LE3 .A278 2021

2021

McMullin, Stephen

Acadia University

Doctor of Ministry

D.Min.

Ministry

Acadia Divinity College

At the August 2011 Oasis – the Annual Assembly of the then Convention of Atlantic Baptists Churches (CABC), which now is known as the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada(CBAC) – the church-appointed delegates accepted the ‘Senior Staff Restructuring Plan’ which included a series of proposed goals as they looked towards the year 2025. One of the 2025 goals that was adopted at the 2011 Oasis was that by theyear 2025 “eighty percent of CABC churches would demonstrate a missional culture.” Making use of the ‘missional’ language was admittedly new for this particular denominational family as the term itself had only been coming into common usage since the 1990’s and it remained (as it does yet today) a term that can carry shades of different meaning depending on who is using it. This study traces the rise of the ‘missional’ conversation and explores the Scriptural and theological basis for its legitimacy. Research was gathered from 140 quantitative surveys completed by CBAC pastors as well as qualitative interviews with four CBAC pastors. Together this body of research demonstrates that CBAC pastors and churches largely affirm the value of the missional paradigm while acknowledging that many congregations are yet struggling to know how to meaningfully live into it. These congregations and their leaders would welcome accessible, practical resources to aid them in knowing how they could more holistically live out their faith in their neighbourhoods and world.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:3634