The Grass Roots Church: The most creative laymen are presently (in many cases) on the fringes: “Once the laity realizes that it is within their power as trustees, officers, and voting members to work at the grass roots for constructive, ecumenical renewal, once the laity realizes that there is no other force in the Church that can truly do this job, once the laity sees the possibilities for action inherent in the cooperative-ministry approach which we shall outline-once these things occur, the tide of irrelevance may turn, and a truly exciting movement may develop.
Even if there were no unrest within the seminaries, on the campuses, among both the ministry and the laity, even if the outsider’s case against church attendance is discounted, the imperative for Protestant renewal would remain. For in the final analysis the Church must be obedient not to human desires but to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
