back to articles WORKING DEFINITIONS FOR CITY-REACHING (The following is an abstract from one of the many sessions at the City Impact Roundtable that was held in Dallas in October of 2002. It is a report from one of the working groups who met to focus the task. At this point there are a few Canadian leaders who are interacting with these U.S. leaders. They hope to have some CIR's in Canada in 2004. ><>RL) Richard Long of Together Ministries newsletter www.embers.org/together City Impact Roundtable -Dallas Thursday, October 24, 2002 Session IV Theology/Definitions Working Group Report Adam Shields introduced Doug Bannister, Ron Thaxton and Dennis Fuqua who have been working on definitions of the process: "The whole church taking the whole gospel to the whole world." Today we present just "the whole church" because we believe this is the center. Without the whole church it will be some of the church taking some of the gospel… Dennis Fuqua cited his experience of 25 years in the pastorate and then seeing God work through Pastors Prayer Summits. After some of those deep experiences, we found we were thinking differently. Theology matters. How we think about things and about God makes a difference. When we are in line with His thoughts, it makes a difference. How we think about the church matters. What we have done is culled down to five definitions: 1. City (Church): the collective, corporate identity of believers in Jesus Christ in a geographically defined city or region, e.g., One Body, comprised of numerous, diverse congregations, bound together by a common adherence to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and life in the Holy Spirit, allowing freedom and diversity in ecclesiastical form, style of worship, gift expressions and non-essential doctrines. God sees the church by geography. 2. Congregations: A suggested more biblical name for what we have called "local churches". Part of the church of an area. Gatherings of believers from various geographic, cultural, economic settings, in one setting, brought together by the attraction of the flavor (either worship or teaching style, common history, etc.) of that particular group. They are banded together in relationship, under some type of governmental structure (for example, Congregational, Presbyterian (elder led), Episcopalian (Bishop led, etc.) and committed to help people grow in their relationship with God and others. 3. Denominations: A part of the whole Church of Jesus Christ. A cross-geographic collection of congregations with a common bond based upon history, governmental structure or doctrinal distinctives. (We tend to think of Presbyterian Church rather than Presbyterian denomination.) 4. "Parachurch" groups: Christian ministries that focus on a specific age or stage of a person’s life of circumstances (a sociological focus). Dennis’s spell-check always tells him that "parachurch" is incorrect. "My computer has better theology." Dennis suggested that Christian ministries would be a better term. 5. Parish: A geographical area for which the (city) church (see above) is responsible to minister. (parish or perish) What difference would it make in your city if the spiritual leaders in your city thought and acted consistently with this? What are the implications? Responses were … · We would see that what we call para-church as Stephens and Phillips, as an extension of who we are; the competition between parachurch and church would become cooperation. · One church in the city in many congregations · Leaders and pastors would have to spend time together, develop relationship (not an option but a necessity – we would really walk in unity · Finances and resources would be seen as God’s resources for the church of the city, not for my congregation. This would include people resources. · It would lead to a sense of incompleteness without each other. · We would understand what Jesus thinks of His bride and keep us from disparaging it · Is not the Body of Christ global? The universal church is not only global but one of all time. But the church is also the church geographic. Geography could be as large as Galatia or of a city, i.e. Ephesus, of neighborhood "The church that meets at ___’s house." · Pastors would feel responsible for the entire city and would use congregational resources more strategically · It would minimize duplication of energy and activity, and would cut out the gaps and laps. · It would minimize some criticism of non-church members of the church itself. · It shows the necessity of coordination, cooperation · It causes us to want to seek out the different (traditions and distinctions) parts of the body Col. 2:1-2 · It would expedite ministry · We would recognize Jesus as the shepherd and pastors as under-shepherds · It elevates the value of humility · It destroys the wall between clergy/laity and sacred/secular · It would allow us to listen better and submit to where we see the grace of God · It would make it easier for government to find us and cooperate with us · Clergy and marketplace would value each other If you are interested in many other articles and video and audio resources from the City Impact Roundtable folks you will find them at www.cityreaching.com