Raphael Vellankanni has made a timely and befitting choice of topic in this book, "The Church of the Poor: A Liberating Ecclesiology for the Tamil Nadu Church from Evangelii Gaudium". In this skilled study, he provides a distinguished and original contribution to contextual theology from the perspective of the Tamil Nadu Church. He lucidly analyses key elements of the Scripture- and tradition-based nature and self-understanding of the Church, a legacy notably exemplified by the Second Vatican Council, and in an ongoing shaping and influencing of contemporary ecclesiology up to Evangelii Gaudium. Vellankanni reveals the extent of Evangelii Gaudium's originality, when confronting 'The Poor' in the Church and in Evangelii Gaudium and Dalit Christians in the Church of Tamil Nadu. He expands on the theological connection he establishes between Dalit Christians, New Evangelization, Ecumenical Unity and Kingdomic Reality. By developing an integral and liberating ecclesiology of 'The Church of the Poor' he highlights a crucial concern of the present Pope from Argentina who strives for the Church as 'people-centred', especially 'the-poor-centred', liberating and pro-life community of God's people.
