How often the words "mission" and "evangelism" become interchangeable in ways that fail to do justice to the biblical record, or our understanding of the divine as expressed in The Trinity.
I believe that The Trinity leads us directly to the creedal expression of mission which is " Holy, Catholic and Apostolic" - there is a "primary agency" link:
The Father in the development of holiness
The Son in the development of catholicity
The Spirit in the development of apostolic-ness
What has particularly encouraged me is how so much good thinking about mission which emphasises the importance of evangelism is now coming from clergy and theologians within the Anglo Catholic tradition of the Anglican Church.
Stephen Conway, Bishop of Ramsbury in the Salisbury Diocese, writes about Mission and Evangelism for his Diocese and highlights the following key point about the place of evangelism:
So, God’s mission has many facets; but mission would be incomplete without its cutting edge, which is evangelism. Christ is made known in all sorts of ways in our service of the wider compass of mission; but we must not get lost in other activity as an avoidance strategy so that we do not take up the challenge and the joy to bring people to personal faith in Jesus Christ so that they come to share with us in the continuing transformation of life in the Spirit. The true under-girding of justice and peace is found as human beings come to share in that deep communion of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Read the full article here
Stephen has been one of the key thinkers behind a renewed style of Affirming Catholicism within the Anglican tradition which is contemporary in its outlook, inclusive in its membership, and missional in its focus.
It has at last something approaching a coherent website, which it would be worth having a look at for a sense of how this tradition is emerging into new ways of being.
Hi Tom
Could you offer a post on what you mean by "primary agency" - from the Chester retreat day it has really set me thinking about how I relate to the members of the Trinity.
with blessings for a holy Advent
Max
Posted by: Maxine | 30 November 2007 at 21:50