by Neil Darragh. Published by Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2021. (NZD 46.97). Reviewed by Susan Smith

Jesus rarely ventured outside of Palestine. He went to Decapolis, a Gentile region on the eastern border of Palestine perhaps twice. Paul, on the other hand, was an itinerant missionary par excellence. Although the Pauline model is usually prioritised in Western Christianity, Darragh offers another model for the baptised believer, aka the “citizen theologian”, who lives in a liberal democratic, pluralistic, secular country. “Citizen theologians”, all the baptised, are called to transformational action for the sake of the realm of God.

Mission is not about church numbers or institutional growth. Mission is about collaboration with other change agents, committed to similar goals. Darragh’s missiology is grounded in a pneumatology that does not depend on the Spirit via her intermediaries — bishops or religious superiors — sending a chosen few to distant places. A local Church is to respond to the universal presence of the Spirit by engaging with others in transformational action. The local Church is the primary agent of mission, and in a secular and pluralistic society, mission requires the collaboration of the citizen theologian with others for the sake of the realm of God. This book is a “must read” for all parish councils in Aotearoa.

Tui Motu Magazine. Issue 269 April 2022: 27