One might suggest that the following blog is a Forge Canada promotion and you would be right! My purpose in promoting Forge Canada however is not ‘free advertising’ but rather about highlighting and celebrating its success at modeling missional ecumenism. Over the last few months we have been “exploring how participation in the missio Dei has become a common frame of reference for Christians of all varieties and has thus provided a natural on-ramp to conversation, collaboration” and shared witness between and amongst these various ‘tribes’. Forge Canada is one of those onramps. It is a growing network of leaders and churches committed to catalyzing, equipping and multiplying leaders and congregations to partner with God on God’s mission in their neighbourhoods. The vision and calling of those involved is “to help create a movement of His people that will see a community of faith in every neighbourhood, living out the good news of the Kingdom of God, and bringing about the transformation of those neighbourhoods.” This vision/mission is easily and enthusiastically embraced by many (who doesn’t want that?) and thus there are numerous partnerships developing between quite distinctive denominations locally, regionally and nationally.
As their website puts it,
Our desire is that [Forge Canada] grows into a movement of people from all denominations, in all regions of the country and with many kinds of leaders. We are made up of some who are theological guides for us in the process. Others are spiritual mentors. Some are emerging leaders and many others are faithfully modelling servant-leadership to us.
But we are more than individuals. We are a growing network of churches and a movement of God’s people who desire to support one another and to be accountable to one another in a set of practices that will lead us into a deeper level of discipleship and into working with God in spiritual transformation.
Churches connected in the Forge Canada network share resources and stories, encouraging one another in the mission. Forge hubs gather monthly in cities and towns across western Canada. Participants come from historically separate denominations and yet ‘together on mission’ are able to share with one another; pray for, coach, resource and support each other; and learn and experiment together for the sake of the Kingdom. Those in the hubs also commit to principles, postures and practices that continue to shape them into image of Christ and His Body “so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others (Romans 12:5) and all this is given by the Spirit “for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7).
May the church everywhere discover the wonder, enrichment, power and beauty of heeding Paul’s words: Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves (Romans 12:10)…. Live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16) not for our own sakes but for the sake of the Gospel and our gracious, all inclusive King, Jesus.
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.