What is it about?
William Porcher DuBose (April 11, 1836-August 18, 1918) is appreciated as one of the most original and creative theologians in the history of the Episcopal Church. He published seven books of theology, and he was a frequent contributor to The Constructive Quarterly, an ecumenical journal. He helped to establish the School of Theology at the University of the South (Sewanee), and served as its second dean. A reunion of his former students in 1911 was the occasion for his presentation of papers on his life story relative to the truths of faith and theology. These papers were subsequently published as Turning Points in My Life. DuBose's theological method related life experience to reflection.
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Why is it important?
This essay provides an overview of DuBose's theological methods and themes, with particular focus on his theology of salvation, the Holy Spirit, and the church. DuBose presents a spiritual theology in which the human need for salvation and the human possibility of salvation in Christ have utmost reality in human experience. For DuBose, the Holy Spirit is often the point of synthesis or junction where the different facets of theology come together in a very dynamic way. DuBose describes the Spirit as active for our salvation in convert with the Word, active in cooperation with Jesus' human obedience and faithfulness in the process of salvation, and active in us as we follow Jesus' way and receive the Spirit in faith, and active as the principle of unity, community, and Jesus' effective presence in the church.
Perspectives
The culmination of DuBose's system of theology is his theology of the church. Our salvation is to be received and lived int he church. Furthermore, his theology of the church culminates in his ecumenical theology. We are to be one in Christ and one with each other in Christ through the unity of the church. Ecumenism is not merely toleration or open-mindedness, but living recognition that we need each other in the unity of the church.
Dr Robert Boak Slocum
University of Kentucky
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This page is a summary of: William Porcher DuBose, March 2016, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.4324/9781315612423-1.
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