7. Christian communities in contemporary contexts

Conveners

Dr. Afe Adogame, University of Edinburgh, UK
Dr. Philomena Mwaura, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
In close association with Erica Dunmow of the JITC UK Urban Mission Congress Executive

Aims and objectives

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

The group has examined ways in which churches can become holistic healing and reconciling communities, expressing both the welcoming and the transforming character of Christ´s gospel. It has been exploring 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?

Study group reports and publications

Study Theme 7 - Christian Communities in Contemporary Contexts

Group activities and related studies

Work of the Edinburgh 2010 study group on 'Christian Communities in Contemporary Contexts'
Edinburgh 2010 East Africa consultation on 'Christian communities in contemporary contexts'
Contribution to Theme 7 of the Instituto Latinamericano de Misionologia, Cochabamba, Bolivia
Report (pdf file) submitted to Theme 7 by Jesus in the City. For further information about see the Urban Mission website
Paper submitted by Rev. Danilo Azuela Borlado, a Filipino ministering in Hong Kong, 'An ecclesiological reflection in the context of powerlessness and vulnerability'.
Paper by Wout van Laar given to a meeting of the leaders of European Ecumenical Mission Councils, Hamburg, 4-6 February 2009, 'The South moving North: The need of a new paradigm of mission'

User comments

Kirsten Borror, Massachusetts, USA 07-05-10 04:58:

Reaching the unreached that are coming to the USA.
I serve on our church mission team. We have been trying to discover how to reach the unreached people groups that are already on our shores. It is difficult to get our congregants to leave the suburbs and go to the city where many immigrants dwell. However, we are only recently becoming aware of how many immigrants are coming to our suburbs!! Just last week, I found that there are many living in apartment complexes right on the main route of our town! It seems that if our church would set up an esl program, we could begin to build relationships with these people. Many may be open to discipling friendships.

Kirsten Borror, Massachusetts, USA 07-05-10 05:02:

There still exists in the suburbs great divides between the races and ethnicities. There also still exists tension between churches in attempting to do any joint activities. The believers themselves need personal healing from the Holy Spirit. These are issues that need to be worked through in order to get to a "Kingdom mindset" in the area south of Boston.

Kirsten Borror, Massachusetts, USA 07-05-10 05:06:

My area is well known to have very rude drivers. I have become aware that if I ask another driver for courtesy directly to their face that 99.9% of the time, they will grant me grace. I think this is where reconcliation begins: face to face. It is easy to settle into the "us vs. Them" mindset, but when it's about looking in another person's eyes, it creates a sense of interpersonal obligation. Not always of course, but this is most successful.

Kirsten Borror, Massachusetts, USA 07-05-10 05:15:

The local church must solidify each person within it's body to be an agent of Reconciliation in whatever context they live. We need to each one of us, approach our place in life as "training ground" for missions. This means that all the most difficult frustrations are opportunities to learn about how God operates inside it. He is a miracle worker! Each one needs to be involved in learning this lesson personally! Then they are equipped to carry the message!