There is a great article on Leadership Journal’s weekly newsletter. The author discusses how the term missional has become a buzzword. I didn’t realize that missional was a buzzword, however, I have seen some trying to address “missional” issues within a church growth framework. I guess, such an approach would make missional into a buzzword.

I would file this under the heading of ‘we are willing to do anything to get our church to growth.’ Under such a framework missional is simply one more program to add on to church to facilitate growth rather than a deep transforming understanding that affects everything one does.

The article is here and I encourage you to take a look at it if you are interested in missional issues. The author also comments on qualities that truly missional churches possess. I am convinced that in order for the UMC to survive, we must understand what it means to be missional and begin ‘dying’ to ourselves by transitioning to a new way of being church and understanding who we are in Christ (the sent out ones).

Jeff Newton, who is also posting articles on here now, is doing a wonderful job in a missonal ministry called Urban Outreach. The UMC however, must find ways to incorporate such missional understandings in its congregations. I believe it is possible, but I believe we must be intentional about moving to this type of understanding.