Crossing Thresholds: A Practical Theology of Liminality

An inter-disciplinary study of the phenomenon of liminality and its relevance to theology, worship and mission.

We live in an age of enormous and rapid change, but how do people, organisations, even whole cultures and societies change? And where is God in such transformations? For more than a hundred years, anthropology has taught us that entering a chaotic, awesome and fraught 'threshold' - or liminal space - is fundamental to our renewal as human beings. Yet none of us goes willingly into such places. We need to be 'held' in liminal movement so that it is safe enough to change.

Crossing Thresholds is the first inter-disciplinary theological treatment of the universal phenomenon of liminality. Developing practical wisdom from foundations in the work of Victor Turner, Donald Winnicott and Bruce Reed, the authors explore the place of liminality in the worship, mission and hermeneutics of the Church and reflect on its usefulness to a wide range of Christian practice. For all those who strive to think theologically about the great transitions of life, this comprehensive work offers unique insight into what it is to safely cross the threshold of chaos and embrace the future with courage.

Rev Rosemary Fairhurst is Church and Theological Consultant to the Bromley-by-Bow Church and Centre, Director Sophia Hubs (a network of incubators for startups with faith communities) and was formerly Organisational Analyst at The Grubb Institute. She is Priest at St Martin's-in-the-Fields, London and Director of Mission and Ministry, Ripon College, Cuddesdon.

"Rev Canon Dr. Nigel Rooms is Director of Ministry and Mission, Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham. Associate Priest, Bestwood Park with Rise Park Churches. Nigel has been a priest for over twenty years and a mission partner in Tanzania where he published educational materials for Anglican Church of Tanzania in Kiswahili. Nigel is a member of the International Association of Missions Studies and the British and Irish Association for Practical Theology. They work together as colleagues delivering clergy leadership development conferences."