Community is at the center of what it means to be
church. A missional church that is engaged
with its culture is constantly renegotiating exactly how community will be
manifested but it will always be central.
In this second volume of the Missional Wisdom Library, Larry
Duggins draws on Wesleyan theology to show how both prevenient grace
(preparation for salvation) and sanctifying grace (growing in holiness) can be
manifested in various types of community.
He writes,
“As people of God, we cannot ‘save’ other people . . . But we can work to bring people together in a
way that makes it easier for them to encounter the grace of God in an
environment that is encouraging, with people who can help interpret their
experiences.” (pp. 80-81)
Duggins points out that any community can be a place of
grace and gives examples from churches, the workplace, around food (growing,
cooking and consuming it), children’s activities and schools, and affinity
groups. The Missional Wisdom Foundation
with which Duggins works has developed some interesting mixed-use spaces in
cooperation with churches where new approaches to community are developed. One is The Mix, a co-working and creative
space in the basement of White Rock United Methodist Church in Dallas,
Texas. Another is Haw Creek Commons, an
adaptive reuse/transformation of Bethesda UMC in Asheville, North Carolina. He provides extensive examples and
testimonies from each setting.
Although the work of MWF is strongly tied to the United
Methodist Church (see the first book in the series, Missional, Monastic,Mainline: A Guide to Starting MissionalMicro-Communities in Historically Mainline Traditions), Duggins also realizes
that not everyone reached through these alternative communities will be
comfortable in a traditional church.
Other ways of engaging interested individuals in their growth as
disciples must be provided.
In fact, the writer provides a strong argument that theological
education must change in order to expand this type of outreach:
“Pastoral leaders must be trained in community development
and spiritual direction as well as in leading a Sunday service, and a new
generation of ordained and lay leaders must emerge who are capable of
organizing and leading these new forms of Christian community.” (p. 79)
The book is a study guide, strongly rooted in Wesleyan
theology and tradition but one that can be used by any faith community to
challenge its laity and clergy to embrace new forms of community and social entrepreneurship
to do the work of evangelism and discipleship in the 21st century.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from
the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network.
I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed
are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade
Commission’s 16 CFR,Part 255.
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