Missions and Unity

"Flowing from a lifetime of scholarship and activism, this timely book on a classic theme could only be written by Norman Thomas. His panoramic yet thorough treatment of 'missions and unity' will help to restore this subject to the central place it deserves in mission praxis. This useful book belongs on the shelf of everyone who cares about the continued relevance of Jesus' visions for his followers."

--Dana L. Robert

Truman Collins Professor of World Christianity and History of Mission

Boston University School of Theology



"It is often remarked that missionary work and efforts of Christian unity are vitally linked. What Norman Thomas has shown in these pages is how very true this is. I don't know of any other source that treats the topic of missions and unity with comparable depth, clarity, and careful scholarship. This books is a gift to missiology."

--Stephen Bevans, SVD

Louis J. Luzbetak, SVD Professor of Mission and Culture

Catholic Theological Union



"Common participation in mission has consistently been the most powerful solvent of the historic divisions between churches. Yet Christians have frequently disagreed about the appropriate means of mission, and may struggle to agree even about the goals of mission. The twin themes of mission and unity are thus intertwined in complex and ambiguous ways throughout the history of the Church. Norman Thomas's book is a timely and helpful reminder of that ambiguous yet inescapable relationship."

--Brian Stanley

Professor of World Christianity

University of Edinburgh



"This book is quintessentially Thomas. I know of no one more aptly experienced or academically capable of writing this immensely useful historical assessment of the interstices of world missions and the ecumenical movement. This will become a standard reference on the theme."

--Jonathan J. Bonk

Executive Director

Overseas Ministries Study Center



"...the book will be very useful to Protestants who are not knowledgeable about the workings of ecumenism, past and present. It can be used profitably by church study groups, in introductory seminary courses on mission, evangelism, and ecumenism, and by those who are interested in finding out about movements for Christian unity and the role of missions in them."

-- Arun W. Jones, and reviewed in Missiology,