I have the distinct honor of working with followers of Jesus from every Christian tradition. Seminary teaching, Acton Institute efforts, serving the Oikonomia Network and my work with global leaders on whole life discipleship helps me see God’s work in the world through many eyes.
Missio Alliance is a feast table of family conversation aimed at empowering effective mission in the 21st century. It is a large family gathering with many branches and personalities. We are not gathering in reaction to one crisis or tradition. We are not meeting in order to issue a declaration that solves every pressing issue. We meet, pray, converse, debate and labor with one thing in mind: resourcing one another so we are representing Jesus faithfully.
What makes Missio Alliance distinct? We create space for a different kind of conversation, a safe place to wrestle with issues and opportunities without ideological scorecards (Right or Left). To use another metaphor, we are like a jazz ensemble of groups that play really well in their own venues, but want to learn new variations and enhance their repertoire.
Our conversation on “living a resurrectional life” is not a rejection of substitutionary atonement or the centrality of the cross. We are creating space for believers to live the future now in the power of the Spirit. We are asking ourselves what it means to experience “righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” in all domains of life, inside and outside of worship gatherings.
As I gather with my family, I will have some awkward and wonderful moments. There are sisters and brothers that see the application of the Gospel differently that me. As a passionate advocate on some issues, I will press for my ideas – but always with civility, love and respect, wanting for others the hearing I desire for myself.
I expect lively exchange. I carry out my mission in the epicenter of deconstructive/postmodern thinking and I affirm rather traditional moral and theological positions. I need my Missio brothers and sisters to inform me and prophetically challenge me – and embrace and pray for me as I navigate personal and ministry challenges. I have found a deep well of compassion among the Board and others as I share my struggles.
We need more safe places for leaders that love the ways of God to gather. Welcome to the Table as we allow the Bread and Wine to unite and transform us.
Missio Alliance Comment Policy
The Missio Alliance Writing Collectives exist as a ministry of writing to resource theological practitioners for mission. From our Leading Voices to our regular Writing Team and those invited to publish with us as Community Voices, we are creating a space for thoughtful engagement of critical issues and questions facing the North American Church in God’s mission. This sort of thoughtful engagement is something that we seek to engender not only in our publishing, but in conversations that unfold as a result in the comment section of our articles.
Unfortunately, because of the relational distance introduced by online communication, “thoughtful engagement” and “comment sections” seldom go hand in hand. At the same time, censorship of comments by those who disagree with points made by authors, whose anger or limited perspective taints their words, or who simply feel the need to express their own opinion on a topic without any meaningful engagement with the article or comment in question can mask an important window into the true state of Christian discourse. As such, Missio Alliance sets forth the following suggestions for those who wish to engage in conversation around our writing:
1. Seek to understand the author’s intent.
If you disagree with something the an author said, consider framing your response as, “I hear you as saying _________. Am I understanding you correctly? If so, here’s why I disagree. _____________.
2. Seek to make your own voice heard.
We deeply desire and value the voice and perspective of our readers. However you may react to an article we publish or a fellow commenter, we encourage you to set forth that reaction is the most constructive way possible. Use your voice and perspective to move conversation forward rather than shut it down.
3. Share your story.
One of our favorite tenants is that “an enemy is someone whose story we haven’t heard.” Very often disagreements and rants are the result of people talking past rather than to one another. Everyone’s perspective is intimately bound up with their own stories – their contexts and experiences. We encourage you to couch your comments in whatever aspect of your own story might help others understand where you are coming from.
In view of those suggestions for shaping conversation on our site and in an effort to curate a hospitable space of open conversation, Missio Alliance may delete comments and/or ban users who show no regard for constructive engagement, especially those whose comments are easily construed as trolling, threatening, or abusive.