Abstract
The research problem concerned is: What criteria should be used when congregations are analysed? Congregations as faith communities are defined differently. Identifying the local congregation as a defined and as an empirical subject plays a major role in answering the research question. The theological points of departure taken are that any measure of a local congregation has to deal with issues such as faithfulness to the gospel and the missional identity and integrity of the congregation as a contextual faith community. The hypothesis is that theologically informed and motivated congregations can and should be analysed in the process of continuing reformation. While the first article described the approach and outcome of empirical research, this article focuses mainly on understanding the church as intermediary in its ministerial role-fulfilment. Ministries are modes by which God is coming to his own and through them to his world. Eventually a case is made for congregational analysis as a test of faithfulness to this understanding of ministry.
Highlights
It is abundantly clear from any literature study that congregational analyses are important for many reasons
The research purpose in this and the previous article is to discern a way of approaching and undertaking a congregational analysis that is both faithful to the identity of the congregation and has scientific integrity
The issue at stake is the fact that the total ministry in whatever form and under whatever name is a way in which God is coming to his congregation and through them to his world
Summary
It is abundantly clear from any literature study that congregational analyses are important for many reasons. The identity of the local church plays a major and determining role in the understanding and process of building up or developing missional congregations. This article is about finding a way to analyse with the purpose to reform any given congregation – for the sake of the glory of God and the fulfilment of his Kingdom plan for church and world.
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