Mission and the Changing Church

Authors

• Rauno Pietarinen

Abstract

Fr. Rauno Pietarinen argues that in any missionary activity of the Church, it is possible to distinguish local and international dimension of that activity. Yet these levels shoud affect and permeate each other in order to bring about fertile conditions for missionary change. Pietarinen also argues that change that takes place within Church itself is nonlinear by nature. By comparing the organizational structure of the Church to other organizations, Pietarinen shows how decision-making in the Church must also rely on more non-robust organizational models. Pietarinen also reflects on the missionary situation in Africa and possibilites of re-evangelization of the West.