Lesslie Newbigin

Lesslie Newbigin (1909-1998) was an internationally esteemed British missionary, pastor, apologist, theologian, and ecumenical statesman. His long career included serving as a village evangelist in India, pastor in the United Reformed Church (UK), bishop of the Church of South India, general secretary of the International Missionary Council, and associate general secretary of the World Council of Churches. His highly regarded books have included Foolishness to the Greeks: The Gospel and Western Culture, The Gospel in a Pluralist Society, The Open Secret, and Proper Confidence (all Eerdmans). This reader concentrates for the most part on his later writings, demonstrating his missionary engagement with Western culture following his return to from India to the UK in 1974. Some of his earlier work is also included so as to show the ongoing significance of certain themes in his thought.