Anglican 1000 Summit - Post #6

Bp. Todd Hunter: Final Plenary of the Conference - Anglican Ecclesiology


1. Ecclesiology is NOT the starting point. To understand the Church we must understand God's mission (intention, kingdom). But to understand God's mission we must know God Himself. Therefore, theology (including Christology, pneumatology, etc.) is the foundation.


2. Along with orthodoxy (right believing) and orthopraxis (right living), we need to introduce the idea of orthopathy (right imagination). There are many folks whose belief system is accurate but whose imaginations have yet to grasp God's story. They believe without passion. How do set people's imaginations on fire?


3. God's story starts in eternity past with the divine community engaged in mutual love. This community then creates with some end (telos) in mind. So before Genesis 1:1, God had an intention for creation. The whole story, then, is moving to that end (telos), the complete establishment of the kingdom of God (note the image of the throne in Revelation, for example) and unity with His people.


4. Sin (hamartia, missing the mark), then, is setting aside God's intention for our own. Repentance is reorienting our lives towards His intention. Eternal life is experiencing the fulfillment of that intention.


5. Congregations are outposts of God's kingdom first and foremost. Only secondarily are they franchises of a brand. Mission needs to define the shape of our congregations. We must not allow the shape (our structures and activities) to define our mission. The shape needs to be flexible within the channels of our tradition.