Church in an Age of Global Migration

Migration has become a defining feature of the contemporary age. It has brought about significant changes in political, economic, social, and religious landscapes. This volume explores a question that has been little considered to date: how are churches being transformed in the face of global migration? The book features contributors from diverse national, denominational, cultural, professional, and linguistic backgrounds. Their essays reveal the ways in which migrants and the phenomenon of migration expose longstanding gaps and failings within Christian communities. However, the prevalence of migration and migrants simultaneously opens up fresh possibilities for churches to grow, renew, becoming more authentic, dynamic, and diverse. Church in an Age of Global Migration presents a collage of embodied ecclesial practices, understandings, and realities that have emerged and are continuing to develop in the face of global migration. Committed to transnational and ecumenical dialogue, and to integrating practical and theoretical perspectives, this volume is the first to offer an in-depth analysis of the ways in which churches are being changed by migrants.

"The gospels tell us that Jesus had no house of his own, and nowhere to lay his head. He was a permanently displaced person. Central to the gospel is the idea that we are all aliens and strangers–yet to God, friends. This remarkable book is vivid, wise, and imaginative, and makes a highly significant contribution to our understanding of the church today. It is a rich and rewarding blend of practical and contextual theology. It deserves to be widely read and deeply engaged with." - The Very Revd. Professor Martyn Percy, Dean, Christ Church, Oxford, UK

"This welcome anthology makes a valuable contribution to the growing body of publications on a global phenomenon reshaping continents. Covering new ground, the diverse essays reflect complex experiences of migrations, entertaining these particularities as loci for theology, liturgy, and pastoral practices." - Carmen Nanko-Fernández, Professor of Hispanic Theology and Ministry, Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, USA

"This is an impressive re-imagination of the theological self-understanding of church in the context of migration and a critical shift from understanding church as provider of humanitarian services to church as moving Body of Christ–embodied, yet mobile; dynamic, yet prophetic, a living, breathing, and growing community en route toward the fullness of the Reign of God. This volume is a must-have resource for pastors, practitioners, activists, ecclesial leaders, scholars, students, social ethicists, and formers of public policies who wish to be informed of the tasks and opportunities, the challenges and promises of migration as the way of envisaging and envisioning church and society in the context of globalization." - Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator, SJ, Jesuit School of Theology and Institute of Peace Studies and International Relations, Hekima University College, Kenya

Susanna Snyder is Assistant Director, Catherine of Siena Virtual College, and Tutor in Theology at the University of Roehampton, UK. She is also a Fellow of the Oxford Centre for Christianity and Culture, Regent's Park College, Oxford, UK.

Joshua Ralston is Lecturer in Muslim-Christian Relations at the School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh, UK. He has worked with refugee resettlement in the United States for a number of years and has published essays and chapters on ecclesiology and political theology.

Agnes M. Brazal is Professor, Graduate Program Coordinator, and Director of the Office of Research and Publications at St. Vincent School of Theology, Adamson University, Philippines. She is past president of DaKaTeo (Catholic Theological Society of the Philippines) and Former Coordinator of the Ecclesia of Women in Asia.