From your re-telling of Bretherton’s position, I think that he has misunderstood the Anabaptist perspective. The Anabaptist perspective while one of classical disengagement with worldly powers always practiced hospitality. The most famous story of recent memory is the story of the Amish community’s response to the murder of the school children. As I understand the story, the Amish community “adopted” the family of the murderer and have extended generous hospitality to them. Thousands of similar stories can be retold throughout the almost 500 years of Anabaptist history.

ron, I was summing up the views myself.

Ron, what is distinctive here is Bretherton’s theory of a continuum.

The idea of the continuum seems to primarily to reject the Anabaptist position of disconnection between church and state and also the second option listed of engaging fully in power politics. While there is clearly some nuance in the descriptions it seems that this view fits well with the first option. Or perhaps is a remixing of option 1 and 3 which creates a 4th. It seems very compatible with the first option with a bit of an Anabaptist twist.
You final question of what does it look like and some suggestions makes it sound Anabaptist again. But I assume that the key is that a continuum allows ideologically for more involvement in politics than a classic Anabaptist position. So… How does the rule of hospitality guide the discernment of when and how to be involved politically? And to who is hospitality directed best or most appropriately directed? To the least? Or to contemporaries? Does true hospitality give up power? Or does hospitality create power? How do power issues impact the issue of hospitality?

A story…?. a young indigenous man was killed by a group of four on-indigenous men in an attack that appeared to be racially based and our small town, volatile even at the best of times, tottered on the brink of an abyss. How should Christians respond to what is a political situation?
The grieving mother of this young man issued a courageous, gracious call for peace and prayer only days after his death. She must have felt totally powerlessness at that moment, but used what power she possessed, and lead us all, supported by the local Catholic priest. She could just as easily have talked about injustice or systemic racism, instead she responded to her tragedy out of the Christian story and called on us to do likewise.
In response to her request, quiet prayer meetings were hosted by all of the mainline churches and attended by many who are not believers. One has continued to host monthly vigils to create the space for confession of our corporate sins and our heritage of racism. When the wooden cross that marked the site of his death was burned (accidently as it turns out) response was swift and united. A replacement cross was made and erected in 24 hours by a local company and a full page advertisement condemning all violence and calling for peace was placed in the local paper signed by hundreds of community members, Christian and new agers alike. Nobody had the luxury of being partisan, and our politicians have recognised that party politics is not welcome in the discussion, the only helpful contribution being personal.
It feels more like the Kingdom of God than most other expressions of politics that I have experienced over the years.

Duncan R, you’ve got Bretherton’s ideas. The continuum clearly shows a non Anabaptist approach.

Correction, that should be “four non-indigenous men”

I think Bretherton is right on target. This is the same philosophy guiding missionary journeys- provide for a people’s practical needs adn relational needs (i.e. loving them) and you will be granted an opportunity to administer to their spiritual needs. Even secular industries get the concept – such as the financial advisor who treats his clients out for an evening of relaxation and then is granted the opportunity to make a sales pitch. Of course, the Christian duty is much more than a canned, feel-good approach. But Jesus’ model was to heal the sick first, then teach. A good model to follow, wouldn’t you say?