Missional Ecclesiology Research Articles

Ontstaan en groei van ’n seminarium aan die Fakulteit Teologie Stellenbosch en ander ontwikkelinge in die teologiese opleiding van die Ned Geref Kerk in die Sinode van Wes-Kaapland.

The article focuses on the developments of theological training in die Western Cape Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) in the last decade. In this era a Seminary was founded to facilitate ministerial formation for the DRC; Uniting Reformed Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of South Africa (ELCSA). The article unpacks the historical, demographic, and especially pedagogical complexities of theological education that aims to build missional leadership capacities. The theology and missional ecclesiology, rhetorical pedagogy and capacity theories are some of the building blocks that the synod utilise to build a new era for theological education.

Can a Missional Ecclesiology Be Sacramental?

Abstract ‘Missional’ accounts of ecclesiology, developed in the light of the theology of missio Dei since the 1950s, include some that carry a sacramental emphasis, treating the dominical sacraments as primary for the church’s being and also recognized continuity in the ordering of ministry as integral to this sacramental identity. Nonetheless, continuing tensions are evident in the literature on missional ecclesiology and in controversies around church policy and practice. One factor here is an underlying contrast between an approach that locates the church’s participation in the missio Dei in its action towards the world and another that puts the weight instead on its sustaining a distinctive form of being-in-relationship. Treating the relation between gospel, communication and communion as the critical theological framework for articulating the church’s participation in the missio Dei, the article proposes that this can support an ecclesiology that, constructively addressing this contrast, is both thoroughly missional and deeply sacramental.

Inclusivity in youth ministry praxis and the challenge of mainline church attrition

Despite a century of professional development in youth ministry, the American church continues to face generational attrition. This article explores this paradox, employing practical theology to scrutinise the historical praxis and philosophies shaping 20th-century youth ministry. I have taken Nel’s work on inclusive missional ecclesiology as my basic point of departure, analysing four interconnected ‘texts’: Ecclesiological perspective, a historical review of youth ministry evolution, adolescents’ developmental locus within congregations, and a qualitative study featuring interviews with members from seven American churches involved in youth ministry. The investigation highlights the necessity for a paradigm shift in youth ministry from an exclusive programme to a more inclusive missional approach. It urges recognising adolescents as equals in congregational life, fostering an environment that not only retains but also nurtures them as indispensable community members. By adhering to this reformed vision, the church can address the persistent crisis of generational attrition effectively, encouraging the collaborative growth of the American church with the active participation of its adolescent members. It suggests a path forward that sees youth not as future church, but active contributors to the contemporary church ecosystem.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This research guides churches in considering the theological, sociological, and developmental implications of adolescent inclusion through the lens of missional ecclesiology, suggesting adolescent inclusion is critical to contextual missional praxis.

Missionizing Church Governance: Transfiguring Pentecostalism in Zimbabwe

Pentecostalism has experienced massive growth and evolution, both within Africa and beyond, as is evident through the emergence of dynamic neo-Pentecostal movements, including independent, prophetic, and charismatic churches. However, all its establishments have been primarily characterized by problematic governance. While neo-Pentecostal founders and leaders often asserted that they were breaking away from regressive bureaucracy and supposedly “cold” spiritual practices to embrace a more dynamic approach that advances the missio Dei and missio ecclesiae through expressive and demonstrative ministries, they paradoxically ended up becoming similarly, if not more, regressive. Rather than being focused on serving others (being other-centred), they became self-centred in their actions and priorities. Drawing on missional ecclesiology, extensive engagement with relevant literature, and in-depth phenomenological observation, this paper undertook a qualitative examination of their polities. It interpretively and descriptively assessed and explored the fact that all ecclesial governments exhibit both strengths and weaknesses. In light of this analysis, the paper argues and proposes that churches should integrate their predominant governmental systems with inclusive and empowering principles from other polities. By doing so, they can transform their administrative structures and enhance their missionality.

Mongolian Migrants in a Korean Missional Church:

Ever since Lesslie Newbigin’s missional ecclesiology was introduced to South Korean churches in 2000, Korean scholars and pastors have been reaching beyond church growth theory to explore alternative and practical models. Missional ecclesiology led them to refine their ecclesiology and to restore the essence of the Korean church. This paper examines Nasom Community for Mongolian Migrants as a model of missional church in Korea. This study first describes the situation of Mongolian migrants in Korea. Secondly, the missionary vision and missionary strategies of Nasom Community, and how they are implemented in practice, are explored. Finally, the mission of Nasom Community is reviewed. This case shows the missionary potential of the Korean church for Asian mission.

Developing Pentecostal church planting pedagogy that responds to social need and ecological crisis

ABSTRACT Assemblies of God (AOGGB) have consistently sought to respond to a fallen humanity which left to itself faces the fire of eschatological demise. AOG has been in the process of helping its churches to recapture their vision for church planting in order to help non-Christian peoples discover a Christian faith. A theology of the inbreaking of a new heaven and a new earth, as the goal of the church’s mission, is central to a missional ecclesiology based on the Missio Dei. AOG has rebranded its college as, ‘Missio Dei Leadership and Theological College’. It is seeking to equip leaders and churches for church planting and discipleship formation. This article makes a case for the development of church planting education programmes that can equip believers to bring hope to a world in need of God’s coming new creation. The body of Christ needs to represent the coming new creation by the way it seeks to participate in the Spirit of Christ’s healing presence in the midst of a fallen and compromised cosmos.

교회성장학과 선교적 교회론에 기초한 통섭적 목회 패러다임 연구

이 논문의 목적은 기독공동체가 본질적 목회를 추구하면서 건강한 성장을 이루는 성경적 목회 패러다임을 도출하는 것이다. 이에 이 연구는 교회 운동의 두 축인 교회성장학(church growth)과 선교적 교회론(missional ecclesiology)을 살핀다. 연구의 진행은 두 이론을 대표할 만한 학자들의 견해를 살핀 다음 다시 두 이론의 공통점과 합일점을 이해하여 상호보완적으로 결합한다. 이는 초기 교회성장학의 선교 정신을 재이해하면서 선교적 교회론과의 협력을 통해 본질적 교회성장을 추구하기 위해서다. 또한, 교회성장과 선교(또는 통전적 선교)의 관계를 동일선상에서 해석하는 ‘통전사적 궤도’(holistichistorical Orbit)의 관점 때문이다. 다시 말해, 하나님의 선교는 구속 사적(redemptive-historical)이고 약속사적(promise-historical) 인 선교의 양방향을 모두 아우르기 때문에 궁극적으로 교회성장과 선교는 우선성의 논의주제가 아니라 ‘하나님 나라’(Kingdom of God) 를 위한 절대적이고 유기적인 동역 관계라는 의미다. 이런 관점에서 이 논문은 두 이론의 ‘통섭’을 중시하고 이로 인한 교회성장을 ‘통섭적 교회성장’(church growth of consilience)이라고 칭한다. 이런 측면 에서 이 연구는 중도주의적이고 연결주의적이며, 모이고 흩어지는 교회론적 균형을 통해 ‘참된 교회의 성장’을 추구한다.

Evangelism as an invitation to missional discipleship in the kingdom of God

Evangelism, for various reasons, is once again back on the agenda of the church and theology. As a result of negative experiences and practices of evangelism in the past, it is now necessary to rediscover evangelism in a post-Christendom context to enable the theological recovery of evangelism. This new understanding of evangelism can then contribute to the recovery of authentic practices in spreading the good news. To achieve this, evangelism must be rediscovered as essential to mission (participation in the missio Dei). Further to this, evangelism is rediscovered as an invitation to missional discipleship in the coming of the kingdom of God (missional discipleship as participation in the coming of the kingdom). This research was based on the starting point that evangelism takes place through an integrated missional congregation as the evangelist. This implies that evangelism is not an additional extra practice by a few members but an integral part of congregational ministry. Evangelism is then understood and integrated holistically as martyria by the entire faith community. The gospel of the kingdom is then embodied in their faithful presence (being), loving service (deeds) and words of hope at appropriate times (speaking). This holistic approach will free evangelism from reductionisms and dichotomies that have added to the fact that evangelism has fallen out of favour. These practices of evangelism are determined by the theology (content) and serviceable style of Jesus and contextually discerned in faith as participating in God’s mission. The empirical research was based on 49 questionnaires received from 43 Dutch Reformed (DR) congregations from the Northern Synods and 6 other churches. The qualitative research comprised structured interviews with 10 pastors from participating DR congregations. Simple random sampling was used to select the participants of the study.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This research was conducted from the perspectives of practical theology and missiology. However, it also leaned into systematic theology (dogmatics) about missional ecclesiology and the identity of the church. The understanding of the integrated missional congregation (faith community) made use of systems theory, which is an interdisciplinary approach. The ethics of the practices of evangelism have points of contact with ethics.

한국선교신학회와 선교적 교회론

The Korean Missionary Society is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Korean missiologists have published 76 papers on missional ecclesiology in Theology of Mission, the official journal of the Korean Society of Mission Studies. This shows that missional ecclesiology has been one of the major research themes of the Korean Society of Mission Studies. Korean Society of Mission Studies introduced a global discourse on missional ecclesiology to the Korean church and had a lasting impact on the transformation of the Korean church to the missional church. Therefore, the researcher intends to summarize, analyze, and evaluate the papers related to missional ecclesiology published in Theology of Mission on the occasion of the 30th anniversary. The papers on missional ecclesiology published in Theology of Mission were organized by year, and each paper was briefly summarized, and then the characteristics of papers were comprehensively analyzed and evaluated.

삼위일체 하나님 관점으로 본 선교적 교회론 연구: 요한 지지울라스(John D. Zizioulas)를 중심으로

This article is about the study of a missional ecclesiology based on the Doctrine of the Trinity of Zizioulas who finds the Communion Trinity. He finds the concept of the mission in ekstasis as the person of the Father – the Holy Father sends the Holy Son and Holy Spirit to the world, forming a communion in the world in the light of apocalypse-dependent prospect. A church that corresponds to the Trinitarian community can become a missional church. The church, existing as a communion community, is supposed to be in missionary nature that forms communion in a localchurch, and the ecumenical movement of the local churches is also in missionary nature. The church should not be exclusive but be in communion to local culture, maintaining ecclesiality. The church that is sent to the world becomes one that gathers in anticipating apocalypse-dependent prospect.

교회 내 북한이탈주민 부서 사역의 쟁점과 과제: 선교적 교회론과 접촉 가설에 기반하여

This study investigates the current status of North Korean migrant departments in major Korean churches and looks at the challenges of their ministries based on missional ecclesiology and the contact hypothesis. Based on the examination of the key issues of each church, this study suggests the following directions for the North Korean migrant department ministry. First, it argues that the ministry of the North Korean migrant department must be closely connected to the missional identity of the entire church. Next, it suggests that the department should be a channel to increase mutual understanding between North Korean migrants and South Korean church members. Finally, it suggests that the department should be a place to establish North Korean migrant leadership in the church.

자연적 교회성장론과 선교적 교회론의 비교·분석을 통한 통합적 성장 원리에 관한 연구

The purpose of this study is to draw the integrated growth principle of church growth and mission through the theological common denominator of two theories by comparing and analyzing the Natural Church Development Theory and the Missional Ecclesiology. The two theories can be understood from different ecclesiological perspectives, but they are the ecclesiology that pursue growth and mission for the kingdom of God. Accordingly, the relationship between church growth and mission from the perspective of kingdom of God should be understood as an ‘Evangelical Orbit.’ The principle of integrated growth derived through this study is the theological foundation that pursues the ontological essence of the church and enables the growth and mission of the church.

From semiotic exegesis to contextual ecclesiology: The hermeneutics of missional faith in the COVIDian era

This essay uses the global impact of the Coronavirus as a heuristic semiotic for exploring the future of the church. Unlike the pandemic of 1918, which left few dents on the world’s economic, social, and cultural systems, almost all the nations of the world have passed laws and implemented procedures that are only comparable to world wars in their impact on entire populations. Nations are acting in unison, but not in unity. This post-COVID, post-Corona world is the ‘time that is given’ to the church. But it will not be a post-pandemic world. We may become COVID-proof, but we will never be pandemic-proof. There is no pre-COVID reset. There is only risk assessment from natural extinction risks to existential dangers of our own creation that are catching up to us (climate change, GRAIN [genetic engineering, robotics, artificial intelligence {AI}, info-tech, nanotechnology]). Disruption is the new status that is never quo; stability is the new abnormality; global cataclysm is the ever-present peril. The only way to prepare for a future of constant ‘the end of the world as we know it?’ moments is by developing a high Contextual Quotient (CQ), and deepening our Contextual Intelligence (CI) so we can choose ‘the next right thing’ in a world of volcanic volatility.Contribution: This essay frames the semiotics of a missional ecclesiology in the COVIDian wake from the hermeneutics of blessings not curses. What virtues might we expect to come out of a virus that is fast-forwarding the future, virtues that will shape the contours of Christianity. What if the pandemic is a shock treatment that is putting the world, and the church, back in a new and better equilibrium? What if there are goldmines on the other side of the landmines and minefields?

The shaping and formation of a missional ecclesiology of township congregations in the Mangaung Metro Municipality during COVID-19

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caught most organisations, institutions and leaders off-guard, including church leaders. This was not any different in the congregations in the townships of the Mangaung Metro Municipality. The article discusses the responses of the churches in the Mangaung district and poses the question pertinently, ‘How did (or not) the churches in the Mangaung district reimagine, restructure, and position themselves prophetically during the COVID-19 pandemic?’. This is done firstly by providing a background to the development of a missional ecclesiology in North America, United Kingdon, and South Africa. Secondly, a discussion will be focused on the characteristics of the congregations which are necessary for developing a missional ecclesiology, in terms of these phases, as argued by Baron and Maponya. However, in the final section it will bring the missional ecclesiological discourse in conversation with the shaping and developing (or not) of a missional ecclesiology in respect of congregations in the township of the Mangaung Metro Municipality. The authors provide some contours for the missional role of the church in the current South African context and the formation of a missional ecclesiology.Contribution: This article contributes to the missional church discourse in missiology, that has been a conversation within Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa. The authors have been conducting research within mostly Pentecostal church in the township of Mangaung. The article is an attempt to broaden the missional church discussion in terms of region and Pentecostal ecclesiology.

Missional Church Leadership in the Pneumatological Perspective

This study intends to find missional leadership in the pneumatological perspective by focusing on bibllical, historical, missiological and theological appraoches. God send us to His mission fields and He is also doing mission with us. Missional church is about the nature and purpose of the church. The church is sending public spheres as well as individual people as an alternative community. For this reason, the missional leaders also needs to fulfill the public calling in their public and social roles for mission and evangelism in the Holy Spirit. In this study, I concentrate on a biblical, historical, missiological and theological understanding of the missional leadership through the Holy Spirit. I attempt to deal with the concept of ‘missional church in the missiological perspective. The mission of Trintarian God is crucial for practicing missional church leadership because the Son and the Spirit through the Father are doing mission as missionary God. In the Bible, Jesus’ Great commission is fulfilled in the Holy Spirit. Harry R. Boer recognizes the Great Commission and missions on Pentecost. Roland Allen is an great model of practicing missionary task in the doctrine of the Spirit as a missionary. Craig Van Gelder also develops a biblical and historical approach for a missional ecclesiology in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit encourages the missional church leaders to fulfill God’s redemptive reign in the world. Theologically, Jürgen Moltmann’s pneumatology is important for understanding missional church leadership through the Holy Spirit. He deals with the Church in the Power of the Holy Spirit: 1) the church of Jesus Christ, 2) the missionary church, 3) ecumenical church, and 4) the political church. The missionary church emphasizes “Missio Dei in the Trinitarian history.”

Missionale ekklesiologie in die Afrikaanse gereformeerde kerke sedert 1990

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.

A Prisoner of His Own Creative Imagination

David Bosch’s ecclesiology remains one of the most influential in missiological circles globally. This article sought to interrogate Bosch’s creative imagination, with particular reference to his missional ecclesiology and in particular his view on the church as an alternative community from a decolonial perspective. What prompted this study is the ambiguity and at times, contradictory posture or even what seems to be a betrayal of Bosch’s thought in comparison with his praxis. This article discovered that Bosch was not just a prisoner of his creative imagination, but also a prisoner of his faith, his views on truth, unity of the church, transformation, violence and reconciliation and of hope.

The Missio Dei Embodied in Local Community Ministry in Scotland

This paper examines missio Dei in a local community context, interpreting the Blue Horizon Youth Charity, Aberdeen, Scotland, in light of a missiology of listening, diagnosing, and discerning. John 5:9 is read in conversation with Terese Okure to clarify an abiding in mission. Luke 10:1–11 is read in conversation with Alan Roxburgh to develop a contextual particularity in the naming of God’s activity in the world. A local missional ecclesiology is developed with the missio Dei understood as practices of neighborhood listening, diagnosing local narratives, and discerning God and the gospel. The result is a theology of local community ministry as action-reflection on what the Father is doing by paying attention to vulnerable voices, particularly of youth in the community and so partnering with non-church actors in ways inclusive and gospel affirming. Missiology is returned to the local church as the missio Dei is embodied in the practices of local community mission.

포스트 코로나 시대의 도래와 한국교회의 갱신: 선교적 교회론의 관점에서

This paper is written while looking forward to the post-corona era amid the impact of COVID-19. Even if COVID-19 is over, human society will not be able to easily return to what it was before COVID-19. Rather, we will face the challenge of a new era called ‘Post-Corona.’ Therefore, the researcher studied the areas that Korean churches should renew themselves for the post-corona era from the perspective of missional ecclesiology. To this end, the researcher described the spread of COVID-19 and the crisis situation of Korean churches, summarized the missional ecclesiology as an alternative ecclesiology that can overcome the limitations of traditional churches, and then proposed eight areas that Korean churches need to renew for the post-corona era.

포스트코로나 시대의 ‘선교적 교회론’ 고찰

이 글은 건전한 교회론 정립이 불가피해진 포스트코로나 시대에 선교적 교회론(missional ecclesiology)의 적합성을 논의한다. 특히 교회 중심적이고 목회 의존적인 신앙과 교회의 친교 집단적인 게토화 성향, 그리고 의식(儀式, ritual) 중심적인 신앙생활을 영위해온 한국교 회에게 ‘선교적 교회론’이 하나의 시대적 대안이 될 수 있다고 주장한다. 선교적 교회론은 여러 측면에서 패러다임 전이-목회자 중심에서 평신 도 중심으로, 오는 구조에서 가는 구조로, 교회 예배 중심에서 일상의 삶 중심으로, 지역사회를 전도의 대상으로가 아니라 파트너로서 지역사 회와 함께하며 필요를 채워주는 교회로서의 변화-를 가져왔다. 이에 ‘선교적 교회론’이 성경적 에클레시아에 적합한 교회로서, 곧 역사 속의 다양한 교회의 모습 가운데서 상황에 따라 적절하게 변할 수 있는 변수와 또 본질적인 상수가 되는 것은 무엇인지에 대한 교회됨의 기준을 담지하고 있다고 강조할 것이다.