Our well-ordered, taken for granted worlds are not working. The narratives of liberalism and neoliberal economics are increasingly unable to address this malaise. In their waning legitimacy new questions are emerging: What takes their place? and by extension, ‘What’s next?’

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The issue builds on the overarching question of ‘What’s Next?’  It proposes that the proper response is a re-engagement with the West’s Christian narrative, a re-rooting of life in the Christian story. The issue then builds on this overarching proposal through an examination of what this re-rooting might mean. It engages three themes...

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Roy Searle and Ruth Padilla DeBorst spoke together about leadership and responded to questions and contributions from many of the webinar participants. They described postures of vulnerability, openess to God and to community. There is a need to include the other, those who are different to ourselves and to find compassion for those who need liberation from unhelpful models of leadership.

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We have become aware that we are a society shaped by individualism, relating in ways that are often transactional rather than relational. We quickly default to a language of outcomes in our dealings with one another. These ways of relating could be characterized as contract. Webinar panellists wonder, in this context, with this limitation and loss, how may we recover a sense of the sanctity of human life and relationships.

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We are social beings and the paradox of the moment is that our isolation is driving a natural desire for connection with others. We need to strengthen our civic immune system and the church can offer a diagnosis.  And the Church can offer a practice: Catholic Social Thought, with its concept of the common good...

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The context of this conversation, as Alan Roxburgh explains, is the Covid-19 crisis and the question from church leaders and others: ‘What’s next?’ In the light of this Alan and Martin Robinson reflect on the metaphors leaders have used to understand mission and the place of the church...

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There is a political dimension to the local church’s vocation. Not in a party political or campaigning sense, but rather in its call to transform civil society. Though we aim to be servants, churches are more than service providers and - though we strive to be faithful witnesses - we are called to be more than evangelists. Our belief is that God is leading us to deepen our relationship with people, and with place.

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We are convinced that there is another story. There is within the memory of the church a story of being a people who do not need to be shaped by social contract, consumerism and individualism. Our vocation is rooted in the reality of Christ living in us and, therefore, by God's relationship with us. We know that apart from him we can do nothing. Covenant, not contract...

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Pope Francis said last year that we are not living through an era of change but a change of era. We are entering a new chapter in the history of the world, and of the church, so we offer you this letter which is a call for the church to renew its vocation as a sign and foretaste of the kingdom of God. Read, listen and consider this call. Share with us...

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Paul shares his reflections on this question of a missionary engagement with Western culture and the role of the church from the perspective of his engagements with Acts 16. What was being made clear to Paul in this encounter with the text were the unexpected ways the Spirit continually prevents and invites...

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