God's Mission and the Church

Building on focuses drawn from the book of Acts, participants will reflect on understandings of God's Mission and the Church's part that the mission, particularly in diversity of ministries in service of that mission; The course will draw on texts from Genesis, Isaiah, Luke and Romans, and as well as patristic, liturgical, spiritual writings and sermonic writing; Examining history of mission and the church, and contemporary congregational mission theory, we will consider alternative images and paradigms of mission; Lectures and book discussion sessions will seek to build participants' critical skill particularly in relation to conflict, healing, culture, pluriformity, and proclamation as part of mission; Participants will be required to meet and interview individuals involved in diverse forms of ministry in the community to develop their own vocational discernment and gain practical awareness of the issues, challenges and kills involved in differing forms of Spirit-led developments as congregations seek to participate and live God's mission.