Slow Wisdom by Ruth Moriarty

'If taken on board, it should see the church meeting becoming more of what it should be: a dynamic, prayerful, joyful space of listening to God as we listen to one another'

Slow Wisdom - Baptist discernment at the Church Meeting
By Ruth Moriarty
Independently published
ISBN: 979-8328816342
Reviewed by Andy Goodliff

Baptists are in the Revd Dr Ruth Moriarty’s debt. Several years ago now she gave herself to research into the mystery that is the Baptist church meeting. This was more than reading what Baptists have said about the church meeting; it was the study of four congregations into how they practised discerning the mind of Christ.

Now she has begun sharing the fruits of that research. The church meeting has been one of the hallmarks of Baptist church life from its earliest beginnings, and yet, we have been slow to reflect upon what is going on.

'Slow wisdom' is the phrase Ruth gives to how Baptists discern. It is a beautiful phrase and says something timely in a world, including the church, that often wants to go fast and has lots of knowledge at its disposal. Discernment takes time and it takes the wisdom of the whole church.

Ruth’s book is a close version of her DProf thesis submitted to the University of Chester, and as such it provides a clear sense of how she went about her research and its fruits, see chapter 2.

For some, chapters 4 and 5 will be the place they want to start, as Ruth unpacks her argument for slow wisdom. Here she provides a detailed description of what she believes makes a good Baptist church meeting. Some of it is perhaps obvious, some of it we might already be doing, but Ruth provides some grounding for why these practices should be part of every church meeting.

Chapters 6 and 7 should not be ignored, and are also vital to the argument she is making. Chapter 6 reflects on how younger voices and those who have been part of other denominations can and should participate.

Chapter 7 points out the sad truth that the church meeting too often has been a white space and therefore has not properly heard, or has been derogatory of, the voices of black people. Both these chapters should give pause to how we go about putting slow wisdom into practice.

What makes Slow Wisdom a wonderful read are the voices Ruth includes of those she interviewed and listened to. We are introduced to a variety of local Baptist people. Her research is built on the voices of those who are members of Baptist churches, their stories, experiences and reflections, and it is these that form the foundation of Ruth’s reflections and dialogue with theologians and theorists.

We are in Ruth’s debt. The book should be required reading by the Baptist Union’s Ministries Team, to be read and digested by those training for ministry, and for those of us already in ministry. In other words, it’s a book for everyone.

If taken on board, it should see the church meeting becoming more of what it should be: a dynamic, prayerful, joyful space of listening to God as we listen to one another. Its impact should be found in the local church, in our associations, and Baptist Union councils and assemblies.

I know Ruth is planning to make her research available in other forms for a wide audience, but if you can, get the book, read it with other ministers, read it with your church. It’s only £10!

Andy Goodliff is minister of Belle Vue Baptist Church, Southend-on-Sea. He is deputy director of the Centre for Baptist Studies at Regent’s Park College, where he also teaches Baptist history and theology