If we understand the Church as an instrument of God’s mission in the world—more as means to an end than an end in itself—our conversations should focus on how to better prepare people to engage in God’s work of love and reconciliation. As we envision life and ministry in light of recent issues and their impacts on our communal life, it’s clear that a return to past methods isn’t sufficient; the world has changed, presenting new opportunities.

To embrace this mission renewal, we must shift our paradigms and reimagine the Church’s role and function. Here are key areas where these paradigm shifts can guide us:

1. Church as a Verb: Rather than viewing the Church as a static institution to be strengthened and grown, we should see it as a dynamic instrument of God’s mission. This means focusing on how the Church can help people actively engage in God’s work of love and reconciliation—transforming it from a place to a way of life.
2. Congregation as Mission Outpost: Move beyond the notion of the congregation as an organization serving its members. Instead, view it as a mission outpost dedicated to serving its broader mission field—encompassing the neighborhood, city, and world.
3. Ministry as Vocation: Shift from seeing ministry as a set of programs addressing specific problems, to understanding it as a vocation. This perspective emphasizes living out spiritual gifts and fostering relationships, recognizing the priesthood of all believers.
4. Evangelization as Building Relationships: Reframe outreach from merely doing good deeds or increasing membership numbers to building genuine relationships through service, advocacy, and sharing faith stories.
5. Worship Imagines a World: Rethink worship not just as praise and obligation, but as a formative practice that envisions and shapes the kind of world God calls us to become. Worship should reflect and influence the diverse contexts of our lives.
6. Formation and Education for Daily Discipleship: Move beyond traditional Bible learning and denominational traditions to a focus on making disciples of Jesus, emphasizing faith practices in everyday settings—home, workplace, and church.
7. Congregational Life as Collective Spirituality: Expand the concept of congregational life beyond social activities to create a culture of hospitality, service, discipleship, and prayer, embodying our collective spirituality.
8. Stewardship as Aligning Resources with Mission: Rather than equating stewardship with finance, view it as aligning all resources with mission priorities, ensuring that financial decisions support the broader mission of the Church.
9. Leadership as Partnership: Transition from a model where leadership is seen as a duty or a series of tasks to one where clergy and lay leaders collaborate dynamically. This partnership should foster creativity and innovation in fulfilling the Church’s mission.
10. Decision-Making as Discernment: Replace traditional decision-making processes with spiritual discernment. Engaging more participants in decisions can lead to wiser outcomes, with councils and staff acting as lead-learners.

As we navigate these changes, let us heed Jesus’ words in Matthew’s Gospel about the scribe trained for the kingdom of heaven, who brings out of their treasure what is both new and old. We are in a time of rapid transformation in the religious landscape, calling us to be kingdom scribes who blend the timeless truths of faith with innovative ways of living out God’s mission.

By Fr. Kelly Wamalwa, mccj

New People Media