God the Spirit
Welker's theology of the Holy Spirit may prove intimidating to some general readers, but--given a widespread interest in spirituality that cuts across ideological, political, and theological lines--it should be made available to readers willing to take it on. Welker justifies the book theologically and practically as giving the Holy Spirit precedence over law and gospel. That will please the charismatic communities of which he is constantly aware, and it may hold their interest through his detailed depiction of the Holy Spirit as "public person." That depiction seems intended to bridge a gap between mainline, academic theologies of the Spirit and popular movements that have most often erupted on the edges of theology and the academy. To the extent that it provides a common language and begins to focus both participants and observers of the various charismatic movements on the kinds of "publics" they are constructing, it will provide an invaluable service. Its largest audience will be among mainline and theologically inclined Protestantobserversof charismatic movements, but its thorough exploration of biblical material will prove illuminating to academically inclined participants as well.Steve Schroeder