01: The Gospel Coalition is a new network of conservative evangelical leaders seeking to restore a firmer doctrinal identity to evangelicalism while engaging contemporary issues. The coalition, which is spearheaded by 40 prominent theologians and pastors, recently met to hammer out a confessional statement with a broadly Reformed or Calvinistic orientation.
At the same time, those involved tend to be centrists seeking to make Reformed teachings relevant, such as Tim Keller of the urban New York megachurch Redeemer Presbyterian, “emerging” church leader Mark Driscoll and Presbyterian pastor Phil Ryken. The coalition wants to take a both-and- stance, calling the churches to recover the Reformation teaching of justification by faith while seeking to involve Christians in the arts, urban ministry, and social justice. (Source: Christianity Today, October;http://www.thegospelcoalition.org)
02: A Common Word Between Us and You is one of several statements that have been drawn up by Muslim leaders addressing Christians. The document is unique, however, in its wide representation of 138 Muslim leaders and in its invitation to Christian leaders of the world to engage in interreligious dialogue.
Previous statements by Muslim leaders have either addressed the pope (over his controversial speech in Germany in 2006) or taken issue with extremist Muslims. The statement, which was three years in the making, outlines themes common to Muslims, Christian, and Jews, stating that each religion should be unhampered in its beliefs. Christian interfaith leaders also note the statement’s lack of polemics, citations from the Jewish and Christian scriptures, and meditative nature.
(Source: The Tablet, October 20).