Trends in missional ecclesiology

Cornelius J.P Niemandt

doi:10.4102/hts.v68i1.1198

Abstract

Missional ecclesiology emerged as one of the significant trends in mission studies and ecumenical discussion in the last couple of years. What were these trends in missional ecclesiology? What kind of missional theology formed and fuelled the renewed interest in missional ecclesiology? What impact flowed from the important ecumenical events in 2010 (Edinburgh 2010 World Mission Conference, World Communion of Reformed Churches and Lausanne III)? This article explained the term ‘missional church’ and explored missional theology as participating in the life of the Trinity and thus mission as ‘joining in with the Spirit’. It explained the relationship between ecclesiology and missiology. The trends in missional ecclesiology were tracked by focusing on an incarnational approach to the church; relationality in the community of believers; the role of the kingdom of God; discernment as the first act in mission; imago Dei and creativity; the ecclesia and local community and finally mission and ethics.

Highlights

This research focuses on the emerging contours of a missional ecclesiology that developed since the term ‘missional church’ came into broad use after the publication of the influential Missional Church: A vision for the sending of the church in North America in 1998 (Guder 1998) and the research done by the Gospel in our Culture Network (GOCN)
The research problem can be defined as an investigation into the trends in, and emerging contours of, a new missional ecclesiology since 1998, with a particular focus on the impact of and renewed interest in missional ecclesiology that can be identified in the important ecumenical events of 2010 (Edinburgh 2010 World Mission Conference 2010, World Communion of Reformed Churches and Lausanne III)
The missional church conversation and emerging missional ecclesiology present an alternative way to think about the church and an alternative hermeneutic to read the Bible and context

Summary

Introduction

This research focuses on the emerging contours of a missional ecclesiology that developed since the term ‘missional church’ came into broad use after the publication of the influential Missional Church: A vision for the sending of the church in North America in 1998 (Guder 1998) and the research done by the Gospel in our Culture Network (GOCN). Says Hooker (2008:1, 2), the church is not a building or an institution but a community of witnesses, called into being and equipped by God, and sent into the world to testify and participate in Christ’s work.

Results

Conclusion