Participating in Cultural Witness

The creation of a Centre for Cultural Witness at Lambeth Palace, to serve the Church England within an ecumenical partnership that already stretches across Europe, offers opportune time reflect upon place—even meaning—of “culture” in witness church. analysis presented here identifies three senses which term might be applied witness: as from comes, through it and comes. At least theory, strong cultural emphasis (or not) placed on each these dimensions independently. However, while this may prove useful distinction, risks perpetuating assumption churches, Christians, stand outside culture those they address, speaking if beyond it. In second half paper, I work, instead, recognition Christian speaks position shared creaturehood, humanity, and—in myriad ways—a culture. Approached way, mission church can fruitfully seen theologically specific understanding is shared. conclude with suggestion ably resourced broad tradition Platonic “Christian humanism”.