The missional renaissance: Its impact on churches in South Africa, ecumenical organisations, and the development of local congregations

Abstract

This article focuses on three matters pertaining to the conversation of missional churches. Firstly, it looks at the impact of missional awareness in South Africa and Africa. Here the article explores what is meant by missional congregations in the South African context. Secondly it looks at the ecumenical understanding and development of the missional church and how this has started to shape ecumenical organisations and, thirdly it concludes with some suggestions of how missional congregations and denominations can be developed. In this final section the article offers some strategic principles for developing missional churches.

Keywords

• Missional awareness
• South Africa
• Africa
• ecumenism
• missional congregations and denominations