MissionSHIFT: Clarifying “Missional”
By Jonathan Dodson | March 1st, 2010 | Category: Missional Church | 8 comments
Some people describe mission as incarnational and organic. Yet many others add the term “missional” to their current church programs and attractional church structures. Are both a proper use of the term “missional”?
Enter MissionSHIFT, a conversation and conference to clarify just what mission is and, as a result, develop a “missional manifesto.” Sound interesting? Over the next few weeks, I’ll be participating with you and the leaders below to advance this conversation, to clarify the meaning of missional.
The Manifesto
Sounds awfully juggernauntish doesn’t it? Rest assured, this isn’t a political statement that will put to rest all missional debate. It’s not a parochial attempt to strong-arm one definition of missional. We want to hear from you. However, the intent of the emerging manifesto is to say: “This is what we mean when we talk about being missional.” It might not be a universal statement, but MissionSHIFT leaders hope it will be an important one, one that clarifies missional thinking and practice.
Missional Leaders in the Conversation
- Rick Meigs: The Blind Beggar
- Bill Kinnon: kinnon.tv
- Brent Toderash (Brother Maynard): Subversive Influence
- David Fitch: Reclaiming the Mission
- Tiffany Smith
- Jared Wilson: The Gospel-Driven Church
- Jonathan Dodson: Creation Project
Let’s get started. Leave a comment about with your own, rough, 1-sentence definition of “missional.” Your responses will be collated, considered, and responded to as we move towards greater clarity on mission.
Being a missionary in your own context sent on mission by Jesus to be a sign and instrument of the Missio Dei.
Not mine, but somewhat helpful: “A missional church is a unified body of believers, intent on being God’s missionary presence to the indigenous community that surrounds them, recognizing that God is already at work.” ~~ From the Jan-Mar ’10 issue of Bibliotheca Sacra
[...] Defining “Missional” 2010 March 1 tags: defining missional, jonathan dodson, mission shift by JT Caldwell Join the conversation. [...]
The primary apparent flaw with the missionSHIFT missional manifesto conference is the grossly over-representation of white, male, middle-class, American clergy of the church planting variety. So many voices are not represented. Women, non-Americans, the poor, sexual minorities, other types of ministers (hospital & prison chaplains, people who work with children, the homeless, in hospice, college ministries.) The result is destined to be much of the same unless we open up the table to the full body of Christ.
Look at the early church one of the first converts to Christianity was a surgically altered, gender-variant, rich civil servant from Africa (the Ethiopian Eunuch) who went home w/ Good News and to this day a church traces its roots to that person. Radical inclusion. New Wine in New Wine Skins.
I share your concern Peterson.
The missional church trains all of its members to think and believe that their public life and vocation is apart their missionary/sent lives as Christians. There is way more to it but that is something that has been on my mind as I serve in this new gospel community endeavour.
[...] Jonathan Dodson: Creation Project [...]
[...] Subversive Influence David Fitch: Reclaiming the Mission Jared Wilson: The Gospel-Driven Church Jonathan Dodson: Creation Project Rick Meigs: The Blind Beggar and Friend of [...]