AND GOD SPOKE: The Authority of the Bible for the Church Today, byChristopher Bryan, Cowley Publishers, 2002, 149pp. (Call no. BS480.B75)

The first section of the Episcopal service, is The Proclamation of The Word, followed by The Holy Communion. There is little doubt that more Scripture is read in services of the Anglican Communion than in most Protestant denominations that claim to be "people of the Book." AND GOD SPOKE is by a professor of New Testament at the School of Theology at the University of the South. This Episcopal scholar addresses the importance of Holy Scripture in Christian living and suggests what to do when Christians disagree in interpretation of the Bible, which sometimes even Episcopal bishops do. Bitter debates at a recent council of church leaders prompted the author to ask questions which led to writing this book.

Bryan takes a high view of Scripture but opposes worship of the Bible. He addresses the place of lower criticism and formation of the canon. The last three chapters suggest what we should do with the Bible: listen, study and make decisions in light of it. Members of St. Philip's Bible study groups will find this work helpful. Easy to read, AND GOD SPOKE will also be of interest to others in our parish.