15 August 2024

David Fergusson, Regius  Professor of  Divinity at Cambridge University, and Kirk minister has just produced a series of essays on theology, philosophy and the Church. One is entitled, ‘Mapping the Church – Current Challenges of History and Mission’.

In it, he tackles the issue of mission in the Church. He begins by acknowledging that mission is a constituent part of the Church’s work not least in handing on the faith to those who are coming after us. But he points out  that the ‘Five Marks of Mission’ which have been embedded into our current thinking are not comprehensive.

‘The church has many functions,’ he writes, ‘the glorifying of God in its worship, the education and nurture of its people, the pastoral care of the sick and the dying, and the bearing witness to the gospel in the life of the world.’ Mission is one of several aspects of being the Body of Christ.

He recognises that there is a mistaken view in some quarters that by focusing our attention and resources on mission we will be able to reverse the decline in church attendance and membership. ‘Secularisation is not the fault of the church,’ he says, ‘this is where we simply find ourselves.’

We are living in a changed landscape and it isn’t our fault. ‘A missional strategy that is based upon returning to a position of cultural pre-eminence is profoundly mistaken.’ he argues. ‘To impose too many missional obligations on the church may actually be to its detriment.’

I agree. Let the church flourish in a more humble state and in a more convincing relationship with its parish. ‘Many of the churches that continue to flourish are those with strong connections to their surrounding communities, and are able to offer lively worship and a range of activities for people of all ages.’ he observes.

‘The embeddedness of churches in their localities is what earns them respect, especially where this is evident in forms of service and support to hard-pressed people. The parish model continues to have traction in different places.’