ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Though most of the materials in this book have been prepared and written for very specific audiences in the Philippines and in the Asian ecumenical "circuit," very little has appeared in print before. The exceptions are 'The Church in a Struggling Society: Some Suggestions from the Protestant Past" which is a combination of two papers which were read at the Third Assembly of the Ecumenical Center for Development in Cebu and the Second Reformation Lectures of the Institute of Religion and Culture in Manila and which were published separately in the NCCP Newsletter and Kalinangan, and "Praxis and Religious Thought: Some Notes Toward A 'Practical' Theological Reflection in the Philippine Setting" which appeared in its original form in the Southeast Asia Journal of Theology. "Protest and Beyond: Reflections on the Philippine Situation Today" is a revised version of a paper on the national situation read at a consultation on Theological Education by Extension sponsored by the Commission on Christian Education of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines in March, 1984. "The Protestant Principle in an Era of Authoritarian Politics" was one of the First Reformation Lectures of the Institute of Religion and Culture in November, 1982. "Church and State Relations: A Theological Perspective in the Light and Recent Ecumenical Thought" is a slightly revised version of a paper read at the Ecumenical Consultation on Development for Northern Luzon which was held in Baguio City, in June, 1983. "Ideology and Political Vision: The Challenge of Ideological Politics to Christian Political Engagement" was originally prepared for the first session of the Study Project on a New Political Vision in Asia of the commission on Theological Concerns of the Christian Conference of Asia which was held in Hong Kong in May, 1983.

Very special thanks are due to Ahn Jaewoong Regional Secretary for the Asia/Pacific Region of the World Student Christian Federation, for the support and encouragement he gave, and the incessant pressure he exerted, for the production of this book. The staff of KADUAMI, the Regional Center for Development in Northern Luzon, especially Christoph Dehn, Nancy Recto and Jean MacLiing, used much time and effort in locating a place for me and my family to stay in Baguio for the writing of the book, and provided ready assistance for all of the many needs we had during our brief sojourn in this still beautiful, although increasingly "spoiled", summer capital of the Philippines. The staff too, of the Institute of Religion and Culture in Baguio especially Marma and Marion Urbano, offered their help freely to make our life in Baguio more pleasurable and relaxing. Ramon and Susanne Teehankee, in whose house we stayed as "transient lodgers" for four weeks were quiet but always caring and very pleasant host;

Finally, and by no means the least, I am grateful to Theresa and Suyin with whom I played — and shared — "hearts" during the writing of the book, with whom still do the same until now and always.

Feliciano V. Carino

Baguio City,

May,1984