Abstract
The UPCSA have established the development of missional congregations as the overarching goal of the denomination. The UPCSA is a reformed church and as such attaches great importance to theology, especially that which originates in the character and nature of God. It is therefore suggested that a contextual practical theology based upon the perfection of the grace of God may enable missional congregations to be developed, as they rediscover their identity in that grace. This then will be the basis for building congregations that are truly missional at heart and not just superficially so. The study will be contextualized to the South African scene and applied to local congregations in order to try to help them rediscover their true identify in Christ, and to provide a basis for understanding “missional” and thus what transformation may entail.
Highlights
As a result of one of the decisions of the General Assembly, the decisionmaking body of the UPCSA (Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa), the General Secretary recently sent out an official letter stating that, “After a process of wide consultation with Presbyteries, congregations, Church Associations.... the 2012 General Assembly... the overarching priority of the UPCSA is the supporting and development of missional congregations” (Pillay 2014:1, 4).Tucker STJ 2016, Vol 2, No 2, 467–494The central hypothesis of this article is that for this “overarching priority” to be in any way achieved, UPCSA local congregations must rediscover their identity in Christ, in the grace of God, since mission is an ontological attribute of the church
It is suggested that a contextual practical theology based upon the perfection of the grace of God may enable missional congregations to be developed, as they rediscover their identity in that grace
The study will be contextualized to the South African scene and applied to local congregations in order to try to help them rediscover their true identify in Christ, and to provide a basis for understanding “missional” and what transformation may entail
Summary
As a result of one of the decisions of the General Assembly, the decisionmaking body of the UPCSA (Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa), the General Secretary recently sent out an official letter stating that, “After a process of wide consultation with Presbyteries, congregations, Church Associations.... the 2012 General Assembly (decided that)... the overarching priority of the UPCSA is the supporting and development of missional congregations” (Pillay 2014:1, 4). As a result of one of the decisions of the General Assembly, the decisionmaking body of the UPCSA (Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa), the General Secretary recently sent out an official letter stating that, “After a process of wide consultation with Presbyteries, congregations, Church Associations.... The central hypothesis of this article is that for this “overarching priority” to be in any way achieved, UPCSA local congregations must rediscover their identity in Christ, in the grace of God, since mission is an ontological attribute of the church. I would suggest that it is only as congregations rediscover their identity in Christ through integrating an existential, heart-experience of God founded on a theology of grace, within a contextual, missional framework, and will truly missional congregations be formed. I consider how experiencing such grace, as a total dependence upon God, flowing through worship, relational discipleship, corporate missional prayer, and Trinitarian experience may lead a congregation to rediscovering this true missional identity
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