1. The missional church proclaims the
gospel. The good news of God’s reign is publicly announced in word
and deed, audibly and visibly. It involves individual and communal
salvation. Persons, in their words and actions, express to others what
God has done in the world and in their lives through Jesus Christ. There
is evidence that this is a community that can be entered into as a
concrete expression of the living gospel story.
2. The missional church is a community
where all members are involved in learning to become disciples of Jesus.
Citizenship in the reign of God is learned—those behaviors and
processes that witness to the way of Jesus, who is forming his people
for life in the reign of God. Participants train, mentor, and nurture
each other in following Jesus Christ. New participants indicate that
they are being helped to integrate their life with the practices and
habits of life in the reign of God. Existing participants in the
community indicate that they are engaged in a lifelong process of
integrating their lives with the practices and habits of life in the
reign of God.
3. The Bible is normative in this
church’s life. It is expected that Christians will know the
Scriptures and seek to be obedient to the Word revealed in Scriptures.
The community reflects on its hearing of the gospel and its obedience to
the gospel’s imperatives in order to become more faithful disciples.
The community translates the biblical message into the language and
experience of its immediate context.
4. The church understands itself as
different from the world because of its participation in the life,
death, and resurrection of its Lord. The church is consciously
seeking to conform to its Lord instead of the multitude of cultures in
which it finds itself. The church is willing to follow the way of the
cross and share in the sufferings of Christ. Members can give examples
of instances when the church was willing to suffer or take risks for the
sake of the gospel. The church’s distinctive conduct is frequently
different from and often in opposition to the world’s patterns of
behavior.
5. The church seeks to discern God’s
specific missional vocation for the entire community and for all of its
members. The goal is discerning together the will of God. The need
for the gifts and insights of all members is emphasized. Believing that
the Holy Spirit gives gifts to all, the community identifies,
commissions, and uses the gifts of new and continuing members.
Leadership teams demonstrate, model, and cultivate in their behavior
what the whole community is called to be and to do.
6. A missional community is indicated
by how Christians behave toward one another. Acts of self-sacrifice
on behalf of one another both in the church and in the locale
characterize the generosity of the community. Members spend more time
with one another, take their relationships with one another more
seriously, provide tangible support for one another.
7. It is a community that practices
reconciliation. The church community is moving beyond homogeneity,
toward a more heterogeneous community in its racial, ethnic, age,
gender, and socioeconomic make-up. Differences are dealt with
constructively. Conflict is used to enrich discussion. Healing and
forgiveness takes place. Violence is rejected as a method of resolving
difference.
8.
People within the community hold themselves accountable to one
another in love. Substantial time is spent with one another for
the purpose of watching over one another in love. People place a high
value on sharing a common life. Participants indicate that they are
accountable to a grouping of people with whom they are learning to
live the Christian life more faithfully. The community is
characterized by a unity of spirit. Participants pray for one another.
The community reflects on how its structures hinder or enable mutual
love, respect, and accountability.
9.
The church practices hospitality. It welcomes the stranger into
the midst of the community. People are reached and invited into new
relationships with God and with one another. People are becoming
citizens of God’s reign. Visitors experience welcome, aid, and
comfort. The church demonstrates a sense of urgency about inviting
people to enter the reign of God.
10.
Worship is the central act by which the community celebrates with
joy and thanksgiving both God’s presence and God’s promised
future. There is significant and meaningful engagement in communal
worship of God, reflecting appropriately and addressing the culture of
those who worship together. Worship is the community’s action of
publicly giving allegiance to the triune God. Worship focuses on God
and gives opportunity for human responses to God. Worship provides for
the formation of people into a new humanity. It celebrates God’s
presence and promises. Participants can give anecdotal evidence of how
corporate worship enables persons to become incorporated into the life
of Christ, and thus the Christian community.
11.
This community has a vital public witness. The church makes an
observable impact that contributes to the transformation of life,
society, and human relationships. Its public deeds do not impose the
church’s moral will on others but give hard evidence of the reign of
God that intrudes into the world as an alternative vision and
practice. Members can identify actions that have resulted in the
transformation of lives, changed conditions, promotion of justice, and
combating of evil.
12.
There is a recognition that the church itself is an incomplete
expression of the reign of God. There is a widely held perception
that this church is going somewhere—and that somewhere is more
faithfully lived life in the reign of God. The measure of success used
in this church is the quality of Christian love experienced in its
common life and ministry. Participants indicate that this church is on
a journey to the future, that it has not yet arrived. Participants are
able to pray with meaning Jesus’ prayer, "Thy kingdom
come." This prayer creates for them a sense of expectancy and
anticipation of God’s fulfillment of all God’s promises.
Taken from An
Anabaptist Look at Natural Church Development (© 1999 New Life
Ministries). Permission to reproduce for local church use only is
granted. Provided by New Life Ministries, 6404 S Calhoun St, Fort Wayne, IN
46807, through its
web site at www.NewLifeMinistries-NLM.org
This and all presentations from the council meeting, along with a record of the proceedings, are available in booklet
form for $10.00. Use the online
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