Rubric for the Theological Evaluation of an Ecclesiology

The rubric below was created on a matrix consisting of a protestant understanding of the four marks of the church in the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed and my own three-part ecclesiological perspective. This rubric is an evaluative tool that can be used to assess the practiced ecclesiology of a theologian, a local congregation, ecclesiological movement.

Excerpted from
AN ARTICULATION AND EVALUATION OF AN EMERGING CHURCH ECCLESIOLOGY
By Laura K. Springer
Th.M. Thesis, May 2008
Talbot School of Theology, Biola University
Reader: Robert L. Saucy, Ph.D.

The Church is One

• The church is one in her connection to Christ.
• Individual churches have structures and practices that express and encourage internal, local, and global connection.
• Individual churches model and draw others toward the unity of the people of God.

The Church is Holy

• The church is holy in that she consists only of those who are in Christ, those who are and are becoming holy by God’s grace.
• Individual churches have structures and practices that expect and nurture corporate and personal holiness among those in Christ.
• Individual churches model the right belief and right practices that glorify and reflect God.

The Church is Catholic

• The church is catholic in that she consists of all those who are in Christ.
• Individual churches have structures and practices that provide for and encourage breadth of proclamation and depth of cultural expression.
• Individual churches declare and glorify the grace and sovereignty of God.

The Church is Apostolic

• The church is apostolic in that she attends and submits to the Scriptures, received and recorded by the Apostles of Jesus.
• Individual churches have structures and practices that provide for and encourage personal/corporate submission to and alignment with Scripture.
• Individual churches experientially and verbally declare the Good News of God in Christ.

NOTE: This is a rumination ("1. The act of pondering; meditation. 2. The act or process of chewing cud." American Heritage Dictionary) in search of synergy ("1. The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.")

Tag(s): theology

See CC License

“Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.” http://www.esv.org/

AN ECCLESIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

Excerpted from
AN ARTICULATION AND EVALUATION OF AN EMERGING CHURCH ECCLESIOLOGY
By Laura K. Springer
Th.M. Thesis, May 2008
Talbot School of Theology, Biola University
Reader: Robert L. Saucy, Ph.D.

The content of the faith. We know the story of God. The story of which we speak is the story of God, stretching back to the very beginning and forward to the consummation of the Kingdom. We hear the story authoritatively in Scripture and derivatively in tradition. We participate in the story by following Jesus and we tell the story through words and actions.

The nature of the church. We are the people of God. We are peopled through our connection with the Triune God, not by our affinity. Community is essential to our being and our essential communal nature shapes our structures and practices.

The purpose of the church. We expand the kingdom of God. This kingdom is the spiritual and physical rule of God and it includes obedient subjects, a kingly blessing, and a kingly realm. The kingdom was proclaimed by Jesus during his earthly ministry and he called his followers to enter the kingdom. The Kingdom of God has come near but has not yet fully come. Jesus proclaimed its proleptic presence, but it will only be consummated in the eschaton. For now, Christians expand the Kingdom through regular life together, centered on Jesus, and for the sake of the world. Together we proclaim the Kingdom’s King until he comes.


NOTE: This is a rumination ("1. The act of pondering; meditation. 2. The act or process of chewing cud." American Heritage Dictionary) in search of synergy ("1. The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.")

Tag(s): theology

See CC License

“Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.” http://www.esv.org/

An Emerging Church Ecclesiology

As the researching and writing of my ThM thesis continues, I will be posting some "thought bubbles" for the purpose of critique and clarification. Questions, comments, and corrections are welcome.

The initial phase of research is complete. Churches included in the study were

• Vineyard Church, UK
• Moot Community, UK
• Church of the Exiles, Saskatchewan, Canada (link non-functioning as of 11/21/08)
  
• Grace London, UK
• Church of the Apostles, Seattle
• Solomon’s Porch, Minneapolis
• Vintage Faith Church, Santa Cruz

A tentative and partial ecclesiology is below. My ecclesiological vantage point is on Laura's Writings.
=======================

The content of the faith. The church knows the story primarily through submission and obedience, which are also described as “following God in the way of Jesus.” The story is variously understood. Some see is rather generally as God’s truth while others see it more narrowly as the Word revealed in Scripture. All hold that Scripture has some level of authority, whether as the very Word of God or as a standard by which we live corporate life. Most add experience and tradition as truth sources; the perceived authority of these sources varies. The story is engaged and appropriated through a variety of means. For some, in-depth study of Scripture is the primary means. For others, participatory encounter through worship experiences and dialogue are the primary means. Most use a combination. Two responses are most common among ECs. First, ECs intend to be safe places for spiritual investigation. Second, ECs intend to call members to faithful and obedient life together in the world.

The nature of the church. The church is church by virtue of its connection with Jesus. This connection is the source and intended end of the church’s communal nature. As a people, church has an essential communal nature founded in the communal nature of the Triune God and the communal nature of humanity created in the image of God. ECs place high value on community, seeing members as one people, not only within local churches, but also among churches across time, culture, and tradition. This high value has great influence on EC practice and structure. Most practice communal spiritual formation, especially through alternative worship and biblical/theological conversation. Most also call for communal obedience, placing a priority on plurality in ministry, service, mission, and life.


The purpose of the church. The church proclaims Jesus through actions and words. Proclamation is essential to church identity; it is not an additional ministry. The content of the proclamation is the person of Jesus and, for most, the Kingdom of God. Many in the EC proclaim Jesus by means of holistic, communal life; they often prioritize orthopraxy over orthodoxy. This lived proclamation denies any sacred-secular dichotomy, insisting that Jesus is Lord of all. Mundane activities, like table fellowship, conversation, and artistic expression, become sacred. This translates into (and flows from) a view that members are missionaries and that church is mission.

NOTE: This is a rumination ("1. The act of pondering; meditation. 2. The act or process of chewing cud." American Heritage Dictionary) in search of synergy ("1. The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.")

Tag(s): missional ecclesiology emerging church emergent church ecclesiology

See CC License

“Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.” http://www.esv.org/

CUTTING DOWN THE RESEARCH POOL

I've come to a difficult point in my writing. The description section has already expanded the paper to 142 pages (the limit is 150). It seems two churches have to be cut.

First on the block is Bangsar Lutheran Church. I'm having some difficulty finding sufficient number of voices writing on ecclesiology. So, despite the fact that this will only give me five more pages, it will decrease my stress significantly. The downside is that losing Bangsar means losing a Malaysian church.

Second on the block is Mars Hill Church. As will Bangsar, I have found it difficult to find a sufficient number of voices writing about ecclesiology. The downside here is that I will be losing a very conservative emerging church. (I realize MHC's emerging status is disputed; see the comments on Defining the Emerging Church for my reasoning.) I am sad to see it go.

In addition, I'll need to do some radical edits. I realize that this is an opportunity to tighten the paper. This does not make the process any more comfortable.

NOTE: This is a rumination ("1. The act of pondering; meditation. 2. The act or process of chewing cud." American Heritage Dictionary) in search of synergy ("1. The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.")

Tag(s): missional ecclesiology

See CC License

“Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.” http://www.esv.org/

THOUGHT BUBBLE--searching out the rubric

As the researching and writing of my ThM thesis continues, I will be posting some "thought bubbles" for the purpose of critique and clarification. Questions, comments, and corrections are welcome.

Among the tasks I have set before myself in this thesis is the creation/discovery of a rubric by which one might evaluate various ecclesiologies. The rubric must avoid extreme generality and extreme specificity. It must avoid an extreme specificity that rejects a true ecclesiology because of variances in non-essentials. Likewise, it must avoid an extreme generality that accepts a false theology despite variances in essentials. So, the task before me—and it is rather like that famous proverbial meal of elephant—is to discover an essential ecclesiology. I have set the New Testament images of the church and the four marks of the Nicene Creed as my search area. And so it begins.

NOTE: This is a rumination ("1. The act of pondering; meditation. 2. The act or process of chewing cud." American Heritage Dictionary) in search of synergy ("1. The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.")

Tag(s): missional ecclesiology

See CC License

“Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.” http://www.esv.org/

EMERGING ECCLESIOLOGY abstract-esque

AN ARTICULATION AND EVALUATION OF EMERGING ECCLESIOLOGY

A SURVEY OF THE ISSUES

What is the emerging church? Some Definitions

Eddie Gibbs and Ryan Bolger, Emerging Churches

"...emerging churches are missional communities arising from within postmodern culture and consisting of followers of Jesus who are seeking to be faithful in their place and time" (pg. 28).

"Emerging churches are communities that practice the way of Jesus within postmodern culture" (pg. 44).

Mark Scandrette (ReIMAGINE!) quoted in Gibbs/Bolger: "The emerging church is a quest for a more integrated and whole life of faith. There is a bit of theological questioning going on, focusing on kingdom theology, the inner life, friendship/community, justice, earth keeping, inclusivity, and inspirational leadership. In addition, the arts are in a renaissance, as are the classical spiritual disciplines. Overall, it is a quest for holistic spirituality" (pg. 42).

Gibbs and Bolger see three primary practices in the emerging church: "(1) identify with the life of Jesus, (2) transform the secular realm, and (3) live highly communal lives" (pg. 45).

Bob Whitesel, Inside the Organic Church

"An emerging congregation is an appellation attached to churches populated largely by young adults under the age of thirty. Though attendees and especially leaders may be over thirty, an ability to effectively reach out to those under thirty years of age characterizes these congregations" (pg. x).

Whitesel sees four melodies behind the emerging church: (1) the melody of orthodoxy, (2) the melody of authenticity, (3) the melody of engagement, and (4) the melody of missional church growth.

Five Emerging Churches

Church of the Apostles, Seattle, WA (http://apostleschurch.org)

• Pastor: Karen Ward
• Associations: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, The Episcopal Church
• Size: 40-55

Mars Hill Bible Church, Grandville, MI (http://www.mhbcmi.org)

• Pastor: Rob Bell (teaching)
• Associations: Nondenominational
• Size: 10,000

Solomon's Porch, Minneapolis, MN (http://solomonsporch.com/)

• Pastor: Doug Pagitt
• Associations: Evangelical Covenant Church
• Size: 250+

Tribe of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA (http://www.tribela.com/)

• Pastor: Rebecca Ver Straten-McSparran
• Associations: The National Association of Congregational Churches
• Size: 25-55

Vintage Faith Church, Santa Cruz, CA (http://www.vintagechurch.org/)

• Pastor: Dan Kimball
• Associations: Nondenominational; assisted by Santa Cruz Bible Church
• Size:375-450

Practiced Ecclesiology: Some Repeated Themes

Know the Story

The story of which we speak is the story of God, stretching back to the very beginning and forward to the consummation of the Kingdom. We hear the story in Scripture and tradition. We participate in the story by following Jesus. And we tell the story through words and actions. Emerging Churches intend to know the story, telling it and living it as followers of God in the way of Jesus. Three practices revealed this theme:

• Commitment to truth and Scripture
• Holistic view of knowledge (especially in regard to physicality)
• Commitment to tradition

Be the People

We are the people of God. We are peopled through our connection with the Triune God, not by our affinity. Community is essential to our being. Emerging Churches intend to be the people, structuring gatherings and practices to make space for and encourage relationship. Three practices revealed this theme:

• Communal decision-making
• Communal practices
• House Church

Expand the Kingdom

The kingdom was announced by Jesus during his earthly ministry. He called his followers to enter the kingdom. The Kingdom of God has come and has not yet come. Jesus announced its in-breaking, but is will only be consummated in the eschaton. For now, Christians expand the kingdom through regular life together, centered on Jesus, and for the sake of the world. Together we declare the Kingdom until Jesus comes. Emerging churches intend to expand the Kingdom in all of life, living a life that demonstrates and declares the reign of God in Jesus. Three practices revealed this theme:

• Contextualization of the message and practices
• Commitment to missional identity and practice
• Commitment to holding believers responsible for their faith practice

Evaluation Rubric

The remainder of my thesis will evaluate emerging ecclesiology using the following questions:

• Does the practiced ecclesiology of the emerging church correspond to their stated theology?
• Does their ecclesiology properly interpret their stated biblical underpinnings?
• Does their ecclesiology properly interpret their stated theological underpinnings?

Needed Research

• Theology of the Kingdom, especially as revealed in the Gospel of Matthew
• Relationship between Trinity and the communal nature of the church (Fred Sanders on missio Dei, the Trinity, and the church)
• Missiology of Lesslie Newbigin
• Emerging theology books due out in 2007: Soul Graffiti: Making a Life in the Way of Jesus, by Mark Scandrette; Listening to the Beliefs of Emerging Churches, by Robert Webber; and An Emergent Manifesto, by Doug Pagitt and Tony Jones
• The international emerging-missional church, especially in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand

Emerging Churches: Creating Christian Community in Postmodern Cultures
by Eddie Gibbs, Ryan K. Bolger
Baker Academic (November 1, 2005)

Inside the Organic Church: Learning from 12 Emerging Congregations
by Bob Whitesel
Abingdon Press (August 2006)

NOTE: This is a rumination ("1. The act of pondering; meditation. 2. The act or process of chewing cud." American Heritage Dictionary) in search of synergy ("1. The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.")

Tag(s): ecclesiology

See CC License

“Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.” http://www.esv.org/

WORKING BIBLIOGRAPHY

092609: additional descriptions added to introductory section
091306: resequenced by pub. date
091106: del.icio.us link added
----------------------

Well, I am at the very beginnings of my Th.M. thesis. This semester I will be writing a history of reasearch, researching/interviewing/blog-surfing a number of emerging church practitioners and theologians and distilling the ecclesiology beneath and behind emerging church belief and practice.

The topic: an articulation and biblical evaluation of the ecclesiology of the emerging-missional church.

This is a very rough draft of the bibliography for the history of research chapter and will be updated as I go along.

thesis links on del.icio.us

Inside the Organic Church: Learning from 12 Emerging Congregations
by Bob Whitesel
Abingdon Press (August 2006)

How (Not) to Speak of God
by Peter Rollins
Paraclete Press (MA) (July 6, 2006)

Breaking the Missional Code: Your Church Can Become a Missionary in Your Community
by Ed Stetzer, David Putman
B&H Publishing Group (May 2006)

Emerging Churches: Creating Christian Community in Postmodern Cultures
by Eddie Gibbs, Ryan K. Bolger
Baker Academic (November 1, 2005)


Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church: Understanding a Movement and Its Implications
by D. A. Carson
Zondervan (May 1, 2005)

The Out of Bounds Church?: Learning to Create a Community of Faith in a Culture of Change
by Steve Taylor
Zondervan/Youth Specialties (February 1, 2005)

Future Church: Ministry In A Post-seeker Age
by Jim L. Wilson
B&H Publishing Group (September 30, 2004)

The Complex Christ
by Kester Brewin
SPCK (Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge) (August 23, 2004)

Mission-Shaped Church
Church House Publishing (January 20, 2004)

Being as Communion
by John D. Zizioulas
Darton,Longman & Todd Ltd; New Ed edition (January 12, 2004)


The Emerging Church
by Dan Kimball
Zondervan (March 1, 2003)

The Church on the Other Side
by Brian McLaren
Zondervan (January 1, 2003)

The Difficult But Indispensable Church
by Norma Cook Everist
Fortress Press 2002

The Missionary Nature of the Church
by Johannes Blauw
Lutterworth Press; New Ed edition (September 2002)


Announcing the Reign of God
by Mortimer Arias
Wipf and Stock Publishers (June 2001)

Houses that Change the World
by Wolfgang Simson
Paternoster Publishing (March 6, 2001)

In Search of Authentic Faith: How Emerging Generations Are Transforming the Church
by Steve Rabey
WaterBrook Press; 1st edition (January 16, 2001)

The Essence of the Church: A Community Created by the Spirit
by Craig Van Gelder
Baker Books; Reprint edition (April 2000)


On Being the Church: Essays on the Christian Community
by Colin E. Gunton (Editor), Daniel W. Hardy (Editor)
T. & T. Clark Publishers, Ltd.; New Ed edition (May 1999)

Confident Witness-Changing World: Rediscovering the Gospel in North America (Gospel and Our Culture Series)
by Craig Van Gelder
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (April 1999)

Sanctorum Communio: A Theological Study of the Sociology of the Church
by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Clifford J. Green, Nancy Lukens
Augsburg Fortress Publishers; New Ed edition (November 1998)

Postmodernity: Christian Identity in a Fragmented Age
by Paul Lakeland
Fortress Press 1997

The New Testament and the People of God (Christian Origins and the Question of God)
by N. T. Wright
Augsburg Fortress Publishers; 1st North American Ed edition (September 1996)

The Open Secret: An Introduction to the Theology of Mission
by Lesslie Newbigin
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Revised edition (February 1995)

The Open Secret: An Introduction to the Theology of Mission
by Lesslie Newbigin
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Revised edition (February 1995)


The Church
by Hans Kung
Hyperion Books (December 1994)

The Church in the Power of the Spirit
by Jurgen Moltmann
Fortress Press 1993

The Church in the Power of the Spirit: A Contribution to Messianic Ecclesiology
by Jurgen Moltmann
Augsburg Fortress Publishers; 1st Frtrss edition (October 1993)

Gods Missionary People: Rethinking the Purpose of the Local Church
by Charles Van Engen
Baker Academic (August 1991)


Incarnational Ministry: The Presence of Christ in Church, Society, and Family (Essays in Honor of Ray S. Anderson)
by Christian D. Kettler, Todd H. Speidell
Alba House (July 1990)

The Gospel in a Pluralist Society
by Lesslie Newbigin
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (December 1989)

Foolishness to the Greeks: The Gospel and Western Culture
by Leslie Newbigin
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (April 1986)

Be My Witnesses: The Church's Mission, Message and Messengers
by Darrell Guder
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (October 1985)

The Church
by Wolfhart Pannenberg, Keith Crim (Translator)
Westminster John Knox Pr (March 1983)

A Community of Character
by Stanley Hauerwas
University of Notre Dame Press (October 1981)

The Company of the Committed
by Elton Trueblood
HarperCollins (paper) (December 1979)

The Incendiary Fellowship
by Elton Trueblood
HarperSanFrancisco (September 1, 1978)

NOTE: This is a rumination ("1. The act of pondering; meditation. 2. The act or process of chewing cud." American Heritage Dictionary) in search of synergy ("1. The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.")

Tag(s): ecclesiology

See CC License

“Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.” http://www.esv.org/