Beyond maintenance to mission: a theology of the congregation.Beyond Maintenance to Mission A Theology of the Congregation by Craig L. Nessan Fortress Press. 134 pages, paper $21.00 ISBN ISBN abbr. International Standard Book Number ISBN International Standard Book Number ISBN n abbr (= International Standard Book Number) → ISBN m 0 8006 3152 8 Beyond Maintenance to Mission offers a practical primer, theologically well-grounded, for leaders of mainline congregations. The author, Craig Nessan, is a Lutheran pastor who teaches contextual theology at Wartburg Theological Seminary Wartburg Theological Seminary is a Lutheran (ELCA) seminary located in Dubuque, Iowa. Mission Statement Wartburg Theological Seminary serves the mission of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America by being a worship-centered community of critical theological reflection in Dubuque, Iowa Dubuque is a city in the U.S. State of Iowa, located along the Mississippi River. Its population was estimated at 57,696 in 2006,[3] making it the eighth-largest city in the state. . He expands on two of Cobb's pivotal themes and shows how congregational identity is cultivated through worship, education, fellowship and stewardship. A congregation's mission is realized through evangelism, global connections Global Connections is a charitable organisation acting as a UK network of mission agencies, churches, colleges and support agencies involved in evangelism around the world. Amongst the several hundred organisations and churches that are members of the Global Connections network are many , social ministry, and ecumenism ecumenism Movement toward unity or cooperation among the Christian churches. The first major step in the direction of ecumenism was the International Missionary Conference of 1910, a gathering of Protestants. . A living parish is one where each of these ministries is identifiable in its own right, yet functions interactively with the others. Local congregations who know who they are and possess a vision of what they are about are uniquely situated as centres for mission, says Nessan. For Anglicans interested in accessible Lutheran theology, addressed to an ecumenical readership, this book serves as a recommended resource, even though no case studies are included. Biblical images suggest characteristics of the next two books, which for greatest benefit should be read together. |
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