1. Foundations for Mission
John Clark, Martin Lee, Philip Knights, Paul Rolph, Nigel Rooms
Janice Price, Anne Richards
A study of language, theology and praxis from the UK and Ireland perspective
A research group, convened by CTBI was commissioned to work on Study theme one of the Edinburgh 2010 World Mission Conference in June this year. The Conference has 9 study themes. Study Theme one is called ‘Foundations for Mission’. The idea is that various groups around the world would work on the themes and pool their findings at the conference. Study theme one has two such groups, ours and a group convened by the World Council of Churches looking at the experience of Indian Dalits.
Foundations for Mission

2. The Task
The task of this study group is to explore how a Trinitarian understanding of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit relates to the theory and practice of mission; how the confession that God has a missionary identity impacts Christian witness; how a discernment of the Trinitarian God´s inner relationships and love impacts ecclesiology, community life and society.
This slide shows the task set to the research groups for study theme one.

3. Hypothesis
Hypothesis is that what is said publicly about the theology of mission by UK and Ireland churches, agencies and institutions does not necessarily match up with the mission practice, understanding and outworking of those same bodies.
The task was clearly academic in nature and theological in content. However, we wanted to ask a broader question about the praxis of mission as well as its underlying theology. So we formed a hypothesis that the kind of public and theological language envisioned by the task would not match the actual praxis of mission on the ground. We designed our study to test that hypothesis.

4. Research in Three phases
Website search for public language about mission; NVIVO analysis of that language and semiotic analysis of sites
Survey using theological statements
In depth interviews with participants about their responses in relation to praxis
National churches and agencies (GMN/GC/BIAMS)
Local churches in Nottinghamshire
BIAMS conference members
The study was designed in 3 parts: a study of the kind of mission language used on websites designed by churches, mission agencies and other mission bodies. A survey composed of theological statements of the kind envisioned by the task but also including some broader categories addressing mission praxis. We would follow up the survey with in depth interviews to tease out further information about language, theology and praxis. The range of the sample was churches and agencies from Global Mission Network, Global Connections (evangelical) and the British and Irish Association of Mission studies through CTBI. This national survey would be contrasted with a local survey of churches in Nottinghamshire and would also include a survey of BIAMS members (mission practitioners and theologians) at their conference in July 2009

5. Findings: language Openness to relational language
Rejection of separating language
Assent to word ‘mission’
Struggle with priorities in mission
Struggle with how mission happens
Severe problems with mission and justice

6. Findings: theology Missio dei is a weak driver
3 models of misson – proclamation wins
Matthew 28 primary biblical driver
Problem: ‘is’ and ‘ought’
Problem: theological mechanics of mission

7. Findings: praxis Gap between what we say and what we do
Websites don’t demonstrate praxis
Gap between local and practitioners
Tensions between leadership and congregations
Tensions in national leadership
Need to root mission theology
in experience and story
Holistic mission

8. Conclusions: key learning points
Language
Public mission language does not match mission reality
Websites have hidden potential that is probably not realised
‘Mission’ has common assent
but prioritising action in
mission is difficult
The three phases of the research influenced and interrogated each other. Our hypothesis that talk about mission is not upheld by praxis and that mission theology is not reflected clearly in practice was shown to be true. For example ‘sharing Jesus, changing lives’ is one thing, but who and how Jesus is shared and lives changed is a more complex business. Websites, as an essential technology, have a mission potential for exploring those issues which remains unexploited. Mission is a feel good word which everybody is on board with but matching theological imperative to priorities in mission is difficult. We can follow the God of mission into the world, but what then? Despite theological tradition, mission leaders want to see relationships and not separation or condemnation, not much enthusiasm for confrontation evangelism. Mission tends to be located in ‘make disciples of all the nations, but this is not the main driver – experience is the driver.’ The relationship between mission and justice remains a problem. No matter what their public language about mission, people want to tell stories about experiences and say THAT is mission. Respondents also present as genuinely wrestling with mission issues with integrity, aware of a gap between their own vision and those they seek to inspire, lead, accompany and equip.

9. Conclusions: key learning points:
Language
Most response to relational language and themes
Resistance to negative, separating language
Need to contextualise what mission is in experience
Gap between leadership and ordinary Christians

10. Conclusions: key learning points
Theology
Theology is a weak driver, mostly Matthew
‘Justice’ is a problem
Praxis
Need to contextualise what mission is in experience
Gap between leadership and other Christians

11. Outcomes
Process just as important as results and felt to be useful so production of:
Tool for web analysis and thinking about design for mission messages
Adaptations of the survey for different constituencies to do mission theological audit
Template of questions for discussion or interview for mission reflection on praxis
As a direct result of doing this research, we have produced three tools so that it can be carried on in the future and we hope thereby to add more data as results are fed back to us through CTBI.