In Shaping a Church of Ethical Integrity, Paul Avis offers a bold and incisive critique of the current state and future trajectory of the Church of England under its national and (in some cases) diocesan leadership. While demolishing some prevailing assumptions, he reinforces the enduring values and salutary practices that are still present, especially in many parishes and their hard-working clergy and laity. Through a scholarly, yet clear and accessible analysis, Avis brings to bear some key ethical-theological concepts such as institutional authenticity, subsidiarity, solidarity, locality as the source of what makes the Church viable, sacramental communion, and an establishment that is defensible. Engaging, controversial and always theological, this work challenges the Church to recover the path of ethical integrity, transparency and mutuality in its internal and external relations – a challenge and pathway that is relevant to other Churches too.
