An eminent group of Episcopal scholars and bishops addresses the core issues raised in Bishop Spong's books and teachings on the Virgin birth, resurrection, sexuality, scripture, sin, Jesus, culture, and God. These essays are incisive responses to an articulate and charismatic public figure whose provocative writings have stirred traditional and non-traditional thinkers alike.
While acknowledging that Spong's writing strikes a chord with lay people in the churches and the general public, the book's authors believe a balanced response is needed. They accomplish this by commending the bishop for having the courage of his convictions while challenging his teachings on the cornerstone beliefs of Christian tradition.
"...we can all admire the spirit of this book... a hard-working attempt to respond to the conscious "attack upon Christendom" first launched in 1972 by the Bishop of Newark...These scholars have read the books. They have compared them to one another, underlined them, and digested them."--Paul F. M. Zahl, as printed in Anglican Theological Review
"The contributions of C. FitzSimons Allison and George R. Sumner, Jr. are fine essays and models of Christian debate..."--Robert F. Allen, as printed in The Living Church, October 11, 1998
"Assuming that the book was devoted to polity, I was surprised to discover a theological discussion relating to fundamentalism and basic convictions affirmed by the Bishop of Newark. One would have to study the thirteen books written by Bishop Spong carefully to determine whether or not his critics are correct in their understanding of the author's position. Are they honest? Are they fair? Are they faithful to the text? Is their zeal for destroying a Church leader greater than their commitment to the peace, purity and unity of the Church? This volume is both interesting and thought provoking--but one cannot set it aside without taking considerable time to read carefully the other texts." --Raymond B. Knudsen, Editor, The Counselor
"Articulate, controversial, engaging, and charismatic, Bishop Spong now faces challengers that are themselves knowledgeable and informative. Can a Bishop Be Wrong? is fascinating reading for all Christians, and of vital interest to an Anglican perspective"--James A. Cox, as printed in The Midwest Book Review
"The book will inevitably get less attention than Spong's, and that is a pity. It is a great deal more articulate than Why Christianity Must Change. Spong has read the book, apparently. He told one reporter it fails to refute him."--Paul R. Buckley, Foundations
"This book is written for the educated laity, with a high degree of clarity. The authors carefully explain Bishop Spong's ideas on the Bible, the Virgin Birth, the Resurrection, sexuality, and similar subjects, and then equally carefully explain his errors in logic and scholarship...The result is not only a thorough and final refutation of the bishop's arguments, but a good education in orthodox Christianity itself, as the truth of the Gospel becomes clearer when contrasted with an alternative....Can a Bishop be Wrong? needed to be written, and needs to be read, because the ideas Bishop Spong expresses so clearly harm human souls, even in the much vaguer form preached from many pulpits."--David Mills, writing in Foundations, the magazine of the Episcopal Synod of America. (Mills is Trinity Episcopal School of Ministry's Director of Academic Publishing and Editor of Mission and Ministry)
"Bishop Spong's new book and this scholarly riposte were released about the same time, and it is helpful to read them together. There's no mistaking the firmness of the writers' disagreement with the well-known bishop, but the tone is never histrionic."--Paul R. Buckley, as in the online version of The Dallas Morning News Religion, July 20, 1998
"Because many denominational leaders seem to share Spong's beliefs, it is important that we be able to reply to these beliefs, which contradict the Church's common faith. This book is an invaluable resource in doing that. It is a must-read."--Graham Scott, Theological Digest & Outlook
...includes essays by 10 scholars who challenge the liberal views of Bishop John Shelby Spong....They are distressed over his using his prestige and authority as a consecrated bishop to lead the faithful astray. He is, in the words of one of the authors, "a bishop fighting a holy war to make the church safe for atheism."
