Jurgen Moltmann said “It is not the church that has a mission of salvation to fulfill in the world; it is the mission of the Son and the Spirit through the Father that includes the church.” (The Church in the Power of the Spirit, London, 1977, p.64). This articulation breaks down many traditional patterns of thinking about and practicing the church. It presents many challenges to those who would lead their churches into His Mission. It calls for a new posture for the church in the world. This course explores how to think about, practice, lead and embody the church in the world as a participant in God’s Mission. In order to meet these challenges we will explore four fundamental questions. What is the church Scripturally, historically, theologically? What is the relationship between ecclesiology and missiology (or church and context/culture)? How must the core practices of the church be reoriented in order for her to participate in the Missio Dei? And finally, how does our belief and practice together shape the church as a social presence in the world participating in God's mission?  

What Others Have Thought:  

"This course made me realize in a new way the importance of being participants in what God is already doing in the world."  

"I came away from this class with my paradigms challenged and with a different view of what the church should look like in the world"    

Course Project:   

Students will locate one or two essential practices of the church and defend them theologically as essential to the church's existence. They will also analyze the cultural/contextual assumptions that undergird the practice(s). Finally, they will project a 12 month personal and ministerial development path toward leading their church into being shaped for/by God's mission.    

Sample Readings From This Course May Include:   

Fitch, David. The Great Giveaway. Baker, 2005.    

Goheen, Michael. "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you": J.E. Lesslie Newbigin's missionary ecclesiology . Internal Review of Missions, 2002.  

Moltmann, Jurgen. The Church in the Power of the Spirit: A Contribution to Messianic Ecclesiology . Fortress Press, 1993.   

Van Gelder, Craig. The Essence of the Church: A Community Created by the Spirit . Baker Books, 2000.     

If you would like more information about this course please email the DMIN office at dmin@fuller.edu 

For a sample course description please click here.  NOTE: This is not to be used as a source for course preparation.