WelCom May 2022
Author: Neil Darragh
Publisher: Wipf & Stock in the USA
This book seeks to answer the question: What is the church really for? What is its purpose? What is its mission? People become members of a Christian church and remain members of the church for a variety of reasons. For some, it is because it’s part of their family tradition or their culture or their identity. Others have left the church because that’s all it is in fact. For others, membership in the church is a way of becoming closer to God, of maintaining contact with the divine, of becoming holier. Is it the best way to salvation or a way of coming closer to God? In any case, the church is not just for us or the benefits we get out of it. Very few of us would say this is what the church is really for. There is surely something more here, something more generous, life-giving, outgoing, and gracious than what we personally get out of it.
This book is about the church’s outreach beyond itself – its purpose beyond any benefits for those already its members. This book is not about a church looking inwards and worrying about itself, but about a church looking outwards. The local Christian community we belong to is part of that much bigger, much more exhilarating project of the evolving realm of God.
“‘But what is the church for?” asks a very important and challenging question essential for any follower of Christ today…My hope is that this book will be read, prayed with, reflected upon deeply, so that in living the gospel, all will work for the good of one another, our society. our world.’ – Cardinal John Dew, Archbishop of Wellington.
‘This is mission theology at its best…If you are going to read one book on mission, read this one. If you are planning to read several, read this one first.’ – Stephan Bevans, Missiologist, Catholic Theological Union, Chicago.
You can order this book on: amazon.com or it can be purchased in New Zealand for $30 online at: accentpublications.co.nz or by emailing: info@accentpublications.co.nz
Fr Neil Darragh is a priest, theologian and spiritual writer, based in the Catholic Diocese of Auckland (np.darragh@gmail.com).