Reimagining Discipleship

Robert Cotton's encounter with an African bishop who believed all who lived in his parish (not just congregations and clergy) should be loved and cared for, led to his conviction that religious congregations in this country need to be encouraged to believe that they have something vital to communicate to the health of local communities.

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We are all, to some extent, 'vicars' - vicarious disciples who cannot help but influence those around us. Indeed, it may be beneficial to think of ourselves as public actors for the faith, housed in a theatre of meaning, the Church, and putting on a divine play for which there is an eager audience. The audience may consist of people of other faiths or none: the author encourages us to have confidence in a theology that does not limit salvation to those inside the Church; he believes that we can come close to the presence of God in active engagement with people of goodwill. And, of course, as Christians it behoves us to respond to others' agendas and concerns with generosity and grace.