For Rowan Williams Christian spirituality is profoundly concerned with what it means to be fully human in community with others. To become fully human (the "one new humanity" of Ephesians 2) requires both intentionality and commitment. He writes,
"...In our feverish and impatient world, it is an important part of our Christian witness that we should be reminding people that our humanity needs time to grow, needs the time in which self-awareness, repentance and renewal can flourish. It is hard for so many to recognize that the path is a long one - that becoming human in God's way is a lifetime's matter. Yet the alternatives, so visible all around us, represent a trivialized and shallow humanity, anxious, angry and selfish, unwilling to look afresh at the self in the light of love and truth..."
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I have more or less finished a walk through of this new title from Alan Roxburgh and Scott Boren. It was worth the read. There isn't a lot new here, but the book pulls together some significant thought and practice. I've been trying to decide whether to write a formal review or just post some excerpts. The following is a summary of page 76-77.
"Most of us know the stats - we don't have to repeat here the losses shaping denominations and the aging of the church. Church systems engage the missional conversation becasue they are scared and looking for a lifeline. Across the continent people are telling us that their church organizations are approaching a tipping point where local churches won't be able to afford full-time, seminary trained pastors. The confusion, stress and anxiety are high among full time leaders...
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There are two types of structures in human organizations, and each type needs leadership. Fritjof Capra writes,
"In human organizations, both [emergent and designed] types of structures are always present. The designed structures are the organization's formal structures, which are depicted in its official documents and describe the organization's mission, its formal policies, its strategies, and so on.
"In addition, there are always emergent structures. There are the organization's informal structures-the alliances and friendships, the informal channels of communication (the "grapevine"), the tacit skills and sources of knowledge that are continually evolving. These structures emerge from an informal network of relationships that continually grows, changes, and adapts to new situations.
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Just Give Me A Definition |
This is the name of the second chapter in the first part of the new book by Roxburgh and Boren.
About half way through the chapter they describe "missional" as the confluence of three powerful currents: mystery, memory and mission.
"Entering the waters is not about strategies or models; it is about working with the currents that shape our imagination of what God is doing in the world.
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Brad Brisco's summary of "what is missional?" is a good one, and I particularly like the five implications he closes with. I have summarized but also adapted some of this. I'll close with some thoughts on the implications for a missional posture.
1. The Missional Church is about the missionary nature of [the Triune] God and His church.
2. The Missional Church is about the church being incarnational rather than attractional. John 1:14 in the Message: "The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood."
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