“Community as church, church as community”

Abstract

Based on my book of the same title, the article argues that community is one of the most ancient and accurate ways of defining church. The study is of the decline and shrinkage of the “local church” of the parish, with reflections on the drift from organized religion and with a range of examples of congregations which have resurrected themselves. This renewal has involved reinvention of mission, replanting the the community, repurposing buildings and property, among other activities. Given the Paschal mystery of death and resurrection, these congregations along with several important writers’ voices, point paths forward for communities of faith.