed Statement on the Holy Trinity,"" a document that claims to cut behind the issue of the filioque, this book also highlights some of the notable conversations that went on ""behind the scenes"" of the Dialogue as seen in the photos, the unpublished Official Minutes, and correspondence between Torrance and other major figures, namely George Dragas, Methodios Fouyas, and The Patriarch of Constantinople himself, about such topics such as the Athanasian doctrine of the Trinity, Barthian Christocentrism, and John Zizioulas' existentialism. The book includes selections from unpublished minutes and photographs as well as out-of-print documents--such as Torrance's ""Memoranda on Orthodox/Reformed Relations"" and ""Common Reflection"" as well as ""The Agreed Statement on the Holy Trinity."" Radcliff argues that the Dialogue's ecumenical use and creative interpretation of the Trinitarian and Christocentric theology of the Greek Fathers is profoundly relevant for contemporary Trinitarian theology. ""This superb study by Jason Radcliff, which offers a veritable gold mine of information about the central doctrine of the Nicene faith, does a great service for the church and academy explaining how and why Thomas F. Torrance's ecumenical approach remains an underutilized but necessary benchmark for contemporary Trinitarian theology . . . This book is must reading for anyone studying Christology and Trinitarian doctrine today."" --Paul D. Molnar, St. John's University, Queens, New York ""The dialogue between the (then) World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Orthodox Church was one of the ecumenical successes of the late twentieth century. This was not only because they agreed that they would hold to the agenda set by the Nicene-Constantinopolotan Creed (unthinkable in today's era of identity theologies) but because of the depth of friendship between Archbishop Methodios Fouyas and Thomas F. Torrance (my father). The distinguished Greek theologian George Dion Dragas shared that friendship and the volume is most appropriately dedicated to him. It is a perceptive volume, fully alive to the ways good human relationships, loyalty, and deep affection can thaw apparently intractable disagreement."" --Iain R. Torrance, President Emeritus of Princeton Theological Seminary Jason Radcliff (PhD, Edinburgh), author of Thomas F. Torrance and the Church Fathers (Pickwick, 2014), teaches at The Stony Brook School, a college-preparatory boarding school in New York. He is also on the faculty of The George Mercer, Jr. Memorial School of Theology, and serves as an Assistant Editor of Participatio: The Journal of the Thomas F. Torrance Theological Fellowship.