Every time the church has encountered a crisis, its understanding and performance of the Eucharist has shifted to help it meet that crisis. This book documents those shifts and asks the important question: what crisis is the church facing today, and how must the Eucharist change again to meet the challenge?
Beginning in Part One with a sweeping survey of the history of Eucharistic change, Crisis & Communion shows how this holy meal has evolved in response to cultural and theological challenges. Part Two examines the current crisis of the Christian churches—power—and the theological dimensions inherent in this problem with regards to liturgy. Part Three suggests some ways ahead, based on research by an alternative worship community, the Berkeley-based Festival of the Holy Names. Both entertaining and confrontational, Crisis & Communion is a call to liturgical reform for every church that cares about justice.
