Digital Commons @ George Fox University Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations 4-1-2009 Global Christian Shifts and Missional Church Movements: Linking the Postcolonial Global South with the Postmodern West Stephen P. Lewis This research is a product of the Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program at George Fox University. Find out more about the program. Recommended Citation Lewis, Stephen P., "Global Christian Shifts nda Missional Church Movements: Linking the Postcolonial Global South with the Postmodern West" (2009). Doctor of Ministry. 323. https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/dmin/323 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at Digital Commons @ George Fox University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctor of Ministry by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ George Fox University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY GLOBAL CHRISTIAN SHIFTS AND MISSIONAL CHURCH MOVEMENTS: LINKING THE POSTCOLONIAL GLOBAL SOUTH WITH THE POSTMODERN WEST A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GEORGE FOX EVANGELICAL SEMINARY IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF MINISTRY BY STEPHEN P. LEWIS NEWBERG, OREGON APRIL 2009 PORTLAND CENTER LIBRARY GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY PORTLAND, OR. 97223 DISSERTATION ACCEPTANCE CERTIFICATE STEPHEN P. LEWIS DATE: MARCH 1 1, 2009 TITLE: GLOBAL CHRISTIAN SHIFTS AND MISSIONAL CHURCH MOVEMENTS: LINKING THE POSTCOLONIAL GLOBAL SOUTH WITH THE POSTMODERN WEST WE THE UNDERSIGNED CERTIFY THAT WE HAVE READ THIS PROJECT AND APPROVE IT AS ADEQUATE IN SCOPE AND QUALITY TO COMPLETE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DOCTOR OF MINISTRY IN LEADERSHIP IN THE EMERGING CULTURE DEGREE GEoRGE Fox l'VANGEI.lCAl. SI'MINARY CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ......................................................................... vii ABSTRACT ........................................................................................ .ix Chapter 1. SETTING THE STAGE FOR CHANGE ................................................. 1 Globalization and Christian Population Change ........................................ 3 Theologizing as Local Behavior .......................................................... 8 Networks of Mutual Learning and Sharing ............................................ 13 Present Systems of Power and Control ................................................. 15 Challenging Power Structures ............................................................ 18 Redemptive Subversion ......................................................... 19 Dealing with Systems of Globalization ....................................... 23 Next Steps .................................................................................. 25 2. CHRISTIAN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES: THE FLIP SIDES OF CHRISTENDOM .............................................. 27 The "Up" Side of Christendom: Western Power and Religious Dominance ...... 31 The Down Side of "Up" .......................................................... 37 The "Underside" of Christendom ....................................................... 39 The Up Side of "Down" ......................................................... .44 The Post-Christendom Shift ............................................................. .47 Christendom in Review ................................................................... 51 1ll 3. BIBLICAL MATERIALS ................................................................ 53 Missio Dei as a Framing Structure ....................................................... 54 Abrahamic Covenant ............................................................. 56 Mosaic Covenant ................................................................. 57 Davidic Covenant ................................................................. 58 Messianic I Kingdom Covenant ................................................ 59 The Church and Missio Dei ........................................................... ... 63 Communities of Renewal ........................................................64 Communities of Resistance ...................................................... 67 Communities of Redemption ................................................... 69 Principles of Communities within the Missio Dei ..................................... 71 Unity ............................................................................... 71 Equality ............................................................................ 73 Diversity in Global Expression and Embodiment ........................... 74 Generosity I Hospitality .......................................................... 75 Next Steps ..................................................................................77 4. GLOBALIZATION AS MISSIONAL FRONTIER .................................. 78 In Defense of Globalization .............................................................. 80 The Darker Side of Globalization ....................................................... 86 The Glocal Response to Globalization .................................................91 The Opportunities of Globalization ..................................................... 97 IV 5. THE EMERGING CHURCH OF THE WESTERN WORLD: NAVIGATING THE POSTMODERN SHIFT ........................................99 The Postmodern Context: The Framing Conversation of the Emerging Church.101 Examples of Postmodernity in Cultural Expression ....................... .1 04 Postmodernity and Theology .................................................. 106 The Emerging Church in the West: A Missional Response to Postmodernity .... 108 What the Emerging Church May Be Missing ........................................ 114 What the Emerging Church Has to Offer the Church of the Global South ...... 120 Next Steps ................................................................................. 122 6. MISSIONAL CHURCH NETWORKS OF THE GLOBAL SOUTH: POSTCOLONIAL MOVEMENTS OF MATURITY .............................. 124 Understanding the Postcolonial Context .............................................. 125 The Southern Missional Church Response to Postcolonialism .................... 132 An1ahoro, Africa ................................................................ 134 La Red del Camino, Latin America .......................................... 137 Other Networks, Latin America ............................................... 139 RoH, Malaysia .................................................................. 140 What the Emerging Church Movement Can Learn from the Church of the Global South and East ............................................................................. 141 Spiritual Dynamics .............................................................. 142 Liberation ........................................................................ 144 Citizenship and Transnationalism ............................................. 146 Next Steps ................................................................................. 148 v 7. BRINGING GLOBAL MOVEMENTS TOGETHER THROUGH COMMUNITIES OF COMMUNITIES .............................................. 149 How Churches and Movements Become Missional ................................. 150 Assumptions Regarding Points of Contact ........................................... 153 Points of Contact ......................................................................... 157 Existing Forces of Globalization ............................................. 157 Educational Opportunities ..................................................... 159 Ecumenical Movements ........................................................ 162 Long Distance Friendships .................................................... 167 Closing Thoughts ......................................................................... 168 WORKS CITED ................................................................................... 171 VI ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This project is a culmination of several years of thought, research, thinking, and conversation. It is inconceivable to me that anything of substance would have been developed without the influence of some important people around me. They have not only shaped and challenged my thinking, but have molded who I am. The person most deserving of my gratitude is my wife, Michelle. Her many years of sacrifice for the sake of me and my ministry efforts have been a source of encouragement and challenge. She has made me a better person. When colleagues and friends meet Michelle, they almost always tell me what I already know- that I "maiTied up." I completely agree. I would also like to acknowledge the love and support of my family. In particular, my mother, Marilyn Lewis helped edit this project. My parents are my cheerleaders, and my confidants. My family has helped me through every challenge, despite the fact that I do not live nearby. I am deeply grateful to God and to them. I have a number of friends that have helped me navigate some exciting, difficult, and sometimes frightening paths. They have enlivened my spirit to take the present reality of the Kingdom of God seriously. They have been a source of creativity, renewal, and grace. Along with these friends, I have blessed to work with talented and committed colleagues in ministry, both in California, and in the Pacific Northwest. I would like to thank the faculty and staff of George Fox Evangelical Seminary for their vision, excellence, and insight. Sheila Bartlett, Chuck Conniry, Cliff Berger, and a number