Eucharist and Receptive Ecumenism

'For so many centuries the Eucharist has functioned not as the empowering manifestation of the church's unity but as an effective symbol of division. Kimberly Hope Belcher joins her formidable philosophical and theological knowledge to astute pastoral observation and prayerful wisdom to achieve an analysis of the neuralgic points impeding ecumenical communion. Eschewing the hegemony of metaphysics that has so long dominated Roman Catholic eucharistic theology, Belcher's phenomenological method unfolds what various Christians already share in such eucharistic experiences as givenness and thanksgiving to construct a theology full of promise for those willing to dialogue in a humility true to the liturgical experience of the sacrament.' Bruce T. Morrill, S.J., Vanderbilt University, Tennessee 'In this ecumenically sensitive volume, Kimberly Hope Belcher presents an intriguing argument for shared participation at the altar/table between diverse Christian communities … the tone of the book pulls the reader along and provides a sense of hope and possibility.' Paul Galbreath, Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology 'a remarkable feat in ecumenical theology. In fact, so thorough is her argumentation and so clear is her grasp of Roman Catholic liturgy, patristics, and even the theologies of leading Reformation theologians, to name a few, that this review cannot do justice to her offering ... this is a very powerful work of ecumenical theology that, it is our hope, is read by committed Roman Catholics as well as by anyone interested in seeing ecclesial schisms healed, reflecting in turn the eschatological unity anticipated by the Eucharist. Highly recommended.' Thomas Haviland-Pabst, Journal of Reformed Theology