THE CHURCH IS NOT EXPENDABLE

Although the intention of this brief book would appear to be the demonstration of the proposition given in the title, the impression remains that the title becomes an unproved and unexamined hypothesis upon which the argument of the book depends. Given the claim that the local congregation--this is the church with which the author is concerned in most of the book--is indispensable, it is then possible to examine various aspects of the church's life and work and to reaffirm their importance for the congregations and for the whole culture. Worship, social action, teaching fellowship, furnish the major areas which the author examines for their validity and contribution. In pursuing the book's theme the author cites various new developments and experiments in the life of the church. A more critical appraisal of some of these might have given greater cogency to the argument. The book will re-enforce the confidence of those who would like to affirm the non-expendability of the church today, but will disappoint those who find some of the argument advanced as being the very matter in question about the viability of the church today.