New Zealand churches can learn from European congregations facing social upheaval, unfamiliar manifestations of interest in religion, the cultural confusions of migration, and even possibilities of partnership into Eastern Europe. Their struggles, joys and failures have something to say quite apart from their or our denominational or theological identity. The World Council of Churches feels acutely the awareness that Europe is a mission field. Gerhard Linn has gathered stories of some 25 churches in Germany, Russia, Wales, Portugal, England, Ireland, the Czech Republic, Norway, France, Sweden, Hungary, Finland, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Poland. It includes an African perspective and a contribution from the Japanese theologian, Kosuke Koyama.
Churches cope with refugees of uncertain legal status and very real human needs.
Inner city congregations face the loss of middle-class worshippers, and the presence of the poor, addicted and transient. People deal with the reality of the mission God sends them into even when it is not really what they wanted. A number of situations refer to Catholics making themselves at home in Protestant churches. The idea that mission is the responsibility of congregations may be a wake up call to Christian responsibility, but it can create difficulties. Whatever the theory, mission gets left to the few and it is difficult to sustain the excitement of the many.