On Christology in Culsalmond and Rayne and Daviot

Abstract

This paper describes a project intended to encourage and enable two rural churches to develop an appropriate Christology for their personal lives and for the on-going life of the congregations. Raising questions about the radical Christology of John Dominic Crossan, the author rejects the Historical Jesus approach as a suitable tool for engaging the congregation, choosing instead to apply narrative criticism techniques to the study of Mark’s Gospel. A major part of the practical outworking of this was a renewed focus on pastoral care which, while it sought to learn from current counselling methodology, was grounded in the values and perspectives of Scripture, particularly those gleaned from the congregations’ investigations in Mark.