Giving the Church
The Christian Community Through the Looking Glass of Generosity
Giving the Church
The Christian Community Through the Looking Glass of Generosity
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Publisher: SCM Press
ISBN: 9780334066125
Number of Pages: 288
Published: 30/05/2024
Width: 15.6 cm
Height: 23.4 cm
The nucleus of the church’s vocation is to join the Spirit in giving communion in Christ to others, in the form of new Christian communities, for the benefit of the world. But can the church be a welcome gift?” In Giving the Church leading ecclesiologist Michael Moynagh draws together recent thinking from the worlds of ecclesiology and missiology with significant sociological work on the idea of ‘gift’, to provide a much-needed theological rationale for some of the key missiological and ecclesiological movements in today’s church. Part 1 reworks some of the big themes in ecclesiology from this giving perspective - the nature of the church, the four marks, the visible/hidden church and inclusion/exclusion. Part 2, meanwhile, draws on the extensive literature on gifts to offer an ethical framework for giving the church to others, and uses this framework to provide fresh readings of liberationist, herald and eucharistic models of the church. It concludes by arguing that giving the church away can be a route to making the church a more attractive gift.
"Drawing upon ecumenical expressions of Christian ecclesiology and interacting with fresh expressions in the church, Michael Moynagh proposes churches unleashing the God of the gospel in our communities when generosity becomes a central virtue of the church. Moynagh offers to pastors and professors alike an ecclesiology with its feet on the ground and its heart shaped by a God who loves the world." -- Scot Mcknight
“Giving the Church is a unique contribution to our thinking about the church and God’s mission for our times, based on wide reading, deep reflection, clear and accessible exposition, a steady flow of stimulating insights, and the persuasive authority of its argument.” -- Paul Avis
"Based on wide research in theology and gift theory, and drawing on decades of experience, Moynagh explores the meaning of the church – especially new Christian communities – as forms of gift-exchange. The result is rich, provocative, and deeply significant for a secularised era, which needs to encounter fresh and accessible embodiments of grace." -- John M.G. Barclay
"Michael Moynagh's 'Giving the Church' is a transformative exploration of generosity as a theological compass for the modern church. Through insightful analysis and compelling arguments, Moynagh navigates the path towards new ecclesiastical eras, advocating for the church's self-giving to communities beyond its walls. A compelling call to embrace the transformative power of generosity." -- Sabrina Müller
"Too often, the language of mission and church planting has been burdened by militaristic or business metaphors. As language shapes our world, Michael Moynagh’s effort to rethink new church formation with the language of generosity is most welcome. This book is an inspiring read, inviting us to see church planting first and foremost as the church’s mission 'to give its self'." -- Stefan Paas
