Where have all the people gone? Western Christians have watched helplessly while societies leaders have severed sacred from secular, consigning the sacred to the realm of private and unimportant. Despite dozens of initiatives, overall decline continues – in sharp contrast to much of the world, where Church membership is rising sharply. Where are the leaders to reverse this trend?
Robinson and Smith challenge conventional leadership styles – especially that of the one leader/chief executive – insisting that we need to move from hierarchies to apostolic networks. However, smaller Churches are frequently unable to bring together the key skills and gifts. To nourish leaders who can change the world, the authors recommend the development of “Antioch” Churches to resource other local fellowships. An MA programme based on this idea is already attracting applicants.