I have to admit that I find that the magazine “Christianity Today” almost always has good, thought provoking articles. A recent such one is entitled “What Makes the Church Missional.” The author, Todd Billings, chronicles the indtroduction of the word “missional” in church vocabulary to about 10 years ago to where it is now: a hot word that is almost universally used in the Amercian church.

He has a high view of the church as he comments:

American evangelicals have a history of ambivalence toward the church. We have long been entrepreneurs for the gospel, starting parachurch ministries that fill in the gaps for local congregations. The blessing of this has been evangelicalism’s vibrancy; the curse, uncertainty about what the church is and why Christians should bother with it…Unfortunately, this approach to evangelism constricts biblical truth. In New Testament terms, it is impossible to belong to Jesus Christ without becoming members of his body. Salvation never happens between just an individual and Jesus. When we are united with Jesus, we are simultaneously incorporated into the church. We don’t trust in the church itself for salvation. But neither do we overlook its place in the revealed, gospel message of God.

From there he makes recommendations as to how different churches can be faithful to their convictions and still be missional. For Anglicans, he states:

The Anglican Communion can contribute a rich, liturgical heritage to the missional church, while a missional vision can maintain such rich liturgy as an instrument for God’s kingdom.

This is my heart for St. George’s. I want to incoporate the rich, Anglcian liturgy into a missional setting…one that is focused on reaching the unchurched with the Gospel of Jesus. I am not suggesting that I know all the answers or the exact shape of where this approach might take us. I do know that it will remain true to the Scriptures and the framework of Anglicanism, beyond that, I have to trust that God is leading us and will build His church. If this is exciting to you, then come join us and see how you can be a part and add to an Anglican and Missional Church.

Shane

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