The chapter discusses shifts in the paradigm of mission theology, including understanding mission as the church-with-others, as missio Dei (God's mission), as mediating salvation, as the quest for justice, and as evangelism. Key points are that mission is the essence of the church, the local church is fundamental to mission, and the church must hold the tension between being called out of the world and sent into the world.

1. Ch 12 – Elements of an Emerging
Ecumenical Missionary Paradigm
David J. Bosch, Transforming Mission:
Paradigm Shifts in Theology of
Mission, 368-510

2. Church& Mission
Theology
Shifts in Missionary Thinking
“Missionary byitsverynature”
Contextualisation
the Church-with- God’s Pilgrim People
Others Sacrament, Sign, & Instrument
Church&World Missio Dei
Rediscovering theLocalChurch
Creative Tension
the Quest for
Justice
Mediating
Salvation
Mission as …
Liberation Evangelism
Inculturation
Ministry by the
Witness to People Whole People of
of Other Living God
Faiths
Action in Hope
Common Witness

3. Ch 12 1. Mission as Church-with-Others
1. Mission as Church-with-Others
David J. Bosch, Transforming Mission:
Paradigm Shifts in Theology of
Mission, 368-389

4. Ch 12 1. Mission as Church-with-Others
Church & Mission 368-369
• Mission was one of the things that the church did
for others.
– High View of Church – Official Missionary Arm
– Low View of Church – Unofficial Missionary Arm

5. Ch 12 1. Mission as Church-with-Others
The Church is the Mission, 369-372
• They are not separate things.
• The “home base” is everywhere
– Because “every Christian community is in a missionary
situation”
• “mission in partnership”
– No guardianship of one church over another

6. Ch 12 1. Mission as Church-with-Others
“Missionary by its very nature” 372-373
• The church is “essentially” missionary
• 1Peter 2:9 – The church exists in being sent
• Missionary activity is not the “work of the church” but the
“Church at work”
– Not something done once things are strong at home but something
that is done that defines the church
• If asked: “Why still mission?” the response is: “Why still
church?”
• “Mission is essentially ecclesial” – Schumacher
• Missionary Dimension (started w/ Newbigin)
– Worshipping community; welcoming outsiders; pastors & members
share ministry; equipped members; structurally pliable; not
protective of select groups
• Missionary Intention
– Engages society with evangelism, justice, & peace

7. Ch 12 1. Mission as Church-with-Others
God’s Pilgrim People, 373-374
• Bible: WanderingpeopleofGod – onajourney
• Only temporarily here
• Assuchonlyneedsa destination
&supportfortheroad
• Itiscalledtoliveonearthsomethingofwhatitislikein
God’s reign!

8. Ch 12 1. Mission as Church-with-Others
Sacrament, Sign, Instrument 374-376
• All 3 pointbeyondthemselvestoChrist
• “Itisnouse composing in-house
descriptionsofthechurch, however faithful
theymaybeto scripture &tradition, if within
thechurchtheyhavethe fatal effectofgiving
believers awarm illusion thatalliswell,
&whenreadby humankind
outsidethechurchtheyseemtohavepartedcompan
ywithreality” (Bakerin Bosch, 376).

9. Ch 12 1. Mission as Church-with-Others
Church & World 376-378
• Mission is “God’s turningtotheworld”
– Thisisachangefrompreviousunderstandingsoftherelati
onshipbetweentheChurch&theWorld
– Beforetheworldwas hostile:
• “… thechurchwasaworldonitsown …. Christian ministry
&lifewas defined exclusively intermsof preaching., public
worship, the pastorate, & charity. ‘Practicing’
Christianswere (&oftenstillare!) defined asregularchurch
goers” (Schmitz in Bosch, 376)

10. Ch 12 1. Mission as Church-with-Others
Church & World 376-378
– Nowitwas “Churchin solidarity withtheworld.”
• Thechurchnowhadarelationshipwiththeworldthatwasthe
mission!
– We can’t separatethechurchfromthe mission; wealso can’t
separatethechurchfromtheworldtowhichitissent!
– “Thejoy&hope, the grief & anguish
ofthepeopleofourtime, especiallyofthosewhoarepooror afflicted
inmayway, arethejoy&hope, the grief & anguish ofthe followers
ofChristaswell” Gaudium et Spes

11. Ch 12 1. Mission as Church-with-Others
Church & World 376-378
– Whatdoesthismeanforthechurch?
• Churchshouldbeawareofits provisional character
– thegoalis God’s glory not necessarily abiggerchurch
• Churchisnotthe kingdom
– itpointsusthere&givesusaglimpse&tasteofit
• Churchisnotjustawaitingroomforheaven
– butisthe “community fortheworld.”
• Churchisthe dwelling placeofGodtheSpirit Eph 2:22
– Assuchitisapartof God’s movementtowardtheworld!

12. Ch 12 1. Mission as Church-with-Others
Church & World 376-378
• “If the Church attempts to sever itself from the involvement
in the world& if its structures are such that they thwart the
possibility of rendering a relevant service to the world, such
structures have to be recognized as heretical” (378).
– “We are a kingdom people not a church people.”
– “Kingdom people seek first the Kingdom of God& its justice; church
people often put church work above concerns of justice, mercy &
truth. Church people thing about how to get people into the
church; Kingdom people think about how to get the church into the
world. Church people worry that the world might change the
church; Kingdom people work to see the church change the world”
(Snyder in Bosch, 378)
• Church always brings good news.

13. Ch 12 1. Mission as Church-with-Others
Rediscovering the Local Church 378-381
• Fundamental to the NT:
– “The church-in-mission is, primarily, the local church
everywhere in the world.”
– “No local church should stand in a position of authority
over against another local church.”
– This, according to Bosch has been “for all practical
purposes ignored during much of Church history.”
• RC  Pope as authority
• “Protestant”  Older vs Younger churches
– “Paul founded churches while we found missions” (Roland
Allen).
– “Mission could not longer be viewed as one-way traffic
from the West to the Third World; every
church, everywhere, was understood to be in a state of
mission” (379).

14. Ch 12 1. Mission as Church-with-Others
Creative Tension 381-389
• 2 views of the church that are irreconcilable:
– Church as sole bearer of the message of salvation;
• vs
– Church as illustration of God’s involvement with the
world.
• The two must exist in “creative tension”

15. Ch 12 1. Mission as Church-with-Others
Creative Tension 381-389
2 views of the church that are irreconcilable:
Church as sole bearer of the Church as illustration of God’s
message of salvation involvement w/ the world
• Church: partial realization of • Church: a pointer to how God
God’s kingdom on earth acts in the world
• Mission: getting people to • Mission: a “consciousness-
move from death to life raiser” to guide people
• Problem: No ethical thrust – toward the “humanization of
focus tends to be on micro- society”
ethics (numbers, religious • Problem: No soteriological
living, individual morality) & depth – the church is too
ignores macro-ethics (justice, identified w/ the world or is
peace, equity). altogether eliminated.

16. Ch 12 1. Mission as Church-with-Others
Worship & Connection to God Church Engaging Society
The Church
“The church is always & at the same time called out of the world & sent
into the world” (WCC Faith & Order Commission in Bosch, 386).

17. Ch 12 1. Mission as Church-with-Others
Creative Tension 381-389
• “It is only a church which goes out from its
eucharistic centre, strengthened by word&
sacrament & thus strengthened in its own
identity, that can take the world on to its agenda
…. At the same time, the Church can go out to the
edges of society, not fearful of being distorted or
confused by the world's agenda, but confident&
capable of recognizing that God is already there”
(WCC 1983 in Bosch, 386)

18. Ch 12 1. Mission as Church-with-Others
Creative Tension 381-389
• The Church is imperfect
• Ecclesia semperreformandaest
– "the church is always to be reformed”

19. Ch 12 1. Mission as Church-with-Others
1. Mission as Church-with-Others
• “Looking at itself through the eyes of the
world, the church realizes that it is disreputable &
shabby, susceptible to all human frailties; looking
at itself through the eyes of the believers, it
perceives itself as a mystery, as the incorruptible
Body of Christ on earth. … It is this
church, ambiguous in the extreme, which is
‘missionary by its very nature’, the pilgrim people
of God, ‘in the nature of’ a sacrament, sign, &
instrument, & ‘a most sure seed of unity, hope&
salvation for the whole human race” (389).

20. Ch 12
2. Mission as Missio Dei
David J. Bosch, Transforming Mission:
Paradigm Shifts in Theology of
Mission, 389-393

21. Ch 12 2. Mission as Missio Dei
Defined
• The Father sends the Son, the Father & the Son
send the Spirit, & the Father, Son & Spirit send
the church into the world.
• “Mission is not primarily an activity of the church
but an attribute of God. God is a missionary God.”
• “There is a church because there is a mission, not
vice versa” (390).

22. Ch 12 2. Mission as Missio Dei
Defined
• Mission = Missio Dei
• Missions = Missiones Ecclesiae
• “our missionary activities are only authentic insofar as they
reflect participation in the mission of God” (391).
• “The primary purpose of the missiones ecclesiae can
therefore not simply be the planting of churches or the
saving of souls; rather, it has to be service to the missio
Dei, representing God in & over against the world. Pointing
to God, holding up the God-child before the eyes of the
world in a ceaseless celebration of the Feast of the
Epiphany. In its mission, the church witnesses to the
fullness of the promise of God’s reign & participates in the
ongoing struggle between that reign & the powers of
darkness& evil” (391).

23. Ch 12 2. Mission as Missio Dei
Issues with Missio Dei
• So what then is the role of the church? Does the
church actually do anything or does God work on
his own? Does he need our help?
• “… neither the church nor any other human agent
can ever be considered the author or bearer of
mission” (392).

24. Ch 12
3. Mission as Mediating Salvation
David J. Bosch, Transforming Mission:
Paradigm Shifts in Theology of
Mission, 393-400

25. Ch 12 3. Mission as Mediating Salvation
Salvation in Traditional Terms
• Luke
– End of poverty, discrimination, illness, demon
possession, sin, etc.
– In the here & now
• Paul
– Begins in this life but carries on in the next
– A process that begins with an encounter with Christ
but will only be completed in the Kingdom of God

26. Ch 12 3. Mission as Mediating Salvation
Salvation in Traditional Terms
• Greek Fathers
– A gradual uplift of believers to a divine status
• Medieval (RC & Protestant) Church
– The redemption of individual souls in the
hereafter, which would happen after death
– Separation between person & work of Christ led to
separation between works of service & sharing the
Gospel
• “Their purpose was to dispose people favorably toward the
gospel, ‘soften them up,’ & thereby prepare the way for the
work of the real missionary, namely, the one who
proclaimed God’s word about eternal salvation.”

27. Ch 12 3. Mission as Mediating Salvation
Salvation in the Enlightenment Paradigm
• “Salvation now meant liberation from religious
superstition, attention to human welfare, & the
moral improvement of humanity” (395).
• There were 2 responses to this:
1. To continue to define salvation in traditional terms;
2. To adopt this new definition & change Jesus into a
good example.

28. Ch 12 3. Mission as Mediating Salvation
Salvation in the Enlightenment Paradigm
• “In a world in which people are dependent on
each other & every individual exists within a web
of inter-human relationships, it is totally
untenable to limit salvation to the individual & his
or her personal relationship with God….
Christians pray that the reign of God should come
& God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven; it
follows from this that the earth is the locus of the
Christian’s calling & sanctification” (397).

29. Ch 12 3. Mission as Mediating Salvation
Challenges to Defining Salvation
• Traditional Definition:
– To restrict salvation only to escape from God’s wrath
& redemption of the individual soul is dangerously
narrow.
– It makes too clear a distinction between well-being &
salvation.
• Enlightenment Definition:
– “The Christian gospel is not identical with the agenda
of modern emancipation & liberation movements.”

30. Ch 12 3. Mission as Mediating Salvation
So What do we do?
• The scope of salvation needs to be more
comprehensive than traditional models have said.
• “Those who know that God will one day wipe away
all tears will not accept with resignation the tears of
those who suffer & are oppressed now. Anyone who
knows that one day there will be no more disease
can& must actively anticipate the conquest of
disease in individuals & society now. Any anyone
who believes that the enemy of God& humans will
be vanquished will already oppose him now in his
machinations in family& society. For all of this has to
do with salvation” (400).

31. Ch 12
4. Mission as The Quest for
Justice
David J. Bosch, Transforming Mission:
Paradigm Shifts in Theology of
Mission, 400-408

32. Ch 12 4. Mission as The Quest for Justice
Evangelism vs Social Responsibility
• “Evil is not only in the human heart but also in
social structures …. The mission of the church
includes both the proclamation of the Gospel &
its demonstration. We must therefore
evangelize, respond to immediate human
needs, & press for social transformation”
(Wheaton 1983 Statement in Bosch, 407).

33. Ch 12
5. Mission as Evangelism
David J. Bosch, Transforming Mission:
Paradigm Shifts in Theology of
Mission, 409-420

34. Ch 12 5. Mission as Evangelism
Evangelism Defined
“… that dimension & activity of the church’s mission
which, by word & deed & in the light of the
particular conditions & a particular context, offers
every person & community, everywhere, a valid
opportunity to be directly challenged to a radical
reorientation of their lives, a reorientation which
involves such things as deliverance from slavery to
the world & its power; embracing Christ as Saviour
& Lord; becoming a living member of his
community, the church; being enlisted into his
service of reconciliation, peace & justice, on earth;
& being committed to God’s purpose of placing all
things under the rule of Christ” (420).

35. Ch 12
6. Mission as Contextualization
David J. Bosch, Transforming Mission:
Paradigm Shifts in Theology of
Mission, 420-432

36. Ch 12 6. Mission as Contextualization
Issues in Contextualization
• “Interpretingatextisnotonlyaliteraryexercise;
itisalsoasocial, economic, &politicalexercise.
Ourentire context
comesintoplaywhenweinterpreta biblical text.
Onethereforehasto concede thatall theology (or
sociology, politicaltheory, etc.)
is, byitsverynature, contextual” (423).

37. Ch 12 6. Mission as Contextualization
Contextual Theology Process (424-425)
1. Suspicion that Western Science, Philosophy, & Theology
were actually designed to serve the interests of the West.
2. Refuses to see the world as a place that only has to be
explained. The goal is to change it.
3. Emphasis on commitment to the poor & marginalized.
4. Credible theology is only done with those who suffer.
5. Emphasis on doing theology.
6. Hermeneutical Circulation
– Experience
– Reflection
– Combine theory & practice

38. The Ambiguities of Contextualization
(425-432)
1. Isan affirmation thatGodhasturnedtowardtheworld.
2. Involvestheconstructionofavarietyof “local theologies”
3. Thereisnotonlythedangerof relativism, whereeach context
forges itsown theology, tailor-made forthat specific
context, butalsothedangerofaboslutismof
contextualization
4. Readingthesignsofthetimes
5. Itisnottobetakenasthe sole &basicauthorityfor theological
reflection.
6. Itisnotmerelyadifferencebetween praxis &theory.
Italsoincludespoiesis.
7. Thebestmodelsholdin creative tensiontheoria, praxis
&poiesis.

39. Ch 12
7. Mission as Liberation
David J. Bosch, Transforming Mission:
Paradigm Shifts in Theology of
Mission, 432-447

40. • Liberation Theology isan attempt at
contextualization

41. FromDevelopmentto Liberation (432-
435)
• “All theologies of liberation &ofinculturation …
are 3rd-world theologies or theologies ofthe
3rdworld within the 1stworld” (432).
• Arose “to grapple withtheproblemsof systemic
injustice” (432).
• A response tothe “development/modernization
model”

42. FromDevelopmentto Liberation (432-
435)
Development& Modernization Liberation Theology
• WhatisgoodfortheWestisgoodf • Domination vs Dependence
orthe 3rdWorld • Rich vsPoor
• Allthe 3rdWorldneedsis • Captialismvs Socialism
technological expertise • Oppressors vs Oppressed
• One-way • Poverty
transferofdevelopment removedbyremovingitsrootca
• NothingintheNorthneededtoc uses
hange. • 3rdWorldneedstotakemattersi
ntotheirownhandsthroughrev
FAIL! olution

43. “God’s Preferential Option forthePoor”
(435-438)
• “Thepoorarethefirst, though
nottheonlyones,onwhich God’s attention focuses
andthat, therefore, thechurchhasnochoicebutto
demonstrate solidarity withthepoor” (436).

44. Liberal Theology & Liberation Theology
(438-440)
• Similarities:
– Strongsocial concern
– Reject tendencytointerpretChristian faith in
otherworldly categories
– Reject tendencytointerpretChristian faith in
excessively individualistic terms
– Both committed toa “motif of earthly prosperity
through modernization”
– Anthropocentric ratherthantheocentric

45. Liberal Theology & Liberation Theology
(438-440)
• Differences:
– Doesitstill “makesensetotalkaboutGodina secular
age?” (438) vs “Liberation theology’s
questionisnotknowingwhetherGodexists, butknowing
onwhichsideGodis” (439).
– Theology fromabove (upholding the status quo) vs
theology frombelow (revolution)

46. The Marxist Connection (440-442)
• “Liberation theology’s useof Marxism &Marxist
categories is selective & critical” (440).
• Keydifferences:
– Marxism isachildofthe Enlightenment
– Christianity believesinGod
– Christianity is non-violent

47. Integral Liberation (442-447)
• “Thisisnota ‘new theology’ butanewstagein
theologizing, andassuchbothcontinuousand
discontinuous withthe theologizing ofearlier
epochs. Itisnota fad butaserious attempt toletthe
faith makesensetothe postmodern age” (447).

48. Ch 12
8. Mission as Inculturation
David J. Bosch, Transforming Mission:
Paradigm Shifts in Theology of
Mission, 447-457

49. • Inculturation isan attempt at contextualization
• “TheChristian faith neverexistsexceptas
‘translated’ intoaculture” (447).

50. The Vicissitudes ofAccommodation&
Indigenization (447-450)

51. 20thc Developments (450-452)

52. Toward Inculturation (452-455)

53. TheLimitsof Inculturation (455)

54. Inculturation (455-457)

55. Ch 12
9. Mission as Common Witness
David J. Bosch, Transforming Mission:
Paradigm Shifts in Theology of
Mission, 457-467

56. The (Re)birthofthe Ecumenical Ideain
Mission (457-461)

57. Catholics, Mission, & Ecumenism (461-
463)

58. Unityin Mission; Mission inUnity (463-
467)

59. Ch 12
10. Mission as Ministry by the
Whole People of God
David J. Bosch, Transforming Mission:
Paradigm Shifts in Theology of
Mission, 467-474

60. The Evolution of Ordained Ministry (467-
470)

61. The Apostolate ofthe Laity (470-472)

62. Formsof Ministry (472-474)

63. Ch 12
11. Mission as Witness to People
of Other Living Faiths
David J. Bosch, Transforming Mission:
Paradigm Shifts in Theology of
Mission, 474-489

64. The Shifting Scene

65. Postmodern Responses?
• “We should never have transplanted Christianity
to Asia without breaking the pot in which the
plant came” (Pieris in Bosch, 478).
• There are three responses (apart from “Atheism”)
– Exclusivism
– Fulfillment
– Relativism

66. Dialogue & Mission

67. Ch 12
12. Mission as Theology
David J. Bosch, Transforming Mission:
Paradigm Shifts in Theology of
Mission, 489-498

68. Mission Marginalized

69. From Theo of Mission to Missionary Theo

70. What Missiology Can & Can’t Do

71. Ch 12
13. Mission as Action in Hope
David J. Bosch, Transforming Mission:
Paradigm Shifts in Theology of
Mission, 498-510

72. The “Eschatology Office” Closed
• “… revelation
isthewordforGodmakinghimselfknowninhistorical
acts.
Thequestion, WhoisGod?, wasansweredwitharefe
rencetohistory – HeistheGodof
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. AndthestoryofJesusof
Nazareth
ispartofthathistory, unintelligablewithoutit”
(499).

73. Myth ofthe Eternal Pastasapromiseof
Return thefuture!