Richard Lennan – författare

`a competent historically nuanced exposition of and commentary upon Rahner's many ecclesiological writings ... the merit of Richard Lennan's work is two-fold: firstly, he does us the service of reminding us that the importance of Rahner's theological vision and insights ... secondly and more pointedly ... Lennan makes a significant contribution to the task of rescuing them from the disregard which is all too frequently their current lot.' New Blackfriars `This superb work fills a major gap on the Christian and Catholic ecclesiology shelf....Belongs in every theological collection.' Choice `Lennan has produced a clear, balanced, insightful, and highly readable text.' Christian Century `Through such a labyrinth one needs a guide, and this is the great strength of Lennan's book ... all readers of Rahner and all students of the doctrine of the Church will benefit from this book.' The Tablet In the years since the Second Vatican Council, the Catholic Church has struggled to renew its self-understanding and revise its relationship to the world. This book examines the contribution made to those debates by Karl Rahner (1904-84), one of the foremost Catholic theologians of this century. The book situates Rahner's ecclesiology in the context of his whole theology, focusing in particular on the evolution of his thought over a fifty-year period. Dr Lennan shows how Rahner's approach to the Church was radicalized by his awareness of the rate of social change in the twentieth century. Faithful to the Church's tradition, Rahner was nonetheless convinced of the Church's need to reform its structures and clarify its doctrines in order to respond to a pluralist society. Rahner's vision of the future centred on a church committed both to preservation of its heritage and an openness to change.

As a consequence of numerous social and theological movements over the last few decades, the Roman Catholic Church finds itself in a situation that some have described as a state of 'peril'. This book traces the emergence of that 'peril', develops a systematic ecclesiology that identifies both the mission and resources of the Church in the present-day, and explores possible responses to some of the specific challenges facing the contemporary Church. The book develops an understanding of the Catholic tradition in order to highlight its potential for development.

Tilling the Church is a theology for the pilgrim church. In this book, Richard Lennan shows how the ecclesial community looks toward the fullness of God’s reign but lives within the flux of history, the site of its relationship to the trinitarian God. In this way, God’s grace “tills” the church, constantly refreshing the tradition of faith and prompting the discipleship that embodies the gospel. Tilling the Church explores the possibilities for a more faithful, just, and creative church, one responsive to the movement of grace. Fruitful engagement with grace requires the church’s conversion, the ongoing formation of a community whose words and actions reflect the hope that grace engenders.