Wednesday, February 05, 2014
The Seven Disciplines of Evangelisation
There is a lovely paper by Bishop Steve Croft on the Seven Disciplines of Evangelisation. It emerges ecumenically, from his participation as the Anglican Fraternal Delegate to the Synod of Bishops in Rome: a three week gathering of Roman Catholic Cardinals and Bishops with Pope Benedict to explore the single theme of the new evangelization.
(Three weeks on evangelization! I’ve never heard of a Protestant denomination gathering their key leaders for 3 whole weeks on mission topics)
The paper suggests seven disciplines
1. The discipline of prayerful discernment and listening (contemplation)
2. The discipline of apologetics (defending and commending the faith)
3. The discipline of evangelism (initial proclamation)
4. The discipline of catechesis (learning and teaching the faith)
5. The discipline of ecclesial formation (growing the community of the church)
6. The discipline of planting and forming new ecclesial communities (fresh expressions of the church)
7. The discipline of incarnational mission (following the pattern of Jesus)
It’s a helpful framework for me to now look at our curriculum as a College, seeing if we’re helping folk engage with this breadth.
And it makes me glad that we as a College are involved in A Clear Call conference, followed by an Evangelism, Conversion and the Mission of God intensive. I’ve looked at the course outline and I’m excited that the focus on the discipline of evangelism will be an entry point into all seven of these disciplines.
Thank you Steve for introducing me to Croft’s dynamic and well articulated discussion paper on evangelisation. I rejoice in the mention of “learning networks” and his clear definition of the core disciplines and practices for growth as those “which invite, encourage and enable people to become Christians and to grow as disciples of Christ as part of the Church and to fulfill their calling in serving the common good.”
Such a definition points towards a learning community insight that teaching and learning are important components in every aspect of church’s life. Learning and teaching the faith are appropriately mentioned under “The Discipline of catechesis.” From a learning-community perspective I need to note that ‘learning and teaching’ are important components of all seven disciplines not only number four.
Tremendous to receive this material for all disciples in leadership to consider. Do you, by any chance, have a copy of the new resource mentioned in the paper “Pilgrim:a course for the Christian journey.”
Best wishes, John.
Comment by John Littleton — February 5, 2014 @ 2:18 pm