In a time when churches are focusing on finding strategies and
techniques to guarantee success, a movement toward the missional
church is emerging. Missional churches are communities created by
the Spirit with a unique nature and identity. Purpose and
strategies of the church are derivative dimensions, the activities
that flow naturally from the church that is focused on Spirit-led
ministry.
The Ministry of the Missional Church leads pastors, ministry
leaders, and laypersons through three simple arguments--the church
is; the church does what it is; the church organizes what it
does--in order to make sense of how missional churches work. And by
focusing the work of the church as the work of the Triune God, this
unique book will change the way readers think about the church and
the world.
Join the missional church conversation
There's a different kind of church conversation going on these
days--one that moves beyond just focusing on purpose, strategies,
or recovering early church practices. Craig Van Gelder argues that
understanding the nature of the church is foundational for
clarifying the purpose of the church and for developing and
organizing its ministry.
Moving beyond methods and techniques to create or sustain church
growth, Van Gelder shows that when a church is focused on
Spirit-led ministry, growth and development are the natural
outcome.
The Ministry of the Missional Church brings together
theology and organizational theory in a way that inspires biblical
and theological imagination about how to let the church be the
church--a Spirit-led, missional community that seeks to participate
fully in God's mission in its particular place in the world.
"Van Gelder is a master at mapping the history of social structures
and ideas. Here he applies that mastery to the missional activities
and organizational structures of the church, framing the complex of
dynamics in which leadership and decision making take place. This
is an important resource for anyone who cares about the future of
congregations in America."--George R. Hunsberger, professor of
congregational mission, Western Theological Seminary
"This is no mere 'cookbook' for effective ministry, nor is it a
'self-help manual' for struggling ministers. It is rather a richly
biblical and theological meditation on how the church should
minister to the world, and how ministers should minister in the
church. Craig Van Gelder skillfully joins the best theology with
the best organizational theory in a way that will help leaders lead
and congregations grow. His book takes us to the next level in
understanding what it is to be a missional church."--Stephen
Bevans, Louis J. Luzbatek, SVD Professor of Mission and Culture,
Catholic Theological Union
Craig Van Gelder serves as professor of congregational mission at
Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is the author of The
Essence of the Church and the editor of Confident
Witness--Changing World.
1. Spirit-Led Ministry
2. Spirit-Led Ministry in the Bible
3. Spirit-Led Ministry in Context
4. Spirit-Led Ministry in the US Context and the Missional Church
5. Spirit-Led Discernment and Decision-Making
6. Spirit-Led Leadership and Organization
7. Spirit-Led Growth and Development
Craig Van Gelder serves as professor of congregational mission at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is the author of The Essence of the Church and the editor of Confident Witness--Changing World. He lives in St. Paul, Minnesota.