Many Cells - One Body

Small Christian Communities, or 'SCCs', are known by different terms in different regions. In earlier years, they were described as 'grassroots communities' or 'basic Christian communities'. Today, they are called 'house churches' in China, 'home churches' in Australia, 'basic ecclesial communities' in Latin America. Whatever their name, these close-knit groups of Christians function as bearers of good news and agents of hope in a troubled world. The Medellin bishops conference of 1968 praised the SCC as "the cell of the church and the radiating centre for its evangelizing efforts". Many Cells -- One Body reflects a life-time of interaction and correspondence with SCCs. In these extended families of fellowship and service, the author discerns the work of one Spirit in a multiplicity of circumstances. He demonstrates that each cell embodies the classic marks of a church that is one, holy, catholic and apostolic, yet he also shows that their form is remarkably flexible and radically non-hierarchical. He argues that this movement's departure from convention should be regarded not as a threat to traditional leadership but as a gift to the whole people of God.