Dans cet article, l'auteur fait apparaître l'impact des forces socio-économiques sur la place des Eglises chrétiennes dans la métropole moderne. Les changements affectent aussi bien la vie ecclésiale interne que les rapports inter-confessionnels. L'extension urbaine et la spécialisation des secteurs sont un défi pour le modèle médiéval qui sous-tend l'organisation de l'Eglise et pour la division en paroisses et en communautés.
Les coûts en capital et en hommes qu'entraîne l'adaptation à cette évolution plongent les Eglises dans une crise à laquelle l'Œcuménisme tente d'apporter un remède. Un champ nouveau de recherches s'ouvre avec ce phénomène.
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