he writing of any history is a complex task. Whose stories gettold? What sources are used to construct a particular historicalnarrative? What are the power relationships that contributed towardsthe construction of particular historical narratives instead of others?Why are some narratives given a higher qualitative value than others?In contemporary historical scholarship there is an important focusupon unearthing and telling "people's histories". Such projects arepredicated upon an ideological commitment to "re-read" the events andhistorical sources of historical narratives, and of course to include newperspectives and new sources, to tell a different story or focus on adifferent element in the telling of the story. In church history, and thehistory of Christianity, such approaches are described variously asliberative, de-colonial, contextual, or social histories (among others).The re-telling of history from differing perspectives invites the reader toadopt a different vantage point in her or his understanding of personsand events that constitute the narrative. This has the possibility tounlock new meaning, to ask deeper and more critical questions, and togain a greater appreciation for the complexity of the task of thehistorian. Of course, it can also create space for silenced persons tospeak, and marginalised communities to be seen.Dr. Youjin Chung invites us into such a process as he seeks to "reread"the histories of the Anabaptist Münster traditions through thehermeneutic lens of Korean Minjung Theology. He is uniquely qualifiedto undertake this task given his own theological tradition, his culturalheritage, and his academic training. All of these elements serve toenrich his scholarly contribution in this text.This book poses some important methodological questions forscholars in the field of church history. A primary question is, "To whatextent should Christian history give the ordinary people their voice?" His contention is that it is the responsibility of the academic Churchhistorian to seek to identify, listen to, and present the voices of the"ordinary faithful" in their research.
