Body of Christ in a Market Economy

Rev. Dr. Gawain de Leeuw, OA, is the rector of St. Bartholomew’s Church in White Plains, New York. He is a life professed member of the Order of the Ascension, a dispersed Benedictine community. He serves on the Task Force on the Theology of Money for the Episcopal Church.

• Acknowledgments – Introduction – Reading Scripture – Engaging Economics – Theological Responses – Learning to Desire – How Jesus Saves – The Church and Salvation in a Commercial World – Bibliography – Index.

“In one of the more obscure sayings attributed to Jesus in the gospels, ‘the parable of the dishonest manager,’ Jesus warns his disciples that ‘the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the sons of light’ (Luke 16:8). One possible reading of this parable is that it criticizes the followers of Christ for their lack of sophistication in matters of money, stewardship, and economics, or perhaps, for failing to love God even as much as the wicked love riches.“If it is read carefully, perhaps this new book by the Rev. Gawain de Leeuw could help remedy this weakness.“Ambitious and expansive, de Leeuw takes aim at faith that remains uninformed by economic theory. But he offers much more than a dry discussion of ‘economics.’ This is a call for the Body of Christ to rethink money, markets, community and work from the ground up. And it is a practical guide to changing the way we engage with the world.”Matthew Baldwin, Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Mars Hill College