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Readings Course in Missional Ecclesiology

Title

After Christendom, WHAT?   A Course in Missional Ecclesiology 

Course Description:

Playing off of Thomas Odens' "After Modernity, What?" this course wants to ask the same question as related to modernity generally, but as it is specifically related to the church per missional ecclesiology.  The thesis begins with the assertion that Christendom is fundamantally in a syncretistic relationshsip between "modernity" and Christian--e.g Christendom.   

The task here is to all out re-think "church" at three levels, and in that order.   

  1. What The Church IS In Relation To Christ-- The Ontological Question as to what the church is fundamenetally (elementally). e.g The Church is Totus Christus as both the mediatorial manifestion of Covenant and Temple
  2. How The Church Is Discovered in Relation To Christ: The Epistomological Question e.g. The church as the mediatorial presence of the Triplex Vocational endeavor of Christ as Prophet, Priest, King
  3. How The Church Is Formed in Relation To A Local Context:  The Teleological Question as to becoming the flesh of a particular people and place as the strategic level. 

In other words, To answer the church question in relation to both Christ and the World, we must   

  • De-Construct The Christendom (Modernist) Church--What the Church IS
  • Re-Construction the Redemptive Historical Apostolic Church--What the Church Does 
  • Re-Form  the Apostlic Church Into a Post-Christendom Flesh-How the Church Does what it does in a way that is local as to convey best what it is and aaccomplish what it does.   

As a course in "missional" ecclesiology, it will be shown that the church, 

  • by its nature as the mediatorical existential presence of Christ is Missional. 
  • by its vocation as Christ's mediated vocational presence as prophet, priest and shepherd-king is Missional. 
  • by its mystical union with Christ flesh in heaven and the people's flesh on earth in the "form" of a particlar people and place is Missional. 

With this said, it can also be said with missionary to India and Christian apologist Lesslie Newbigin,

The church is not the source of witness, it is the locus of witness…. The presence of a new reality, the presence in the shared life of the church of the spirit… (The Household of God)

Or stated differently, again by Lesslie Newbigin,

Just as we insist that a Church which has ceased to be a mission has lost the essential character of a Church, so must we also say that a mission which is not at the same time truly a Church is not a true expression of the divine apostolate. An unchurchly mission is as much a monstrosity as an unmissionary church.(The Gospel in A Pluralistic Society). 

And this is not so different than what was affirmed as well by John Calvin where about the church he said: 

No extent of space interferes with the boundless energy of the Spirit which transfuses life into us from the flesh of Christ?  (John Calvin, Corpus Reformatorum)

And therefore, 

Beyond the pale of the Church, no forgiveness of sins, no salvation, can be hoped for … the paternal favor of God and the special evidence of spiritual life are confined to his peculiar people, and hence the abandonment of the Church is always fatal.

Nor is it any different than that tradition known as "Reformed" and Presbyterian"

The visible Church, which is also catholic or universal under the Gospel (not confined to one nation, as before under the law), consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion; and of their children: and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, the house and family of God, out of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation. (Westminster Confession of Faith, 20.2)

Therefore, our aim is to construct a theological vision in missional ecclesiology targeting church planters and pastors in the discovery and praactice of the church as a missionary presence suited to a contercultural engagement with in a post-Christendom context.  

A Project Ecclesiology: 

James Bannerman, The Church Of Christ, Vol 1 & 2.    Especially Part 1: chapters 2-6, Part 2: 1, 3

Schedule

I> De-constructing Modernist Christendom

II>Re-constructing Pre-Modern Church By A Redemptive-Historical, Christo-Centric Hermeutic Applied to Missional Ecclesiology 

Other Versions: 

III>Christology Applied: Totus Christus

Additional Reading: 

 The Five Marks of the Church Explored

IV> The Covenantal/Gospel Centered Church

Part 1: Gospel and Covenant

VI>The Temple/Missional Church", Lesslie Newbigin, "Logic of Mission

Part 1: The Missionary Church

 Part 2: The Church's Mission

VI>The Prophetic/Confessional Church 

Supplemental Readings: 

VII>The Priestly/Sacramental Church'

Part 1:  The Sacramental Questions

Part 2: Covenantal Worship

(Read) 

 More On Sabbath:

VIII> The Kingly/Shepherded Communal Church 

Part 1: Applied to Polity and Government

Preston Graham Jr,  Handouts:

Applied to Mercy

Applied To Congregagation

Applied to Mercy

Applied to Unity Ecumenism and the Issue of Schism

Total Christ Membership Seminar (For Example-- though abit too much :)

IX>. Pastoral Theology In Missional Ecclesiology 

 X> Church Planting and Missional Ecclesiology Bibliographies