TheDawningoftheThirdEpochinthe

HistoryoftheChristianandMissionaryAlliance

ReflectionPaperPresentedtoWesternCanadianDistrictCoach,TimBeadle

ByMattGarvin,MTS.PastorforCommunityEngagementandMission

St.AlbertAllianceChurch

December2015

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Thethemeforthe2016GeneralAssemblyoftheChristianandMissionaryAllianceinCanadais“Onmission.Everyone.Everywhere.Allthetime.”1Whilethisisawonderfulsentiment,itwouldhaveadifferentmeaningineachofwhatIamcallingthethreeepochsofthehistoryoftheChristianandMissionaryAlliance.Infact,thebasicunderstandingsofthefirsttwoepochsworkdirectlyagainstthistheme’sfulfillment.Thepurposeofthispaperistoexploretheparadigmthatshapedthefirsttwoepochsandtheparadigmemergingatthedawnofthethirdepochwhichcouldshapethenexthalfcentury.ThispaperwillassertthatthefirsttwoepochscontinuetoshapetheChristianandMissionaryAlliancetoday,butthatmanyunderstandingsoftheseepochshavebecomeunconsciousassumptions,someofwhichhinderthemovementtothethirdepoch.Thefirstepoch,upuntilabout1950,wasclearlyshapedbytheworldviewofA.B.Simpson(December15,1843–October29,1919).AtthecoreofthisworldviewwasanunderstandingthattheAlliancewastobe“afellowshipofdeeperlifebeliefsandamissionarymovementdesignedtogivepriorityinfundsandpersonneltosecurefollowersforChristinotherculturesandnations.”2Itisclear,however,inlisteningtomanyofthecurrentleadersofthedenomination3,thatatsomepointthechurchmovedawayfromthatworldviewandadoptedanother.ThesecondepochwasshapednotbyanAllianceleaderbutbyMissiologistDonaldMcGavran(December15,1897–July10,1990).OneofthemostinfluentialAlliancefiguresinthesecondhalfofthe20thcentury,L.L.King,wenttoaconferencewhereMcGavranwasspeakinginthesummerof1950andsaid,“AfterlisteningtoMcGavranforanhourorso,Ibecameaconvert.”4FormerPresidentoftheAllianceinCanada,ArnoldCook,saidofMcGavran,“Asmyprofessor,histeachingonthemissionoftheChurchgavemeablueprintfortherestofmyministry.”5AmeasureofMcGavran’scontemporaryinfluenceisthatthisauthorwhowasneverpartoftheChristianandMissionaryAlliance,isfeaturedontheWesternCanadianDistrictWebsiteundertheheading“Missionariesyoushouldknow:DonaldMcGavran”andthecurrentDistrictmissionscoachandSeamlessLinkAdvisor,RonBrown,beginshisarticlewiththewords:“KnownworldwideasperhapstheforemostMissiologist,DonaldA.McGavran.”6

1http://www.cmacan.org/news/general-assembly-2016-dates-announcedAccessed25November20152RobertL.Niklaus,JohnS.Sawin,andSamuelJ.Stoesz,AllforJesus:GodatWorkintheChristianandMissionaryAllianceOverOneHundredYears(ChristianPublications,1986.),Loc56633ThishasbeenaregularthemeintalksgivenbyPresidentDavidHearnandWesternCanadianDistrictSuperintendentBrentTrask.4RobertL.Niklaus,JohnS.Sawin,andSamuelJ.Stoesz,AllforJesus:GodatWorkintheChristianandMissionaryAllianceOverOneHundredYears(ChristianPublications,1986),Loc.48655ArnoldL.Cook,HistoricalDrift:MustMyChurchDie?(MoodyPublishers,2008)Loc6106 Ron Brown, Online: http://www.transformcma.ca/missionaries-you-should-know-donald-mcgavran/(April27,2012) Accessed 16 December 2015

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ArnoldCookbelievesMcGavran’smessagetothechurch“maybesummedupinthefollowingquote:‘MenliketobecomeChristianswithoutcrossingracial,linguistic,orclassbarriers.’”7ThesenseyougetfromMcGavran’swriting,however,isthathebelievedhismessagetothechurchwas,“Today’ssupremetaskiseffectivemultiplicationofchurchesinthereceptivesocietiesofearth.”8Inthefirstepoch,thefocuswasonthedeeperlifewithChristandevangelismofleast-reachedpeople.Inthesecondepoch,thefocusbecamethegrowthofthechurch(McGavran’smostinfluentialbookwassimplytitledUnderstandingChurchGrowth).Thispaperwillcompareandcontrastthesetwoparadigms,examiningtherelativestrengthsandweaknessesofeachone.ItisthethesisofthispaperthatweareontheedgeofwhatJohnHowardYodercalledthe“Reformationthathasyettohappen”9,whichwillalsomarkthestartofthethirdepochinthehistoryoftheChristianandMissionaryAlliance.Thisthirdepochwillincludethediscoverythattheprimarypurposeofthechurchistoempowerofallofitspeopletofindtheirspecificcalling.GordonSmith,currentpresidentofAmbroseUniversityinCalgary,putsitthisway:“ThevocationoftheChurchistosustainmanyvocations.Theordainedminister,theonesetasideandconsecrated,istoilluminatethevocationoftheChurchandthevocationsofthemanypeoplewhoaretheChurch.”10ThispaperwillexaminewhattheparadigmespousedbySmithandothersmeansforthelocalchurchandtheChristianandMissionaryAllianceasawhole.

7Ibid8DonaldA.McGavran,UnderstandingChurchGrowth(Wm.B.EerdmansPublishing,1970),499AsquotedbyCraigA.CarterinTheCommunityoftheWord,TowardanEvangelicalEcclesiology,editedbyMarkHusbandsandDanielJ.Trier(2005),18610GordonT.Smith,CourageandCalling:EmbracingYourGod-givenPotential(InterVarsityPress,2011),169

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TheA.B.SimpsonEpoch

A.B.Simpsondidnotintendtoestablishanewdenomination.A.W.Tozerpointedoutthat“Hesoughttoprovideafellowshiponly,andlookedwithsuspicionuponanythinglikerigidorganization.HewantedtheAlliancetobeaspiritualassociationofbelieverswhohungeredtoknowthefullnessoftheblessingoftheGospelofChrist,workingconcertedlyforthespeedyevangelizationoftheworld.”11Thisdouble-edgedgoalofthedeeperlifeandevangelizationoftheworldwasreflectedinthetwostructuresthatwereinitiallyestablishedin1887:theChristianAllianceandtheEvangelicalMissionaryAlliance.ThesetwothrustswereclearlyarticulatedintheconstitutionoftheChristianandMissionaryAlliancein1912initsprimarypurposestatement,“TopromoteunityoffaithintheLordJesusinHisfullness,earnesteffortfortheconversionofsouls,andthedeepeningofthespirituallifeofChristianseverywhere.”12WhilemissionsandthedeeperlifeinChristseemtobequitedifferentfromeachother,Simpsonembodiedawhole-heartedcommitmenttoboth,anditwasthisdoubleemphasisthatwoulddeeplyshapetheemergingAlliancemovement.Itshouldalsobenotedthatathirdthreadisspecificallymentionedintheconstitution:Christianunity.SimpsonfoundedtheAlliancenotasachurchbutasa“fellowship.”13Withthedeeperlifeandmissionsasprimarycommitments,Simpsonwaswillingandeagertoworkwithanyonewhosharedthesecorevalues.Intalkingaboutwhyheconsistentlyhadsuchalargenumberofspeakerswithabroadrangeoftheologicalviewsathisconventions,Simpsonsaid,“Ihaveagoodreasonforallthat.Iwanttoenjoythebroadestfellowshippossiblemyself,andIwantmypeopletoreceivethebenefitoftheministryofallGod’sgiftedservants,regardlessofwhethertheyagreewithmeineverythingornot.”14ChristianunitywasavaluethatshapedthefirstepochoftheAlliance’shistory.ForSimpson,thethemefortheGeneralAssemblyin2016wouldbebewildering.Forhim,missionwassomethingthatwasdonebymissionaries;itwasnotsomethingthateveryonedid.MissionwasgoingtoothercultureswiththeGospel.Hebelievedthatacentralpurposeofthelocalchurchwastosendandsupportthosemissionariesinthefield.Hismaximwas“Ifyoucannotgo,youcansend.”15Partofhisgeniuswasfindingwaystoreleasewomenand

11AsquotedbyRobertL.Niklaus,JohnS.Sawin,andSamuelJ.StoeszinAllforJesus:GodatWorkintheChristianandMissionaryAllianceOverOneHundredYears(ChristianPublications,1986),Loc.177412GeneralConstitutionandPrincipalsAdoptedbytheGeneralCouncil,May26-30,1912;AmendedbytheGeneralCouncil,March25-28,1913.Object1.13RobertL.Niklaus,JohnS.Sawin,andSamuelJ.Stoesz,AllforJesus:GodatWorkintheChristianandMissionaryAllianceOverOneHundredYears(ChristianPublications,1986.),Loc.566314Ibid,Loc192615QuotedbyBernieA.VanDeWalle,TheHeartoftheGospel:ABSimpson,theFourfoldGospel,andLateNineteenth-CenturyEvangelicalTheology,.Vol.106(WipfandStockPublishers,2009),9

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laityintothemissionfield.VanDeWallsays,“Simpsontalkedregularlyaboutreaching“God’sneglectedpeople”with“God’sneglectedresources.”16InSimpson’sparadigmtherewereonlythreerealvocationsinthechurch:themissionary,thepastorandthefundraiser.GordonSmithwrites,“AsayoungmanIrememberthoseoccasionswhenitwassuggestedthatifwereallylovedtheLordwewouldbemissionaries,andifnotmissionaries,thenpastors,andifnotmissionariesorpastors,thenatleastbusinesspeople(in‘secularwork’)whocouldsupportthosewiththe‘sacred’callings.”17SmithquotesSimpsonassaying,“Youronlyexcuseforstayinghomeandnotgoingtothemissionfieldisifbystayinghomeyoucandomoretofurtherthecauseofmissionsthanbygoing."18Simpson’surgencyinfocusonmissionswasdrivenbyaneschatologythatsaidthatChristwouldreturnassoonastheGospelhadspreadtothewholeworld.Hememorablystated:

WearepreachingtheGospelnotfortheconversionoftheworld,butforawitnessuntoallnations,andwhenweshallhaveaccomplishedthis,Hewillcome.Hehasgiventousthekeytothefuture.Hehasputinourhandsthesecretofages.God’sgreatchronometerdoesnotmeasuretimebydaysandyears,butbypreparationsandconditions,andthehouroftheMarriageoftheLambmaybefixedbythebride.19

WhenareportertoldSimpsonthathiseschatologywasthe“motivationandthemotivepowerinthismovement,”Simpsonreplied,“Youseemorethansomeofthedoctorsofdivinity.”20WhileSimpsonestablishedeffectiveprogramsforthepoorandsick,VanDeWallepointsoutthatthemotivationbehindsucheffortswasaformofpre-evangelismratherthanavisionoftheKingdom,“Byprovidingforthephysicalandsocialneedsoftheiraudience,therevivalistswereattemptingtoremoveanyunnecessaryandevendiabolicalencumbrancesfromtheirpathandtherebywerefreeinguptheirabilitytochoose.”21WhileVanDeWalleismostprobablyrightfromtheviewpointoftheologicalrationale,Simpson’scommitmenttohealingthroughChristandhisinstinctivecareforthemarginalizedindicatethathislivedtheologycamefromaheartthatwasopenandsensitivetotheSpiritofGod.OftenhisactionsseemedmoremotivatedbyavisionoftheKingdomofGodthansimplyadesiretoevangelizethelost.

16BernieA.VanDeWalle,TheHeartoftheGospel:ABSimpson,theFourfoldGospel,andLateNineteenth-CenturyEvangelicalTheology,.Vol.106(WipfandStockPublishers,2009),1217GordonT.Smith,CourageandCalling:EmbracingYourGod-givenPotential(InterVarsityPress,2011),4518Ibid19Simpson,AlbertB.MissionaryMessages.(ChristianPublications,1925.),Loc4810520Niklaus,RobertL.,JohnS.Sawin,andSamuelJ.Stoesz.AllforJesus:GodatWorkintheChristianandMissionaryAllianceOverOneHundredYears.(ChristianPublications,1986.),Loc172621BernieA.VanDeWalle,TheHeartoftheGospel:A.B.Simpson,theFourfoldGospel,andLateNineteenth-CenturyEvangelicalTheology.Vol.106.(WipfandStockPublishers,2009),52

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BecauseSimpson’svisionwasnotsomuchthegrowthofthelocalchurch,butratherthedeeperlifewithChristfortheindividual,andworldevangelism,hisviewofthepurposeofthechurchcouldbecharacterizedinthewaySmithsumsitup:“Fortherevivalist,thechurchisreducedtonothingmorethatthecollectionofindividualswhohavedecidedtobecomeChristians,andtheircommonidentityisreducedtoacommonpurpose:togetotherpeopletojointheclub.”22WhileSmith’scharacterizationofSimpson’secclesiologymightbestrong,thereisasensethatSimpsonleanedinthedirectionoffellowshipandinclusionofdifferingecclesiologicalperspectiveswhichledtolessemphasisontheshape,formandpurposeofthelocalcongregationexceptasameanstothetwoendsofdeeperlifeoftheindividualwithChrist,andthemeansofsupportforthetaskofreachingunreachedpeople.TheSimpsonepochleftamovementthat:

o HadthelanguageofthedeeperLifewithChristasapictureoftheheartofChristianity

o Hadastrongcommitmenttooverseasmissionso HadanopennesstodifferentexpressionsoftheChristianchurcho Hadanunderdevelopedecclesiology

22GordonT.Smith,TransformingConversion:RethinkingtheLanguageandContoursofChristianInitiation.(BakerAcademic,2010),352

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TheDonaldMcGavranEpoch

Asalreadyhighlighted,DonaldMcGavranhadadeeplyinfluentialplaceintheshapingoftheAlliancestoryinthesecondhalfofthe20thcentury.McGavran,afterreflectionontheexperienceofmissioninIndia,startedwiththeassumptionthatGod’swillwasforthechurchtogrow,towhichhebroughttheunderstandingsofsociologyandsimplemarketingprinciples,resultinginaverypragmatic,numbers-basedapproachthatcouldbeappliedinarangeofsettings.TheassumptionunderlyingallofMcGavran’sworkwasthatanychurchshouldhaveadualfocus,participatingin“anenterprisedevotedtoproclaimingtheGoodNewsofJesusChrist,andtopersuadingmentobecomeHisdisciplesanddependablemembersofHischurch.”23So,inthisepoch,successwasmeasuredinnumericalgrowth,andgrowthhappened.InNorthAmericaduringthe1960s,thenumberofchurchesincreasedfrom1,174to1,401andinclusivemembershiprosefrom117,179to155,537.24McGavran’slecturesandbooks(histwomainbookswereThebridgesofGodandUnderstandingChurchGrowth),deeplyinfluencedkeyfiguresintheAlliancemovement,mostnotablyinitiallyL.L.KingandLesliePippert.ThefactthattheAlliancewasabletomaketheleapfromoneparadigmtoanotherisunusualinchurchhistory,andtestamenttotheflexibilityandvisionofitsleadershipatthetime.L.L.KingusedMcGavran’sthinkingtoshakeuptheforeigndepartment25,andLesliePippert,whotookontheroleofhomesecretary,focusedonapplying“pressureonthechurchestogrowandmultiply.”26McGavran’sworkwascontinuedbyC.PeterWagner,whorevisedandeditedthethirdeditionofUnderstandingChurchGrowthandbecamealeadingvoiceforthechurchgrowthmovementthroughthe1970sand1980s.Thefocusonsociologyandmarketingprinciples–corepartsofMcGavran’schurch-growthapproach–becamewhatArnoldCookcalled“thebottomlinefor‘doingchurch’intheNorthAmericancontext.”27Cookattributesthisto“thepenchantofNorthAmericanstodiscoveragoodideaandthenmarketitintoaheresy.”28ForCook,theproblemwasn’tsomuchwithMcGavran’swork,butwiththefactthechurchlostsightofMcGavran’swarningthat“theologymustalwaysbepreeminentoverthebehaviouralsciences.”29

23Ibid,Loc518624Ibid25Niklaus,RobertL.,JohnS.Sawin,AndSamuelJ.Stoesz.AllForJesus:GodAtWorkInTheChristianAndMissionaryAllianceOverOneHundredYears.(ChristianPublications,1986.),Loc492626Ibid,Loc518627Ibid28Ibid29Ibid

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WhileCook’sassessmentmaybepartiallytrue,oneofthechallengesraisedbyMcGavran’sworkisthathisviewofchurchhadonlythreevocationsforChristians:theevangelist,thepastorandthe“dependablemembers”30ofthechurch.TheMcGavranparadigmmeantthatlaypeoplewhowantedtotaketheirfaithseriouslyanddomorethanbefaithfulmembersofthechurchweregivenonlyoneoption:evangelism.Evangelismasthecorestrategyinchurchgrowthinthe1950sledtotheriseofBillyGrahamandotherbignames.Atthesametimetherewasarefiningofwhatevangelismwas,sothatvirtuallyanybodycoulddoit,thankstopeoplelikeBillBright.Brightwasabusinessman,who,accordingtoChristianityToday,understood“America’sappetiteforasimplemessagewithastraightforwardappeal.”31TheresultwasTheFourSpiritualLaws,adistillationoftheGospelintractformthatcouldbe“massproduced,expeditiouslydisseminated,andproficientlyadvanced.”32Asevangelismwasbeingrampedup,theroleof“missionary”becamemoresharplydefined.McGavran’sdisciplePeterWagner,whoeditedandupdatedthe1990versionofUnderstandingChurchGrowth,encapsulatedtheMcGavranunderstandingofmissionwhenhewroteinhis1983book,OntheCrestofaWave,“EveryChristianisnotamissionary.ThereasonissimplythatnoteveryChristianhasthemissionarygift.”33Wagner,laterinthesamebook,wrote,“Besideshaving…themissionarygift,atruemissionaryisonewhoissenttoministerinanotherculture.”34ForWagner,whoseparadigmwasshapedbyMcGavran,theideaofeveryonebeing“onmission”wouldnotmakesense.Simpson’soriginalimpulsetomoveasmanypeopleaspossibleintothemissionfieldwasaffectedbythisunderstanding.Theconsequencewastheprofessionalizationofthemissionaryvocationinchurch-runmissionorganizations,whichmeantthatthesmallernumberofmissionariessentwerebettertrainedandequippedandsupported.However,theintroductionofuniversity-levelminimumtrainingrequirementsandtheestablishmentofboardstructuresmeanttraditionalchurchmissiongroupswerelessabletobereflexiveandtochannellargenumbersofpeopleintothemissionfield.Theresultofthistighteningofstructureintraditionalmissionorganizationswasthatsignificantevangelisticenergyinthesecondhalfofthe20thcenturywasbeingchanneledthroughwhatcametobelabeled“para-church”organizationssuchasCampusCrusade,YouthForChrist,YouthwithaMission,YoungLifeandmanymore.

30Ibid,Loc518631WendyMurrayZoba,“BillBright'sWonderfulPlanfortheWorld”ChristianityToday.(July14,1997)Cited3December2015.Online:http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/1997/july14/7t814a.html32Ibid33PeterWagner,OntheCrestoftheWave:BecomingaWorldChristian.(GospelLightPubns,1983),65.34Ibid,86

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TheotherfeatureofMcGavran’sworkwastoassert,asCookhighlighted,that“MenliketobecomeChristianswithoutcrossingracial,linguistic,orclassbarriers.”35McGavranbelievedthat“mostoppositiontotheChristianreligionarisesnotfromtheologicalbutfromsociologicalcauses,”36andbyrespectingexistingsociologicalrealities,peoplemovementscouldmorereadilyspreadtheGospelrapidly.AsindicatedbyCook’sassertionthatMcGavran,“gavemeablueprintfortherestofmyministry,”37itseemsthatMcGavran’sapproachcontinuestobetheprimaryparadigmofAllianceMissiology.McGavran’sinfluenceisclearlyseeninthemissionstatementthatNationalMissionsDirectorBremFrentzoutlinedtotheWesternCanadianDistrictExecutiveCommitteein2015:“WeGlorifyGodbydevelopingindigenousmovementsofreproducingchurchesamongleast-reachedpeoplegroups.”38ThisisastrongechoofthelastlinesofMcGavran’sbook:“Nothingwilladvancethecauseofmissionsfurtherthanforchurchleadersandmissionariestoceasethinkingintermsofgoodworkofonekindandanother,andbeginthinkingintermsofestablishingchurchesinnaturalsocialunits.”39WhileFrentzstartedhisaddressbyremindingthemeetingofthethemeoftheupcomingGeneralAssembly(“Onmission.Everyone.Everywhere.Allthetime”40),hisowninterpretationofthethemewasthis:“theimpulseandtheposturethateverybelievershouldhave”is“aheartfor…peoplewhoarelost.”41ForFrentz,“mission”iswhatMcGavranwouldcallevangelism,theproclamationoftheGospelto“thelost.”TherearethreemajorchallengeswiththechurchgrowthparadigmthathasshapedtheAllianceforthelast60years.Firstisthenotionthat,ifyouaren’tapastororinvolvedinevangelism,youcanexpressyourfaithonlybybeingafaithfulchurchmember.AsMarkGreenewrote,“Ninety-fivepercentofChristiansareneitherenvisionedorequippedformissionin95percentoftheirwakinglives.”42Thisexacerbateswhathascometobecalledthe“sacred-seculardivide”.43MarkGreene,inhis2010monographTheGreatDivide,quotesoneteacherassaying,“IspendanhouraweekteachingSundayschoolandtheyhaulmeupinfrontofthechurchto

35DonaldA.McGavran,UnderstandingChurchGrowth(Wm.B.EerdmansPublishing,1970.),31636ibid,31737Cook,ArnoldL.HistoricalDrift:MustMyChurchDie?(MoodyPublishers,2008),Loc61038BremFrentzaddresstoDEXCOM.Online:https://vimeo.com/14378928839DonaldA.McGavran,UnderstandingChurchGrowth(Wm.B.EerdmansPublishing,1970.),36940http://www.cmacan.org/news/general-assembly-2016-dates-announcedAccessed25November201541BremFrentzaddresstoDEXCOM.Online:https://vimeo.com/14378928842MarkGreene,TheGreatDivide(LICC2010),643Ibid

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prayforme.TherestoftheweekI’mafull-timeteacherandthechurchhasneverprayedforme.Thatsaysitall.”44Thesecondmajorchallengeisthestrongfocusonsocio-economicgroupingsastheframeworkforchurchplanting.Thisfocusraisestwoquestions,onepracticalandonetheological.Thepracticalchallengeisthatoftenthesecondgenerationofachurchadoptsadifferentculturalidentityfromthepreviousgeneration.Whenachurchsoclearlyconformstothesocialmoresofonegeneration,italmostnecessarilyfollowsthatthenextgenerationwillnotfindahomeinthatsamechurch.ThisismostobviouslyseeninethnicallyfocusedchurchesinaWesterncontext(e.g.,ChineseorVietnameseAlliancechurches),butisactuallyadynamicatplayinmostchurches.Thetheologicalquestionis,howdoesachurchthatperpetuatessocietaldivisionmodeltheKingdomofGod?AcontinualthemeinPaul’swritingswastheimportanceofunity.HisassertionthatJesus’“purposewastocreateinhimselfonenewhumanityoutofthetwo,thusmakingpeace,”45andthatthechurchshouldbeadisplayof“themanifoldwisdomofGod,”46seemstobeindirectoppositiontoasociallysegmentedchurch.InfactJesus’ownassertionthat“everyonewillknowthatyouaremydisciples,ifyouloveoneanother,”47seemstoemphasizetheideathatthenatureoftherelationshipsinthechurchshouldbesovisiblydifferentfromwhatisnormalinculturethattherelationshipsthemselveswouldbethemainapologeticforHim.McGavran’stemplateforhomogenoussocio-economicchurchesmayrepresenteffectivesociologicalstrategy,butacasecanbemadethatachurchshapedbythedominantcultureislessabletostandasaneffectivemodeloftheKingdomofGodincontrasttothatculture.ThethirdissueoftheChurchGrowthparadigmisthefocusonnumbers.Elementsofthechurchthatwerehardertomeasure,suchasspiritualgrowth,becamelessofafocus,incontrasttoA.B.Simpson’sDeeperLife.Theresultofthisshiftinemphasiswasrevealedbyaleaderofthechurchgrowthmovement,BillHybels,whenheannouncedthefindingsoftheRevealsurvey48indicatingmanyoftheircongregants’spiritualliveshad“stalled,”andthatthiswasanissueinmanyotherchurchesacrossAmerica.Oneoftheunintendedconsequencesofastrongemphasisongrowingchurchesinhomogenoussocialsettingshasbeenareducedemphasisonthegrowthofthepeopleinthosechurches.Overall,thestrongfocusongrowingthechurchseemstoruncountertoJesus’sinstructionto“seekfirsttheKingdomofGod”49andhisassertiontoPeter50thathe,andnotthechurch,wouldbuildthechurch.” 44Ibid45Ephesians2:15NIV46Ephesians3:10NIV47John13:35NIV48MattBranaugh,“WillowCreek’s‘HugeShift,”ChristianityToday(May15,2008)Cited3December2015.Online:http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/june/5.13.html49Matt6:33

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ReflectingonthestrengthsandweaknessesoftheMcGavranera,itseemsclearthatinthenextepochinthelifeofthechurch,Jesuswillbeleadingustowards:

o Amodelofchurchthatisshapedby“Kingdom”valuesandcultureandtherebystandsinstarkrelieftothedominantsocietalculture

o Amodelofchurchthatallowsroomforeverymembertofindministryo Amodelofchurchthatinvitesandequipseverymembertoexperiencethedeeper

lifewithChrist

50Matt16:18

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TheDawningThirdEpoch

ThePresidentoftheAllianceinNorthAmericain1960,Dr.NathanBaily,wrote:Godexpectsustounderstandthemeaningofourgeneration,themeaningofourage,andlikeDavidtoserveourowngenerationbythewillofGod.Manypeopleareananachronism.Theyareoutofjointwiththeirtimes.Theybelongeithertothepastortothefuture–moreoftentheyshouldhavelivedahundredyearsago.Wecannotholdbackthechangeswhichcomeinhumanrelationshipsandthevaryingculturesofnationsfromgenerationtogeneration.Wemustspeaktoourtimesorloseouropportunitiesforcontactandwitnessbyourveryinabilitytominister.51

GodusedA.B.SimpsonandDonaldMcGavrantoempowerHischurchtospeaktothosetimes.Wearenowlivingindifferenttimes,andJesusisinvitingHischurchtostepintonewwineskinsforanewgeneration.WemustacknowledgethattheChristianchurchinCanadahasbeenhavingadecreasedimpactonthecountry.Overthelast70yearsthenumberofEvangelicalChristianshasrisenmodestlyfrom8percentto11percent;thenumberofCatholicshasremainedsteadyat40percent;mainlinechurcheshavedeclinedfrom48to17percent;whileotherreligionshavegrownfrom3to8percentandthoseidentifyingashavingNoReligionhavegrownfromlessthanonepercenttoabout25percent.52Despitetheenergyputintodiscussionsaboutmissionalandemergingchurchoverthelast20years,thechurchesthathavesucceedednumericallyarethosethattookMcGavran’sadvice.Generallytheydeliverahighqualityandconsistentproductthatmeetsthefeltneedsofa(usually)homogeneoussocialsegment.Howeverthese“mega-churches”areincreasinglybecomingwholesocialeco-systemsintheirownright,bubblesofaChristianculturethatisincreasinglyseparatefromtheday-to-dayrealitiesfacedbymostpeoplewhoattendthesechurches,asevidencedbythegrowingsacred-seculardividehighlightedearlier.

Ashiftinpurpose

Thismovementawayfromtheworld,ratherthanengagingwiththeworld,runscountertowhatN.T.WrightbelieveswasattheheartofJesus’strategyforthechurch:

“Theevidencepoints,Isuggest,towardsJesusintendingtoestablish,andindeedsucceededinestablishing,whatwemightcallcellsoffollowers,mostlycontinuingtoliveintheirtownsandvillages,whobytheiradoptionofhispraxis,hiswayofbeingIsrael,wouldbedistinctiveintheirlocalcommunities.”53

51RobertL.Niklaus,JohnS.Sawin,andSamuelJ.Stoesz,.AllforJesus:GodatWorkintheChristianandMissionaryAllianceOverOneHundredYears.(ChristianPublications,1986),Loc500352Source:ReginaldW.Bibby,ANewDay:theResilienceandRestructuringofReligioninCanada(Lethbridge:ProjectCanadaBooks,2012),3053Wright,NicholasThomas.JesusandtheVictoryofGod(London:SPCK,1996),276

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Itseemsclearasignificantshiftisneeded,andpartofitisshiftingourunderstandingofwhatthemissionofthechurchactuallyis.InTransformingMission,DavidBoschdefinesmissionas“thegoodnewsofGod’slove,incarnatedinthewitnessofacommunity,forthesakeoftheworld.”54ThisideathatmissionisnotsomuchaboutwhatwedobutwhoweareisquitedifferentfromeitherSimpsonorMcGavran.MissiologistLesslieNewbigin,however,seemstoagreewithBosch:

Theonlyanswer,theonlyhermeneuticofthegospel,isacongregationofmenandwomenwhobelieveitandlivebyit.Iam,ofcourse,notdenyingtheimportanceofthemanyactivitiesbywhichweseektochallengepubliclifewiththegospel–evangelisticcampaigns,distributionofBiblesandChristianliterature,conferences,andevenbookssuchasthisone.

ButIamsayingthattheseareallsecondary,andthattheyhavepowertoaccomplishtheirpurposeonlyastheyarerootedinandleadbacktoabelievingcommunity.55

WhatSimpsonandMcGavransawasprimarymodesofmission,Newbiginlabelsassecondary.ForNewbiginthecounter-culturalbelievingcommunityisthecoremethodthroughwhichtheworldischanged.ForSimpsonitwasmissions,forMcGavranitwasevangelismbutforWright,NewbiginandBosch,itisthechurchitself.Allofasuddenthemembersofthechurcharethecentreoftheactionratherthanthesupportersoftheaction.GordonSmithbelievesthatthisshiftistherealtestwearefacing:

Therealtestofthechurchisnothowlargeitisorhowfastitisgrowingbutwhetheritsmembersareequippedtobekingdomagentsintheworld.AndconversionisnotaboutjoiningareligiousclubbutratheraboutbecomingpartofafaithcommunitythatisimpassionedinitscallandmutualcommitmenttobeasigntoGod’skingdom.56

AttheheartofSmith’sstatementisaradicallydifferenttheologicalassumptionthanthatwhichdroveeitherSimpsonorMcGavran.ForSmith,thecoreofthemissionofthechurchistheKingdomofGod.Thisbroaderdefinitionofmission,asmorethantheproclamationoftheGospel,istheonlyparadigminwhichthethemefortheGeneralAssemblymakessense.SmithandBoscharepleadingforachurchthatisOnmission.Everyone.Everywhere.Allthetime.AscripturepassageoftenquotedbythoseinthemissionalchurchdiscussionisEphesians4;however,oneoftheunderlyingassumptionsisthatthetaskofthechurchleaderistohelpeveryoneinthecongregationdiscovertheirroleasApostle,Prophet,Evangelist,Pastor,orTeacher.AuthorAlanHirschwrites,“IwouldstronglyarguethatAPEPTisinactualfactpartoftheDNAofallGod’speople–intheveryfabricofwhatitmeanstobe‘church.’”57

54Bosch,DavidJ.Transformingmission:Paradigmshiftsintheologyofmission.(Maryknoll:OrbisBooks,2011),532.55LesslieNewbigin,TheGospelinaPluralistSociety(GrandRapids,MI:Eerdmans,1989),227.56GordonT.Smith,TransformingConversion:RethinkingtheLanguageandContoursofChristianInitiation.(BakerAcademic,2010),loc83757AllanHirsch,andLeonardSweet.TheForgottenWays:Reactivatingthemissionalchurch.(BrazosPress,2006),170

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Hirsch’sreadingofEphesians4issadlyreductionist.ItistruethatthisreadinggivesmoreoptionsforpeopletofindvocationthaneitherSimpsonorMcGavrandid,butitmissesthefundamentalpointofthetext:it’snotthegifts,butthejobthosegiftsaretodo:“toequipGod’speopleforworksofservicesothatthewholebodyofChristmightbebuiltup,”whichwillresultinunityandmaturity.58AsSmithsays:

Maturityisfoundwhenweresolvethatwewillbetruetowhowearecalledtobeandresolvethatwewillnotlivebyimitationofothers,orbycomplianceorconformitytoothers’idealsforus.Ifwehaveasenseofduty,itwillbereflectedinaresolvethatwewillbefaithfultowhoweareandwhowehavebeencalledtobe.59

Paulfinisheshisthoughtinverse16bysaying“Fromhimthewholebody,joinedandheldtogetherbyeverysupportingligament,growsandbuildsitselfupinlove,aseachpartdoesitswork.”ForPaul,thegiftsgiventothechurchwerenottobethecentralfocus,theywerethe“supportingligaments”thatholdthebodytogetherunderChristaseachpartdoesitswork.Aligament’smaintaskistoattachaparticularorganormuscletothebody;itsfunctionishelpingtheotherfunction.Thefocusofthechurchisthehead,whichisJesus.WearenottodosomethinginordertogetJesustocomeback,andwearenottospendallourenergybuildingourselvesup.Weareto“becomeineveryrespectthematurebodyofhimwhoisthehead,thatisChrist.”60Individuallyandcorporately,whenpeopleencounterustheyshouldbeencounteringHim.LesslieNewbiginbelievesthatdistinctivenesswillcomeasallthemembersofthechurchareequippedtodeeplyengagewithwhatitmeanstolivetheirfaithintheirdaytodaylives.:

Forwhilethereareoccasionswhenitisproperforthechurch,throughitssynodsandhierarchies,tomakepronouncementsonpublicissues,itismuchmoreimportantthatallitslaymembersbepreparedandequippedtothinkouttherelationshipoftheirfaithtotheirsecularwork.Hereiswheretherealmissionaryencountertakesplace.61

Thisvisionofchurchandchurchleadershipisverydifferentfromthevisiondevelopedthroughtheprecedingtwoepochs.IntheEphesians4church,thevarietyofgiftsgiventothechurcharerecognizedandgivenfreedomtooperatesoeveryoneinthechurchwilldiscoverthemagnificenttwofoldtruththatPaulunpacksinEphesians2:9-10,thatwearesavedbygrace,butthateachoneofusisamasterpiececreatedwithaspecificplantoworkoutthroughourlives.

58Eph4:12NIV59GordonT.Smith,Courageandcalling:EmbracingyourGod-givenpotential.(InterVarsityPress,2011),13860Eph4;15NIV61LesslieNewbigin,FoolishnesstotheGreeks:TheGospelandWesternCulture.Vol.6.(Wm.B.EerdmansPublishing,1986),Loc1833

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GordonSmithsays:WeneedtothunderfromourpulpitsandcelebrateateveryturninthelifeofthechurchthatGodiscallingpeopleintoeducation,thearts,publicoffice,business,engineering,medicine,theserviceprofessions–quiteliterallyintoeveryareaandsectorofhumanlife.Weneedtoproclaimthistruthandcelebrateitoftenbecausetheolder,unbiblicalnotionissodeeplyembeddedinourcorporateconsciousness.Further,weneedtoaffirmthatonlythoseexplicitlycalledtoreligiousleadershipshouldbecomepastors.Otherwisetheyfailtofulfillwhattheyarereallybeingcalledtodo.62

ThedawningthirdepochoftheAlliancechurchinCanadawillbecentredaroundthetruththatbeingdependablemembersofachurchisactuallynotaboutsupportingotherstodomissionorministry,butdiscoverythateverymemberiscalled.

AshiftbacktotheDeeperLife

Inmovingtowardsachurchthatempowerspeopletofindandfulfilltheircalling,weneedtorediscoverwhatA.B.SimpsoncalledtheDeeperLife.Asthechurchgrowsfurtherandfurtherdownthispath,eachmemberwillfindthemselvesinmomentsofsignificantidentitycrisiswheretheonlyrealsupporttheywillhaveisJesus.WithoutadeeplyrootedandestablishedrelationshipwithJesus,bythepoweroftheHolySpirit,theweightoftheworldwillquicklychoketheseedsofgrowth.Ourchurcheswillneedtodevelopresources,teachingandmentoringthathelpourpeopleincreasinglyaligntheircharacterwiththatofChrist.Prayer,andinparticularlisteningprayerthatinvitesJesusintothedailyrealitiestheyarefacing,willbeessentialforeachmemberofthechurch,aswillthechoicetoobeyastheydiscoverHisspecificwillfortheiruniquesituation.Aspartofthisnecessarymovementtowardsthedeeperlife,theimportanceoftheweeklygatheringofthebodyforpraise,prayerandteachingwilltakeonanewlevelofimportance.Asmoreandmorepeoplefindtheircalling,theplaceofthechurchgatheredasthevisiblewitnesstotheagencyoftheHolySpiritbecomescritical.Oneofthedangersinvocationisthatitcanbecomeanidol,butinaworshipservicemadeupofoldandyoung,richandpoor,blackandwhite,heldtogetherbyamiracleoftheHolySpirit,themembersofthechurcharereleasedfromtheirvocationalidentityandremindedthattheirtrueidentityisonlyinChrist.Withouttheregularconnectioninworshipwithpeoplewhoareunlikeeachother,thevocationalidentitywilltakeover.Thisistherealdangerwith“churches”thatgatheraroundvocationalgroupings.Thereissomethingimportantaboutbeinginacontextwherethe“oneanother”ministriesareaconstantchallengetore-orientatearoundChristandnotaroundourcapacityorvocationasindividuals.Inourtimesofgatheringwecelebrate

62GordonT.Smith,Courageandcalling:EmbracingyourGod-givenpotential(InterVarsityPress,2011),45

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togetherwhatJesusisdoinginandthroughoneanother,butthefocusisonHimandnotonus.

Ashiftinhowwedotheology

WhereasthemainemphasisoftheMcGavraneraforinvolvementinthelocalchurchwasthroughbeingreliablemembers,andregularattendeesoftheSundayservicewithsomediscipleshipthroughtheweek,theprimaryenergyofthechurchinthisthirdepochwillbeshiftedtowardsequippingHispeopleforworksofservice.63FollowingthemodelofEphesians4,localchurcheswillidentifyandreleasethosewhoarecalledasApostles,Prophets,Evangelists,PastorsandTeachersintorealleadershippositions,whichwillprobablymeanthatnotalloftherecognizedchurchleadershipwillbeinafull-timepaidposition.Unpaidteammemberswillnotbeasupplementtothepaidworkers,butwillbeanintegralpartofchurchleadership.Thisincreaseddiversityofleadershipgiftingwillbenecessaryas“onesizefitsall”ministrybecomesathingofthepast,andeachmemberofthechurchcontendswiththeuniquecircumstancesinwhichtheyareseekingtoapprenticewithJesus.Doctors,retailers,publicservants,artistsandfull-timecarerswillneed,infellowshipwithothers,avisionoftheKingdomofGodthatenergizesandequipsthemandarelationshipwithChristthatdirectsandsustainsthemforthespecificrealitiestheyfaceastheymakeintelligent,counter-culturalresponsestothecultureoftheworld,inthewaystheythink,talkandactinhospitals,shops,officecomplexes,artgalleriesandhomes.LesslieNewbiginbelievedtheologyneededtobeputinthehandsofordinarypeople.Hewrote,“themissionaryencounterwithourcultureforwhichIampleadingwillrequiretheenergeticfosteringofadeclericalized,laytheology.”64AsIsuggestin6RadicalDecisions,IbelieveacentralaspectofthistheologicalframeworkwillbeanunderstandingoftheGloryofGodasHismoralnature,andtheimplicationsofthatforfamilies,communitiesandworkplaces.65OthertheologicalframeworksincludetheimplicationsoftheImagoDei,theimplicationsofsinandadeeperunderstandingofwhat“conversion”actuallyis.66GordonSmith,inTransformingConversion,states:

AnauthenticChristianconversionfostersourcapacitytodiscernthecallofGodtobeintheworld.However,aChristianconversionjustassurelyenablesthebelievertoseeandfeel,tounderstandaffectively,thattheiridentityisnotanchoredinaworldthatis

63Eph4:1264Ibid,Loc181465MatthewGarvin,6RadicalDecisions:HowsmallgroupsofChristfollowerscanchangetheworldthroughKingdomCells.Wheatley:FusionTrading,201266 The Foundations course developed in Australia by Mal Garvin contains many of these pragmatic theological frameworks and has been an important ingredient of the strategy at St. Albert Alliance Church.

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alienatedfromChrist.OrtousethelanguageoftheLettertotheColossians:“Seekthethingsthatareabove,whereChristis,seatedattherighthandofGod.Setyourmindsonthingsthatareabove,notonthingsthatareonearth,foryouhavedied,andyourlifeishiddenwithChristinGod”(3:1–3).Inotherwords,thereisaprofoundandradicaldiscontinuitysuchthatthoughweareintheworld,wearenot“of”theworld.Ouridentityisother.Thewholeprocessofconversionnecessarilyneedstohighlightandcultivatethisdiscontinuityor,quitesimply,itisnotaChristianconversion.67

Thesearejustsomeoftheframeworksthatwillinformthetoolsandteachingthatwillequippeopletoenteradialoguewiththerealitytheyfindthemselvesin.Theologyalonethoughwillnotbesufficient.Theologicalreflectionwillneedtohappeninvocationalfellowship,asNewbiginintimates.Theshiftintotheheartofthelocalcommunity

DietrichBonhoeffercalledforthechurchtomoveto“thecentreofthevillage,”68throughwhathecalled“religionlessChristianity.”69Whilepeoplehavedebatedwhathemeantbythat,thereisagrowingresistanceinWesternsocietytowhatpeopleperceiveas“religion.”Bonhoefferassertedthatthe“churchischurchonlywhenitisthereforothers.”70Inthisthirdepoch,Churcheswillbemosteffectiveiftheircorporateengagementwiththeircommunitiescomesfromserviceandhospitalitymotivatedbyloveratherthanideologicalconflict.Ourownchurchhasseentheverypositivecommunityresponsetopositivesocialengagement.71Socialengagement,though,requiressocialskills.Asthegeneralsocietybecomesmoreisolated,andlessrelationallyconnected,churcheswillneedtoteachpracticalskillssuchaslistening,managingconflictandgivingconstructivefeedbackaspressuresonrelationshipscontinuetogrow.Thispressurewillparticularlybefeltascongregationsbecomemoremulticultural,withincreasedneedforsocialawareness.Thefocusonserviceandrelationshipdoesnotmeanthatthechurchshouldavoidideologicaldebate.Itistrue,however,thatachurchknownforitspositiveengagementwiththecommunitywillhaveamuchstrongerstartingplacetospeakintosocietythanonethatseemstofocusonlyondebateovermoralquestions.

67GordonT.Smith,Transformingconversion:RethinkingthelanguageandcontoursofChristianinitiation(BakerAcademic,2010),Loc75068DietrichBonhoeffer,LettersandPapersfromPrison(Minneapolois:Fortress,2010),Loc1029469ibid,Loc.1023470ibid,Loc1434371e.g.OurShareandWear,ChurchhasleftthebuildingandHamperDaycoverageOnline:http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/edmonton/st-albert-church-knocks-on-100-doors-to-deliver-true-meaning-of-christmas-1.3342670AccessedDecember8,2015

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Achurch’spublicengagementwithethicalissueswillalsobegreatlyenhancedifthechurchhasbeenactivelyencouragingandsupportingitspeopletomovetowardstheirownvocation.AsNewbiginwrites:

Weneedmuchbetterprovisiontoensurethatwhenchurchleadersmakepronouncementstoethical,politicalandeconomicquestions,theirwordsareinformedbyatheologythathasbeenwroughtoutatthecoalface,attheplacewherefaithwrestlesatpersonalcostwiththehardissuesofpubliclife.72

Newbiginpaintsapictureofachurchintellectuallyengagedwiththemostcomplexsocietalissues,butachurchinformedbyanetworkofcalledpeople,whohavedonetherigorousworktoreconcilethetruthandhopeoftheGospelwiththeparticularissuethatneedsaddressing.Thistrulywouldbethechurchatthe“centreofthevillage.”NosteppingbackfromproclamationoftheGospel

ThismovetowardsatheologyofKingdomandvocationdoesnotmitigatetheneedfortheproclamationoftheGospel.Asmembersofthechurchlivetheirlivesinsuchawayastheircharacterstandsinstarkrelieftothedominantsocietalnorms,theywillneedto“(a)lwaysbepreparedtogiveananswertoeveryonewhoasksyoutogivethereasonforthehopethatyouhave.”73However,doingthatwith“gentlenessandrespect”74willmeanchurchesmustputmoreemphasisonequippingtheirpeopletosharetheirownjourneysoffaithwithotherspersonally,ratherthanthroughmassproducedtracts.Therewillstillbeneedforpublicproclamation;however,itwillbemosteffectivewhenitisexplainingaphenomenonor“life”thatpeopleareobservingandwhichasksquestionsofthem.

Ashiftinstructure

ThisthirdepochinthehistoryoftheAlliancewillseethefocusmovefromtheperformerstotheaudience,astheaudiencediscoversthatitwasmeanttobeonthestagefromtheverybeginning.GordonSmithputsitthisway:

Thechurchisapeopletogetherinservice,inactivejointparticipationintheinbreakingofChrist’sreign.Fundamentally,thismeansthatthemembersofthechurchareequippedandempoweredtomakeadifferencethroughtheirrespectivevocations:nursesareempoweredbylifeinthechurchtobefaithfullyengagedintheirwork,alongwiththeirsistersandbrotherswhoaresimilarlyempoweredintheirvocations,whethertheybeinbusiness,thearts,education,orreligiousministry.Thisisareminderthatwhatmarksthechurchasagreatchurchisnotitssize,notits

72LesslieNewbigin,FoolishnesstotheGreeks:TheGospelandWesternCulture.Vol.6(Wm.B.EerdmansPublishing,1986),Loc1828731Peter3:15NIV74ibid

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numbers,butratheritsimpactthroughitsmembersinitscommunity.Weaskeachchurch,arethesepeopleempoweredandequippedfortheworktowhicheachofthemisindividuallycalled?75

LesslieNewbiginbelievedthatwe“needtocreate,aboveall,possibilitiesineverycongregationforlaypeopletosharewithoneanothertheactualexperienceoftheirweekdayworkandsoseekilluminationfromtheGospelfortheirdailysecularduty.”76So,inthisthirdepoch,thechurchwillneedtoenablepeoplewithsimilarvocationstosharetheirjourneyswithoneanother.Thisnecessarilywillbemoreofanetworkthananorganization,andwillrequireadifferentstructurethanthetypicalPastor-as-C.E.O.modelofthelast60years.OneclueaboutthewayforwardmightcomefrommissiologistRalphWinter,whobelievedthatthroughoutthehistoryofthechurchGodhasusedtwoprimarystructuresinthebodyofChrist.Theideathatthechurchmighthave“tworedemptivestructures”isnotimmediatelyobviousorevenagreeduponbyallacademics,77howeverWinter’sthesiscontinuestoinfluencethemissionaldiscussion.78Thefirststructurewasthecongregation,whichWintergavethetechnicaltitlemodality.Hesaidthe“definingcharacteristicofthisstructureisthatitincludesoldandyoung,maleandfemale.,”79butalsothatitwasessentiallyanopentoallbelieversandlocatedinageographicarea.80Thesecondstructurewasthemissionaryband,ofwhichWintersaidPaulandBarnabaswereaprototype.Wintergavethemissionarybandthetechnicaltitleofsodality.Hesaidthisgroupingofpeoplewerecommitted,experiencedandalignedthemselveswitha“seconddecisionbeyondmembershipinthefirststructure.”81Interestingly,Winter’sdescriptionofthemissionarybandsoundsalotlikethekindofvocationalfellowshipthatNewbiginwascallingfor.

75GordonT.Smith,Transformingconversion:RethinkingtheLanguageandContoursofChristianInitiation.(BakerAcademic,2010),Loc418876LesslieNewbigin,FoolishnesstotheGreeks:TheGospelandWesternCulture.Vol.6(Wm.B.EerdmansPublishing,1986),Loc182977Some(suchasHirschandFrost)havetakenNewbigin’scriticismofchurchlessmissionandmissionlesschurchasacriticismoftheideathattherecouldbetworedemptivestructures.78Winteroutlinedthisinanaddressthatbecameawidelyreferencedpapertitled“TheTwoStructuresofGod’sRedemptive.”IthasbeenreproducedmanytimesbutiscurrentlypartofthetextFoundationsoftheWorldChristianMovement:ALargerPerspective(2008),227.Hisbasicideacontinuestohavefairlywideacceptance,e.g.,HowardA.Snyder,TheCommunityoftheKing(2004),173;DarrelL.Guder,TheContinuingConversionoftheChurch(2000),182;TimothyC.Tennent,InvitationtoWorldMissions:ATrinitarianMissiologyfortheTwenty-firstCentury(2010),439;NeilCole,OrganicLeadership:LeadingNaturallyRightWhereYouAre(2010),12279RalphD.Winter,“TheTwoStructuresofGod’sRedemptiveMission,”inPerspectivesontheWorldChristianMovement:Reader.EditedbyRalphD.Winter,StevenC.Hawthorne,DarrellR.Dorr,D.BruceGraham,andBruceA.Koch,eds(WilliamCareyLibraryPub,1999),22980Winterwrotethatthecongregationwasstructuredaroundthemodelofthesynagogue,“embracingthecommunityofthefaithfulinanygivenplace.”81Ibid

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WhileWinterwasreferencingclassicMissionOrganizations,suchastheAllianceNationalMissionsstructureorOperationMobilisation,hissuggestionthatGodhasalwaysusedtworedemptivestructuresprovidesapossiblevisionforwhereGodmightbeleadingthechurchaswecometotermswiththekindsofstructurethatwouldenableeverymemberofthechurchtoengageinmission.Inmybook6RadicalDecisions82,Isuggestedthatvocationalfellowships(whichIcalledKingdomCells),wereactuallynotanewthing,thatGodhadusedthemthroughoutthehistoryofthechurch.Wilberforce’sClaphamsectandC.S.Lewis’sInklingsareexamplesofvocationalfellowships.IalsosuggestthattheMothersofPre-Schoolers(M.O.P.S.)groupsthatarecommonlyruninchurchesareacurrentexampleofpeople(inthiscasemothers)gettingtogethertodothekindofworkNewbiginsayswillbevital.Asthesefellowshipsform,bothnaturallyandwithencouragementbychurchleadership,initiativewillincreasinglycomefromthemembersofthechurchastheystepintowhatJesusisaskingofthem,andlessfromtheorganizationofthechurch.JohnL.McKnight’sworkonthedifferencebetweenassociationsandinstitutions83pointstowaysthesevocationalfellowshipsmightrelatetothetraditionalchurchstructure.McKnightsuggeststhatsomethingspecialhappenswhencitizensarefreetoworktogetherinsmallgroupstoidentifyachallengeandworktogethertomeetthechallenge.Theassociationsformedbythisprocessaremuchmoreflexibleandresponsivetorealissues,andanycommunityishealthytothedegreethereisanetworkofthesesimpleassociationsatitsheart.McKnightcontrastswhattheseassociationscanachievecomparedwiththetypicalhierarchicalmanagementmodel,andthecontrastisfascinating.Hesaystheprimarybenefitofahierarchicalsystem“isitsabilitytoproduceagreatdealofthesamething,whethergoodsorservices,”84butitthereforeneedsamarketofpeoplewhowantagreatdealofthesamething.McKnightisprimarilyaddressingthequestionofeffectivecommunitydevelopment,andbelievesthattheinstitutional/hierarchicalsystemapproachhasfailedandwhatisneededisanetworkofbothhierarchicalsystemsandassociationsworkingtogether.WhatMcKnightdescribesasassociationssoundsalotliketheClaphamSect,theInklingsoralocalM.O.P.S.group.Understandingandfosteringtheseassociationswillbeacriticalroleforleadershipinthisthirdepoch.

82MatthewGarvin,6RadicalDecisions:HowsmallgroupsofChristfollowerscanchangetheworldthroughKingdomCells.

Wheatley:FusionTrading,201283JohnL.McknightATwenty-FirstCenturyMapForHealthyCommunitiesAndFamilies

(CommunityStudiesInstituteforPolicyResearch,(NorthwesternUniversity1996)84Ibid,3

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OneotherunderstandingthathelpspointtothekindofleadershipneededinthethirdepochofthechurchistheassertionbyJohnKotter,inhisbookAccelerate:BuildingStrategicAgilityforaFaster-MovingWorld,thatthemosteffectiveorganizationswillbethosewhocanmanagetwocomplementaryorganizationalmodes:thetraditionalhierarchyandthenetwork,whichexistinasymbioticrelationship.85Kotterbelievesthatallorganizationsstartasnetworksandevolveintothetraditionalhierarchy.MostmovementsofthespiritofGodalsostartasnetworks,ormoreproperlymovements(whicharenetworkswithcommonvaluesandgoals).ThisiscertainlytrueoftheAlliance,whichstartedasafellowshipandbecameadenomination.Movingtowardsinstitutionisnotnecessarilywrong,asBoschpointsout,“Everyreligiousgroupthatstartedoutasamovementandmanagedtosurvive,didsobecauseitwasgraduallyinstitutionalized.”86AccordingtoKotter,onthejourneyfromnetworktohierarchythereisaperiodwherethetwostructuresexistincreativetension,sidebyside.Hearguesthatthiscreativetensionis,infact,themosteffectiveorganizationalstructureforthe21stcentury,andthatorganizationsthathavelostthenetworkhavetofindwaystorebuildthatmoreinformalstructure.Bosch,however,arguesthatinstitutionalizationcanleadtoalossoftheheartthatfoundedthemovementinthefirstplace:

Ourmainpointofcensureshouldthereforenotbethatthemovementbecameaninstitutionbutthat,whenthishappened,italsolostmuchofitsverve.Itswhitehotconvictions,pouredintotheheartsofthefirstadherents,cooleddownandbecamecrystallizedcodes,solidifiedinstitutionsandpetrifieddogmas.Theprophetbecamethepriestoftheestablishment,charismabecameoffice,andlovebecameroutine.Thehorizonwasnolongertheworldbuttheboundariesofthelocalparish.Theimpetuousmissionarytorrentofearlieryearswasturnedintoastill-flowingrivuletandeventuallyintoastationarypond.Itisthisdevelopmentthatwehavetodeplore.Institutionandmovementmayneverbemutuallyexclusivecategories;neithermaychurchandmission.87

FortheChristianchurch,Institutionandmovementworkingtogetherisnotanewidea.Acts6showsthedisciplesstartingtobuildastructureastheyappointsevenmentocareforthefeedingofwidows.Infact,thepictureofthechurchthatemergesinthroughtheNewTestamentseemstofollowthishierarchyandnetworkpattern,asrecognizedleadershipisgivenstructuralauthorityandresponsibility,buttheirtaskitistonurtureandsupportanetworkofpeople,allpartneringtowardsthesameend.Theideaofhierarchyandnetworkisalsonotaforeignideaforanypastor.Whilethelocalchurchnormallyhasafairlytypicalmanagement/governancestructure,themajorityof 85JohnP.Kotter,Accelerate:buildingstrategicagilityforafaster-movingworld.(HarvardBusinessReviewPress,2014),Loc21886Bosch,DavidJ.Transformingmission:Paradigmshiftsintheologyofmission.(Maryknoll:OrbisBooks,2011),5387Ibid,54

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churchmembershaveonlynominalinvolvementinthatstructure(perhapsturningupatanAGM),andtheirconnectionwiththechurchismuchmoreinformalandwouldbebettermappedwithanetworkdiagramthanastructuraldiagram.However,oneofthechallenges,ifKotter’smodelisaccurate,isthatordinarilythemajorityofinfluenceandinitiativeinthetraditionalchurchstructurecomesfromthehierarchicalstructureandnotfromthenetwork.ThechurchisuniquelypositionedcomparedtoanyotherkindoforganizationiftheyaretoadoptKotter’smodelorBosch’sadvice.Boththehierarchyandnetworkalreadyexist.Aschurchmembersfindtheirvocations,andinitiativeincreasinglycomesfromthenetwork,thetaskofchurchleadersistobecomethepointsofconnectionbetweenthenetworkandthehierarchy.Interestinglythissoundsalotlikethetaskofaligament,asEphesians4suggested.Thisshiftwillrequirechurchleaderstooperatedifferentlythantheyhavethroughthelast50years.Kotterbelievesthiskindofdual-structureoperatesaroundfiveprincipleswhicharenotprescriptive,andnotscriptural,butmighttypifythestructurethatwillbestservetheemergingreality.Kotter’sprinciplesare:

o Manypeopledrivingimportantchange,andfromeverywhere,notjusttheusualfewappointees:whichwillrequireprocessesthatdonotriskchaos,createdestructiveconflict,duplicateeffortsorwastemoney.

o A“get-to”mindset,nota“have-to”one:peoplewillhave“thedesiretoworkwithothersforanimportantandexcitingsharedpurpose,andtherealisticpossibility”88ofachievingthatpurpose.

o Actionthatisheadandheartdriven,notjustheaddriven:Leadership“mustspeaktothegenuineandfundamentalhumandesiretocontributetosomebiggercause,totakeacommunityoranorganizationintoabetterfuture.”89

o Muchmoreleadership,notjustmuchmoremanagement:whilemanagementisimportant,“thenameofthegameisleadership,andnotfromonelarger-than-lifeexecutive.Thegameisaboutvision,opportunity,agility,inspiredaction,passion,innovationandcelebration–notjustprojectmanagement,budgetreviews,reportingrelationships,compensationandaccountabilitytoaplan.”90

o Aninseparablepartnershipbetweenthehierarchyandthenetwork,notjusttheenhancedhierarchy:Thetwosystems,networkandhierarchy,workasone,withaconstantflowofinformationandactivitybetweenthem.

88 JohnP.Kotter,Accelerate:buildingstrategicagilityforafaster-movingworld.(HarvardBusinessReviewPress,2014),Loc261 89 Ibid 90 Ibid

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ThetensionofthisshifttowardsvocationasmissionwillbekeenlyfeltinthecurrentInternationalMissionsstructureswhichhavebecomemuchmoreinstitutionalizedsincetheirinceptionover100yearsago.91OnefearforthosewholovetheheartandhistoryoftheChristianandMissionaryAlliancecouldbethatthefocusonleast-reachedpeoplesandoverseasmissionmightgomissingifwechangedhowwedefinedmission.OurexperienceatSt.AlbertAllianceisthataswehavetaughtandledtowardsvocation,increasingnumbersofpeoplearefindingacalltoglobalmission.Oneofthebiggestchallengeswewillfaceisnotthelossofinterestinglobalmission,butthelimitationofthecurrentcentralizedstructuretocopewiththenumbersofpeoplewhoarecalledtogo.92AsindicatedbyKotter’smodel,ourchurchisseeingsomepeopleworkwithintheexistinghierarchicalstructureandsomepeopleworkingoutsideit.Themissionariesthatourchurchhassentandsupportedforthelast16yearswerenotabletoworkwithintheAlliancestructurebecausetheydidn’thavethecorrecttraining,sotheywentwithamissionorganizationthatcouldgivethemameaningfulrole.ThePentecostalAssembliesofCanada(PAOC)havemovedfromacentralizedmissionfundingmodeltoamodelwherethosefeelingcalledtooverseasmissionareaskedtoraisetheirownsupport93andarevettedbyagroupofpeoplethatincludestheirownhomechurch.94InasimilarwaythattheKottermodelsuggests,thePAOChavenotdiscardedtheirhierachicalmissionstructure,butadapteditsothatinitiativecancomefromanywherewithintheirdenominationalnetwork.PerhapsthefutureoftheglobalmissionwillbelesscentrallyorganizedandmoredrivenbytheHolySpirit’sworkofcallingindividualswhoarethensupportedbyanorganizationalstructure.Ifthatistrue,itwouldmeantheworkerscouldpotentiallbemoreinnovativeandresponsivetoneed,asAlliancePioneerslikeRobertJaffrayseemedtobe.95ThiswillrequirethekindofstructurethatKottersuggests,andperhapscouldbeinformedbythelearningofthePAOC.HowweorganizeInternationalmissionsisjustoneareawhereashifttoadualstructurewillhaveasignificantimpact;howeverinthisandeveryotherarea,thepotentialenergythatisreleasedasmoreandmorepeopleareequippedtofulfillthecallingontheirlivescouldbeenormous.

92AsevidencedbythecurrentshortfallintheGlobalAdvanceFundashighlightedbyanemailtoallstaffandboardsbyPresidentDavidHearn.93PentecostalAssembliesofCanada,AGuidetoChurchMissions(PAOC:Undated).4194FormerPresidentofVanguardCollege,StephenHertzog,indicatedthattheshifttoalesscentralizedmodelhasactuallyleadtomoremissionariesbeingonforeignfields.95OneformerlongtermAlliancemissionarysharedwithmehisviewthatRobertJaffraywouldnothavesurvivedinthecurrenthighlystructuredAllianceMissionhierarchy.

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Inconclusion

AlbertBenjaminSimpsonandDonaldMcGavranhavebothbeenusedbyGodtoshapeaveryspecialmovementofHispeople.AstheAlliancechurchinCanadapreparesforaGeneralAssemblywiththetheme“Onmission.Everyone.Everywhere.Allthetime,”anewepochisdawningthatmakesthosewordsareality.Acentralquestionthatwillfaceeachchurch,andeachleader,willbewhethertheyarewillingtostepintothisnewreality.AsAndyStanleypointsoutinhisbookDeepandWide,changeisnotsimple:

Everylocalchurchisacomplexcollectionofsystems.Everychurchhasitswayofdoingthings.Andforthemostpart,itworks.Consequently,changeisrarelyperceivedasasolution.Inmostcaseschangefeelslikeaninterruption.Anexpensiveinterruptiontosomethingthat’sfinethewayitis.96

IttooktremendouscourageforSimpsontostepoutofthenormalandintothecallingthatwasonhislife.IttooksignificantcourageforKingandPipperttorealigntheAllianceinNorthAmericaaroundMcGavran’sinsights.ThequestionfacingthoseofusinleadershipintheAllianceChurchinCanadainthisdecade,iswhetherwearepreparedtomakeasimilarleap.IamconvincedthatYoderwasrightandthatJesusisreforminghischurch.Thesalientlessonfromthehistoryofthechurchthough,isthat,asafreshwindoftheHolySpiritblewthroughthechurch,somerespondedandsomedidnot.ItisnotautomaticthattheChristianandMissionaryAlliancewillfollowtheleadingoftheSpiritintothenexteraofitshistory.IfitistruethatJesusiswantingtoreleaseallthemembersofHischurchintothevocationHehasforthem,thenthatasksbigquestionsforadenominationthathasbeenverysuccessfuloperatingfromthepreviousparadigm.Arewewillingtorespondtotheinvitationtoathirdepoch?

96AndyStanleyDeepandWide(Zondervan:2012),Loc3147

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