This article addresses missional spirituality, that is what spirituality, individual and corporate, is appropriate and fruitful in churches which seek to participate in the mission of God. The paper engages with neuroscience around how the two hemispheres of the brain, right and left offer two ways of attending to the world and Iain McGilchrist’s assertion in The Master and his Emissary that left brain attention has predominated especially in Modernity. Two Christian responses which utilise these truths about the brain are critically examined, one from an American, broadly Evangelical school of thought and the other from the Anglican Solitary, Maggie Ross. Ross’ recovery of the apophatic stream of Christian spirituality via the right brain of “Deep Mind” is preferred without dismissing other approaches. The “unintended consequences” of seeking silence before God who is, including the gift of “beholding” and how they connect to what is required of missional churches are delineated. Some brief suggestions are made as to might be done to enhance the practice of silence in local churches.
{"title":"Beholding","authors":"Nigel Rooms","doi":"10.54195/ef12915","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54195/ef12915","url":null,"abstract":"This article addresses missional spirituality, that is what spirituality, individual and corporate, is appropriate and fruitful in churches which seek to participate in the mission of God. The paper engages with neuroscience around how the two hemispheres of the brain, right and left offer two ways of attending to the world and Iain McGilchrist’s assertion in The Master and his Emissary that left brain attention has predominated especially in Modernity. Two Christian responses which utilise these truths about the brain are critically examined, one from an American, broadly Evangelical school of thought and the other from the Anglican Solitary, Maggie Ross. Ross’ recovery of the apophatic stream of Christian spirituality via the right brain of “Deep Mind” is preferred without dismissing other approaches. The “unintended consequences” of seeking silence before God who is, including the gift of “beholding” and how they connect to what is required of missional churches are delineated. Some brief suggestions are made as to might be done to enhance the practice of silence in local churches.","PeriodicalId":151321,"journal":{"name":"Ecclesial Futures","volume":"57 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125229489","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Gorman, Michael J. 2018. Abide and Go: Missional Theosis in the Gospel of John Eugene: Cascade Books","authors":"J. Doss","doi":"10.54195/ef13402","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54195/ef13402","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":151321,"journal":{"name":"Ecclesial Futures","volume":"6 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"121042748","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Percy, Martyn. 2021. The Humble Church: Renewing the Body of Christ London: Canterbury Press.","authors":"Kristine M. Stache","doi":"10.54195/ef13403","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54195/ef13403","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":151321,"journal":{"name":"Ecclesial Futures","volume":"473 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114536186","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This essay focuses on that dimension of sharing in the missio dei individually and corporately which involves the formation of Christian character. In particular what should be our first considerations when seeking character formation for participation in the missio dei? This article will suggest that our attention initially should be focused elsewhere than behaviour or direct attempts to change character. Further, while Aristotelian approaches are particularly popular in the contemporary (especially secular) literature, this essay considers the significance of dimensions of Christian character formation which are often underplayed by such approaches, not least loving attachment relationship to the divine and accountability-in-community. While space precludes an exhaustive account of influences on Christian character development, the essay considers aspects of experiencing Christ-centered community in shaping Christian character, utilising recent insights from the field of neuroscience. It concludes with an example taken from an Anglo-catholic setting of how eucharistic worship can contribute to the formation of Christian character and thus of sharing in the missio dei.
{"title":"Surfing with the Spirit or sinking into the sea?","authors":"M. Harrison","doi":"10.54195/ef13420","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54195/ef13420","url":null,"abstract":"This essay focuses on that dimension of sharing in the missio dei individually and corporately which involves the formation of Christian character. In particular what should be our first considerations when seeking character formation for participation in the missio dei? This article will suggest that our attention initially should be focused elsewhere than behaviour or direct attempts to change character. Further, while Aristotelian approaches are particularly popular in the contemporary (especially secular) literature, this essay considers the significance of dimensions of Christian character formation which are often underplayed by such approaches, not least loving attachment relationship to the divine and accountability-in-community. While space precludes an exhaustive account of influences on Christian character development, the essay considers aspects of experiencing Christ-centered community in shaping Christian character, utilising recent insights from the field of neuroscience. It concludes with an example taken from an Anglo-catholic setting of how eucharistic worship can contribute to the formation of Christian character and thus of sharing in the missio dei. ","PeriodicalId":151321,"journal":{"name":"Ecclesial Futures","volume":"21 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116233131","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This essay takes up some suggestions for Christian formation found in the ‘Life Model’, a contemporary ecumenical project proposing attachment with God, inner healing prayer and healthy interpersonal relationships as key elements to promote psychological and spiritual change. In particular the significance of joyful relationship with God is considered, along with practices to cultivate this joyful relationship. Two practices are described which foster joyful attachment and thus provide ways in which character is shaped to enable Christian formation. However it is acknowledged that such formation also depends for its full flourishing on other factors such as healthy ecclesial community and relational brain skills. The essay concludes by suggesting that joy-generating practices which can be developed as easily pass-on-able habits are a promising avenue by which to further enable Christian formation.
{"title":"Joyful disciples","authors":"M. Harrison","doi":"10.54195/ef12152","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54195/ef12152","url":null,"abstract":"This essay takes up some suggestions for Christian formation found in the ‘Life Model’, a contemporary ecumenical project proposing attachment with God, inner healing prayer and healthy interpersonal relationships as key elements to promote psychological and spiritual change. In particular the significance of joyful relationship with God is considered, along with practices to cultivate this joyful relationship. Two practices are described which foster joyful attachment and thus provide ways in which character is shaped to enable Christian formation. However it is acknowledged that such formation also depends for its full flourishing on other factors such as healthy ecclesial community and relational brain skills. The essay concludes by suggesting that joy-generating practices which can be developed as easily pass-on-able habits are a promising avenue by which to further enable Christian formation.","PeriodicalId":151321,"journal":{"name":"Ecclesial Futures","volume":"62 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133902824","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Olsen, Steen, Jacob’s Ladder: Missional Church in the 1970s","authors":"Patrick R. Keifert","doi":"10.54195/ef12159","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54195/ef12159","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":151321,"journal":{"name":"Ecclesial Futures","volume":"28 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133120182","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Roxburgh, Alan J., Joining God in the Great Unraveling: Where We Are & What I’ve Learned","authors":"Steen Olson","doi":"10.54195/ef12157","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54195/ef12157","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":151321,"journal":{"name":"Ecclesial Futures","volume":"93 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125238275","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This paper argues that the reason that the Church of England has struggled to relate to lay pioneering is because its primary mode of engagement of resourcing and equipping is out of step with the realities of lay pioneering. It argues that despite numerous recommendations to release the laity in mission and ministry, when it happened through grassroots communities which became known as ‘fresh expressions’, the Church of England was unable to recognize it. By exploring both the “organizational story” and the “grassroots story”, this paper demonstrates that the problem is the Church of England’s reflex to view everything through a lens of resourcing and equipping. This lens means all problems are framed as deficit, in this case of the laity, which are remedied through the resources of the church. The paper reveals that this lens causes it to miss the gifts and challenges of lay pioneering, and makes it unable to engage in the mutual relationships called for in the report “Setting God’s People Free” (Archbishops Council, 2017). The paper calls for a deeper engagement by the Church of England with grassroots stories of lay pioneers and to allow the narrative of resourcing and equipping to be interrupted. It suggests that attentive listening to lay pioneers and their stories can lead to more mutual and reciprocal engagement and as a result enrich the Church of England and other denominations.
{"title":"Setting God’s pioneers free?","authors":"J. Butler","doi":"10.54195/ef12149","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54195/ef12149","url":null,"abstract":"This paper argues that the reason that the Church of England has struggled to relate to lay pioneering is because its primary mode of engagement of resourcing and equipping is out of step with the realities of lay pioneering. It argues that despite numerous recommendations to release the laity in mission and ministry, when it happened through grassroots communities which became known as ‘fresh expressions’, the Church of England was unable to recognize it. By exploring both the “organizational story” and the “grassroots story”, this paper demonstrates that the problem is the Church of England’s reflex to view everything through a lens of resourcing and equipping. This lens means all problems are framed as deficit, in this case of the laity, which are remedied through the resources of the church. The paper reveals that this lens causes it to miss the gifts and challenges of lay pioneering, and makes it unable to engage in the mutual relationships called for in the report “Setting God’s People Free” (Archbishops Council, 2017). The paper calls for a deeper engagement by the Church of England with grassroots stories of lay pioneers and to allow the narrative of resourcing and equipping to be interrupted. It suggests that attentive listening to lay pioneers and their stories can lead to more mutual and reciprocal engagement and as a result enrich the Church of England and other denominations.","PeriodicalId":151321,"journal":{"name":"Ecclesial Futures","volume":"s1-5 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"127198171","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Lucas, Susan (ed.), God’s Church in The World: The Gift of Catholic Mission","authors":"Luke Larner","doi":"10.54195/ef12158","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54195/ef12158","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":151321,"journal":{"name":"Ecclesial Futures","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128099028","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Individualization exercises pervasive power in the modern western church, generating an isolated and privatized approach to discipleship and mission that has been attended to extensively over the years in attempts to foster “whole-life” discipleship. My doctoral field work in 2015–17 was with a single Church of England congregation that had adopted an outward-looking missional process which disrupted this individualization and challenged people to a personal and communal journey of change in which the public life that they began to share with people in their wider community shaped both their personal and communal maturation. This journey was fuelled by shared communal practices which in turn generated new forms of communal life to express the congregation’s developing public Christian identity. This research demonstrates both the challenges and the potential of forming communal identity in an individualized culture. Moreover, when mission is undertaken with openness to the other, a profound interdependence between communal maturation and missional discipleship is revealed.
{"title":"Communal maturation and missional discipleship","authors":"N. Ladd","doi":"10.54195/ef12151","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54195/ef12151","url":null,"abstract":"Individualization exercises pervasive power in the modern western church, generating an isolated and privatized approach to discipleship and mission that has been attended to extensively over the years in attempts to foster “whole-life” discipleship. My doctoral field work in 2015–17 was with a single Church of England congregation that had adopted an outward-looking missional process which disrupted this individualization and challenged people to a personal and communal journey of change in which the public life that they began to share with people in their wider community shaped both their personal and communal maturation. This journey was fuelled by shared communal practices which in turn generated new forms of communal life to express the congregation’s developing public Christian identity. This research demonstrates both the challenges and the potential of forming communal identity in an individualized culture. Moreover, when mission is undertaken with openness to the other, a profound interdependence between communal maturation and missional discipleship is revealed.","PeriodicalId":151321,"journal":{"name":"Ecclesial Futures","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124370247","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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