Christian communities in contemporary contexts

This commission will focus on the variety of Christian communities as they draw on different traditions and engage with specific contexts. It will take cognisance of such issues as urbanisation, immigrant communities, migrant workers, affluence, poverty and virtual worlds. It will note underlying forms of Christian expression including such concepts as world view, language, customs, traditions, inculturation, transformation, etc.

It will examine ways in which churches can become holistic healing and reconciling communities, expressing both the welcoming and the transforming character of Christ’s gospel. It will explore what is involved in deep-level conversion.

Key issues and questions

1. How do adjectives of Christian community such as discipling, healing, witnessing, contextual become lived realities in today’s world?

2. What is involved in being the church in the cities and mega-cities of today?

3. How can the local church be an agent of the kingdom of God and a source of healing and reconciliation?

4. What is the true identity (the “core DNA”) of the church? How does it manifest itself in different denominations and cultures?

5. Ethnicity – the tension between homogenous and multi-ethnic churches.

6. Church life in Diaspora communities.

7. HIV/AIDS – does Christian mission bear some responsibility for the spread of the virus? How can mission contribute to the struggle to stop the pandemic?

8. What other forms of ill-health call for particular attention from practitioners of Christian mission?