Church for the World

A Church for the World: The Church’s Role in Fostering Democracy and Sustainable Development challenges theologians and lay readers alike to think about the role of the church vis-à-vis its responsibility to the world. How may the church contribute to democracy and foster sustainable development? Contributors from mostly non-Western theological communities offer historical, developmental, ecclesiastical, and theological perspectives on the church-world relationship, challenging misconceptions and practices that prevent the church from living up to its transformational vocation as salt and light in the world (Matt. 5:13-16). The driving force behind the questions and perspectives discussed here is Gustavo Gutierrez’s axiom in A Theology of Liberation: A theology which fails to address the most urgent needs of ordinary people is not worthy of the word "theology." Proceeding from this insight, this book creates awareness about the relationship between religion, democracy, and development, and aims to strengthen the self-understanding of the church with regard to its responsibilities in the world.

Samuel Yonas Deressa is assistant professor of theology and Global South at Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota. Josh de Keijzer (PhD Systematic Theology, Luther Seminary) is the author of Bonhoeffer's Theology of the Cross: The Influence of Luther in "Act and Being".

Foreword: Toward a Postcolonial "Inescapable Network of Mutuality" Gary M. Simpson Introduction: A Church for the World: The Church's Role in Fostering Democracy and Sustainable Development Samuel Yonas Deressa and Josh de Keijzer Part One: Historical Perspectives 1. Church and Development in Post-Colonial Africa: Revisiting African Development Plan and the Theology of Reconstruction through the Lens of the Capabilities Approach Samuel Yonas Deressa 2. Church and Development in Ethiopia: The Contribution of Gudina Tuma's Holistic Theology Samuel Yonas Deressa 3. On Human Flourishing: A Call for Public Responsibility in Contemporary Ethiopian Christianity Andrew D. DeCort Part Two: Developmental Perspectives 4. Church and Human Development: An Asian Perspective Lim Teck Peng 5 The Critical Role of the Church in the Development of Asia Delfo Canceran, OP Part Three: Ecclesiastical Perspectives 6. Church and Development in Nigerian Context: Theological Foundation, Practical Appraisal