Salvation: Individual or Communal?

Something bubbled to the surface the other day while I was reading Conrad's book. We have traditionally thought of salvation as an individual thing that has implications for the community of faith.

But what if salvation is primarly a communal thing that has implications for us as individuals?

I've been really mulling that over in my head the past couple of days. I'm not even sure what it means. Anyone want to weigh in on this one?