Abstract
Missional ecclesiology in the Afrikaans reformed churches since 1990This article argues that “missional ecclesiology” in the last decades became a new mission paradigm for churches in South Africa, especially after the demise of apartheid. After an overview of the development of a “missio Dei” theology, the article examines texts from various South African churches in which this terminology is used. The article concludes with a section which underlines the importance of missional ecclesiology in the context of the local congregation. Congregations are seen as “missional”, challenged to be present in local communities as a living witness to God’s love. Missional ecclesiology has its theological foundation in the “missio Dei”. In missional ecclesiology, mission is understood as part of the nature of God as well as the nature of the church. Without mission there is no church. Mission is not a project, it is existential. However, there are diverse interpretations of “missio Dei”, “missional ecclesiology” and “mission” itself. As a result, many congregations find it difficult to identify with missional ecclesiology and enter a process of transformation. The historical analysis presented here contributes to a better understanding of the terminology as well as the challenges facing churches in the 21st century.
Highlights
Die Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing het sedert 11 Februarie 1990, nadat Nelson Mandela vrygelaat is, ingrypend verander (Benade & Niemandt 2019:7)
The article concludes with a section which underlines the importance of missional ecclesiology in the context of the local congregation
Missional ecclesiology has its theological foundation in the “missio Dei”
Summary
Die Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing het sedert 11 Februarie 1990, nadat Nelson Mandela vrygelaat is, ingrypend verander (Benade & Niemandt 2019:7). Daar is baie uitdagings waarmee kerke in Suid-Afrika worstel, onder andere die daling van lidmaatgetalle. Tog is die voorlopige aanduidings dat dit daartoe bydra dat kerke en gemeentes met nuwe energie, te midde van baie groot uitdagings, voortgaan met die verkondiging van die evangelie. Missionale ekklesiologie word teologies in die missio Dei begrond. Dit beteken dat sending nie net een van die kerk se projekte is nie. Die vraag word aangespreek hoe die Afrikaanse gereformeerde kerke vanuit ’n histories-teologiese perspektief in die afgelope drie dekades nagedink het oor sending, missio Dei en missionale ekklesiologie. Verder word die vraag ook aangeroer of die kerke ’n wesenlike bydrae gelewer het in die huidige diskoers oor missionale ekklesiologie, en of dit alles eweneens ’n bydrae lewer tot sinvolle vernuwing in die gees van ecclesia semper reformanda
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