In all parts of the developing world, but particularly in Latin America, base christian communities are giving a new presence and relevance to the Church. The energetic faith which these communities generate and the fundamental questions they raise about what the church is and how it should operate in the modern world pose a great challenge to the European church: are they a model which the church should learn from, or reject? With a wealth of supporting evidence from the Fathers and respected theologians of every era, Boff makes his case of the need for the church to radically rethink its structure if it is to continue the mission for which it exists.