Journeying Out

Book excerpt: This book provides a transformational theory of action which supports community ministry. It demonstrates just how much society needs the churches. Triggered by the collapse of the Welfare State and the movement towards 'New Ways of Being Church', local churches have embraced community involvement. Meeting community needs can dominate people's thinking. Ann Morisy makes the case that preoccupation with needs meeting can mask a host of other positive outcomes which favour the Church's wider mission. Providing opportunities for people to express commitment to wider struggles at local and even global levels brings the experience of being without power and the risk of being overwhelmed. Such situations usher in receptiveness to God and openness to the Christian faith. By taking seriously the scope for everyone to discover their distinctive vocation a powerful mission strategy is available that enables people to journey out from the security of suburbia. Furthermore, it builds on churches unique capacity to generate transformational experiences that are so prized in the emerging experience economy. Ann Morisy writes from her extensive experience of social action, neighbourhood renewal and mission. This book brings together insights from economics and biology as well as taking seriously the growing emphasis on social capital. These insights highlight the importance of an oblique approach to mission in today's complex and fragmenting society. And importantly these ideas are presented in a down-to-earth way which makes for practicality as well as originality.