Includes bibliographical references and index

Contents:

Pt. 1 The new shape of the world: Changing prospects for Western Christianity-- Historical prelude-- The second liberation-- Salvation from the East-- Is the church the answer-- The church in figures-- The third church in three continents

Pt. 2 New light on old problems: Missions before the people's tribunal-- Fucntions in the church: structure and spontaneity-- The greater church: Ecumene-- A burning issue: the priestly ministry-- Untapped potential, the laity-- The council's discovery, the local church-- Faith, magic and myth-- Family life-- The show-piece, our schools-- The permanent witness of charity-- The response to the crowd, the mass media-- City and countryside, problems of urbanization-- Stone and spirit, the problem of buildings-- Money and the spirit, financial problems in the local church-- From hegemony to partnership, services between churches-- What now, the church of the future