Gesa Elsbeth Thiessen lectures in systematic theology at Milltown Institute of Theology and Philosophy, and at Mater Dei Institute, Dublin, and is an Honorary Fellow of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies of the University of Wales, Lampeter. She has published several books including, among others, Ecumenical Ecclesiology (2009), Theological Aesthetics: A Reader (2004), and Theology and Modern Irish Art (1999).

• AcknowledgmentsIntroductionPART I Apostolicity: Past, Present, Future1. Ad fontes: Apostolicity in the Early Church2. Apostolicity in Select Ecumenical Documents of the Anglican, Lutheran, and Roman Catholic Churches3. Looking Ahead: Possibilities and Challenges in Ecclesiology and Ecumenical DialoguePART II Unity, Diversity, and Ecumenical Praxis4. Denominations: Churches in (Post)modernity -The Lutheran Church (A Case Study)5. Ecumenism in Praxis: Critical Observations on the Week of Prayer for Christian UnityPART III Towards a Radical Church6. A Theology of Liberation: Dorothee Sölle7. A New Left Church? Terry EagletonConclusion: Towards an Apostolic, Ecumenical, Radical and Prophetic ChurchBibliographyIndex

Gesa Thiessen discusses a broad range of current ecumenical issues in a manner that is both theoretically lucid and practically helpful. Her experience as bridge-builder between Lutherans and Roman Catholics as well as between German and English-speaking theological traditions allows her to grapple with many contemporary problems in a creative and forward-looking fashion. Not only academic theologians, but also ecumenically minded laypeople will benefit from Thiessen's sincere and participatory way of engaging challenging topics.