fts-mc500 post for class 12/06/10

Greetings, this is the post for the final class of Church in Mission taught by Professor Bolger Fall 2010. I want to commend Professor Bolger for teaching such a wonderful class. He gave me a lot of insight on the history of the church, how the church split, why the church split and how we got so many denominations. He gave us opportunities to explore these different venues of the gospel and the visits, discussions, and readings truly opened my eyes to things I had many questions about. Thank you Professor Bolger, it was a wonderful class and I appreciate every bit of information you shared with us. You did an excellent job. God Bless you! The final class session met at the Reflectory at Fuller. We discussed different topics such as Fundamentalists, Evangelism, the new Emergence and the Facebook age. We discussed aspects of a dying church vs starting a new church. It was a wonderful session that was intimate with several students attending but not so many to make it too big a party. I enjoyed hearing the information that Professor Bolger had to share and would love to hear some more. God Bless you all and thank you for the experience. Amen.

fts-mc500 post for 12/01/10 class

Today in class we covered alot of information about the Pentecostal Church in Brazil. Pentecostal worship is mainly made up of liturgical dance, singing, praise, and preaching. God speaks through all these elements of worship. The Word has a lot of authority. Holy Spirit is welcome as speaking through everything. Alot of preaching is done through stories. There is an understanding of God speaking to us through the anointed against evil. The Pentecostal Christian Community is more for poor, majority of congregation is women, with preaching of stable family/home. Call men to live a particular way. There is the healing of addictions. Most often have strong leaders; Often men but sometimes women who have the power to speak authority into the lives of others. The Pentecostal Christian Mission is better jobs, bring faith, witness, victory over devil and tight communities.

fts-mc500 post for class 11/29/10

Today we discussed many aspects of the present day church including the largest Presbyterian church in the world. Located in Seoul, Korea, Myung Sung Presbyterian Church is lead by Pastor Kim Sam Whan. With its 30 church plants, 10 multi-site (or screen viewing churches), cell churches, etc. it has close to 1,000,000 members. We also learned about one of the larger Methodist churches in the world. Kum Nan Methodist Chuch also located in Seoul, Korea has close to 120,000 members since 1971. Lead by Hung-Do Kim they focus on small groups, cell groups, and church planting as their form spreading the Gospel worldwide. We also spoke about Post-Christendom in the UK and how the Gospel is spread through fresh expressions, alternative forms of worship, base communitites, cafe churches, cell churches, multiple mid-week congregations, network churches, and school based congregations; All new ways to spread the Word that are working presently in the UK.

fts-mc500 post for class 11/24/10

In todays class we discussed the Anglican, Lutheran and Presbyterian churches. We discovered that in most cases the representatives from each denomination that attended church were larger in countries, like Africa, and Asian than in the entire U.S. We discovered that the Presbyterian church which did have about 3 million members has recently dropped down to about 2 million losing about 1000 members/wk. We also learned that in most cases the churches are full of first generation members (70-80 y.o.). The children of the first generationers are often lost and do not return to the church. Thus many churches are attempting to regain their membership through new members from other races, cultures, and ethnicities.

fts-ms500 post for 11/23/10 class

Todays class was very interesting. We watched a class about John Calvin. We also discussed aspects about the protestant church. How the pulpit is above the altar because the spoken Word is considered superior to all else. We spoke about the Eucharist in the reformed church and how in the Presbyterian church Jesus Christ is the host of the ceremony. There is a spiritual presence of HIM but he is not in the actual elements. Also in ceremonies in different countries, the elements can range from tea and biscuits, to fruit juice and crackers. Also Jesus is there in the Word that is spoken; and usually in a private Eucharist session a review of the Sermon is made. 

fts-mc500 post for 11/17/10 class

In class today we discussed issues in regard to the Prostestant Formation. We discussed Martin Luther and his 95 theses, watched a movie that spoke of William Tyndale and his translation of the Bible. We also discussed John Calvin and his efforts to merge the efforts of Church and State. Then we learned about Zwingli and his AntiBaptist movement. We learned about the Puritans and their move to the Americas to have a pure nation where all who were in the nation believed the same.

Book Review: The Bridges of God

Book Report: The Bridges of God by Rameses Sorrell

It is all too well known that the primary goal of missions is evangelism: the proclamation of the Good News and assisting with the emergence of churches with leaders, schools and institutions that will bear witness to the Good News. (xiii) However, with news times and different societies encountered it is necessary to know what makes a good mission and what changes are necessary to implement in order ensure the success of future endeavors.

However, the most important question that the author is probably addressing is “How do people s become Christian?” It is always through a Christward movement. (1) However, some say it is through “People Movements,” where people become Christian as a wave of decision for Christ sweeps through the group mind of a caste, clan, or tribe like a chain reaction of individuals coming to Christ of their own accord but setting one another off to accept Christ like dominoes in a row. (12) Others say it is through the more costly “Mission Station approach,” where schools, hospitals, seminaries, and missionary’s residences are set up to become the institutionalized religious and cultural centers of a people. (75)

But to tell you the truth, though the gathered colony or Mission Station Approach is the universally accepted missionary method of today, it is a mixture of the resources and methods of both movements that enables people to become Christian. (100) For example because the gathered colonies are so well funded, if some of the money invested in these big ventures that hardly convert ten people from a caste were moved over to the less costly People movement type missions to a tribal location two hundred miles away, thousands would literally be converted to Christ and mass amounts of churches would be born because these people are ready and willing to accept Christ. (102)

Statistics state that church growth in the People Movements far exceeds that of the Mission Station Approach, “For example, we read that the Roman Catholic population of China doubled between 1914 and 1939. This means an increase of about 35 percent a decade. For hundreds of congregations to achieve an average growth of 35 percent over two and a half decades, there must have been some growing at much more than 35 percent. This probably occurred in People Movements…” (150)

“Suppose the entire Christian enterprise were to transfer men and money to People Movements as rapidly as was consistent with the welfare of both types of churches, a new era of rapid expansion would occur. It would add hundreds of thousands indeed millions, of new Christians, and thousands of new churches. A multitude of new territories where there is now no church at all would be sown with Christian churches rooted in sturdy peoples.” (145)

What needs to happen is the allotment of funds to the proper missionary ventures based on statistical findings that would allow for the greatest Christward venture per human capita. Via People Movements or Mission Stations, then only can the Great Commission be fulfilled with the greatest abundance and efficiency.

fts-mc500 post for class 11/15/10

Today we closed out the session with the completion of our discussions in regartds to the Catholic Church. We discussed items like the Cursillo movement, Eduardo Bonnin and how he was looking for young men to train to go on pilgrimage. We also discussed the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, the Vatican II, the Pope and their theological standard as well as what makes every church a Catholic Church. ie. images of Mary and St. Joseph, display of Sacraments, the ambulatory, and the presence of a Cross with Jesus Christ on it.

Church Visit

Church Report by Rameses Sorrell

Snapshot of Church/Demographics

For the Church in Mission report I visited Los Angeles Christian Presbryterian Church-Hillside Ministry located at

2241 N. Eastern Avenue

, in El Sereno California. It is a small ministry with about 50 members. Hillside ministry, is a predominantly Korean American church with a growing multi-ethnic community including Hispanics, African-Americans and non-asians. It is the English speaking ministry of the Korean Ministry congregation of the main church which only speaks Korean. Comprised of individuals from early 20’s to late 30’s it has been in existence for about 12 years. The Pastor’s name is Pastor Sam Koh. He has been the pastor at the church for about a year prior to the departure of the previous pastor, Sam Lee who left to another church in Sunland about a year ago.

Theology of Church

The church creed is the Lord’s Prayer together with the Apostle’s Creed:

The pastor says that there is a “reformed” tinge, within the church, meaning that there is a focus foundationally on God’s glory and divine Sovereignty as a crucial beginning point   for theological reflection. Many people are Calvinistic in their theological approach, however, Pastor Sam’s background is Wesleyan, balancing justification by faith with an emphasis on the Spirit’s ongoing process of sanctification in the life of the believer.  

Worship,Liturgy, Sacraments

            Pastor Sam tries to hold true to the practices of the Presbyterian church as is set forth in the handbook of bylaws given to him each year by the KM Senior church pastor, while at the same time trying to push the boundaries of practice: For example, holding true to scripture and the meaning of the word “baptism,” the last baptism performed was a full emersion superseding, “sprinkling” which holds true to traditional baptism of Presbyterians.  Sacraments, the Lord’s Supper, which is the reading of scripture, breaking of bread, with one bread and one cup of wine/grape juice representing the elements of Christ’s body is held in the traditional sense. The worship style is the contemporary style of worship, with a Praise team comprised of modern musicians singing contemporary Christian songs openly and freely. There is “Freedom of Expression” and no “house rules,” you can raise your hands, jump up and down, sit in your seat and basically worship how you like as long as you don’t hurt anybody. The Congregation gets into the Word through Expository preaching and afterward there is a call in response to the reading followed by prayer.

Community Formation

            Hillside Ministry has four goals called “Connect Four.” They are 1. Connect to Christ, 2, Connect to Church Community, 3. Connect to El Sereno/Backyard community, 4. Connect to our Great Commission. They want everyone to connect as a family, The pastor encourages new visitors/members to stand up and greet people they have never seen before and give them a handshake or hug and welcome them into the community. They also encourage people to join in on the small groups happening every Thursday in Los Angeles, and Orange County, attend married couples groups once/mth and the Hillside 101 Bible study every Sunday before service.

            In addition, the latest great work done by Hillside Ministry is the joining of forces with King’s Table Ministry, a predominantly Hispanic American Ministry that is comprised of a lot of El Sereno community members as well as ex-gang members, graffiti artists, and ex-prison inmates. With this merging of the ministries comes multi-ethnic worship. The 70%-80% of  Hispanics, etc that reside within the El Sereno community in which Hillside resides are now being reached simply by Hillside reaching into their backyard instead of outward. Pastor Sam would like to look within the Metropolitan context to reach young men and woman who may be of different cultures, and races to develop and open themselves up to ministries that may represent the community in which they reside and worship.

Organization/Leadership            There are leadership meetings every Tuesday with leaders of the KM LACPC from which deacons are picked to become part of ministry.

Mission: Witness, Service, Transformation, Creation, Dialogue, Reconciliation, Inculturation

            There is an outreach done with Pastor Joey of King’s Table Ministry from Sept-Oct in Downtown Los Angeles in which people come out share gospel, fliers, food, give church services. Also “Angel Tree” in December in which food is served during the Holidays is an outreach ministry. There are summer missions trips, to Korea, Mexico, China, Mongolia, etc. that the KM funds. All these situations allow people to witness and share the gospel. However, the bulk of it is done one on one with the Pastor, or through his disciples. As people are counseled there is transformation through the Spirit as specific questions are answered. Dialogue occurs, as people open up and come to know one another as well as the Lord. Reconciling to Christ happens through messages, letting people know that He is not far away. It happens in groups of people where a member of one group may have been hurt by parties of another larger group; Amends need to be made through counseling and empowerment of the Spirit.

Our culture consists of sports, fun, entertainment, and you name it, therefore fellowship is a big part of the Hillside Ministry. There are events held several times a year that encourage togetherness, the love of Christ, teamwork. There is the 3-on-3 Basketball tournament, Bowl-tober, the annual bowling tournament; etc. the church provides scholarships to those that cannot afford the events. There is the Christmas Banquet and Thanksgiving potluck where Ham, Turkey and all the holiday fixin’s will be served. There will be slideshows highlighting all the different events, fun, and retreats experienced by the congregation throughout the year. There is food every Sunday after service encouraging more fellowship and church community and “getting to know one another” under the name of Christ.

“That’s what it’s all about, relationship with the Lord and relationship with people.” Pastor Sam Koh Hillside Ministry

Matthew 6:9–13-Lord's Prayer

Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

The Presbyterian Church

The Presbyterian Church uses the same text as is in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, but with the modernized spelling "catholic" and some changes from upper to lowercase letters.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

and born of the virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died and was buried.

He descended into hell.

On the third day He rose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven

and sits at the right hand of the Father.

From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy Christian church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.^[21]

fts-mc500 post for class for 11/10/10

Still ill, sorry did not make it to class. Can someone help me with notes?

fts-mc500 post for 11/08/10 class

Fell ill, sorry did not make it to class. Can someone help me with notes?

fts-mc500 post for 11/01/10 class

Today we discussed the different missions of the Jesuits and how they went into different lands in India, Vietnam, the Philippines, Japan, Korea, etc. Many of the missionaries learned the cultures and religions of the areas to which they traveled. They were often accused of converting to these religions of these great exotic lands. Often it was necessary to get fully "down" with the indigenious way of doing things in order to communicate with the people. Though this way of doing things was absolutely not approved of by Officials but missionaries went ahead with their pursuits against the will and often order of their superiors.

Ftsmc500 post for 11/01/10 class

In class today we discussed several topics in regard to the Catholic Church including Benedictine rule, Gregory the Great, Charlemagne, how the rich bought and sold churches and appointed their own bishops thus resulting in corruption amongst leadership. We also learned about the crusades, Dominicans, St. Francis, Tomas Aquinas, Jesuits and their missions and the Council of Trent.

fts-mc500 post for class 10/27/10

In class on 10/27/10 we watched several videos from the Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization. An event where 4200 christian leaders from around the world gather to dsicuss the nature of truth, reconciliation and have interreligious dialogue. It was a very interesting video which gave a great timeline of events regarding missions, evangelism and changes within the church over centuries.

fts-mc500 post for 10/25/10 class

It was nice to return to class on Monday. We closed out our discussions about the Orthodox church covering topics such as spiritual monasticism, celibacy, community life, the roles of women in the church, transformation, and green mission.

Ftsmc500 post for 10/20/10 class

Class was cancelled see you Monday!

ftsmc500post for 10/18/10 class

No notes for class. Still feeling sick! Can somebody help me with notes?

ftsmc500 post for 10/13/10

Could not make it class due to illness but I would love to discover what we discussed on Wednesday and catch up on any notes that may be available. Thank you.

mc500-Book Report-2

Book Report 2: “The Mestizo/A Community of the Spirit” by Rameses Sorrell

“The Mestizo” concentrates on transmitting the image of the latino community in a new light. However, it is seen that “The Spirit of God, is the central figure… (xii)” that will bring both community and church together. “The narratives of the Pentecost and the cross constitutes the formative juncture informing our ecclesiological understanding of the church as a cruciform community of the Spirit…on which Latino theology of the Spirit is constructed (xii).”

Chapter one discusses how Latino theology is a practical theology of culture. “We see that it flourishes in Christopraxis and Latin American liberation theology. However it is seen that is limited in its transformational mission, in need of revision of its assumptions about culture and the nature of the church (xii).”

Chapter two ventures into “…discerning a more Spirit-friendly postmodern view of culture ;Taking the first step toward developing a latino theology of culture into a latino theology of spirit-by identifying the church as the cultural geography of the spirit (xii).”

In Chapter three the question is asked “…if the church is seen as the geography of the Spirit of Christ, then what matrices are formative in the making of the church, within history and culture, in a way that resembles the authorship of Christ’s Spirit and the authenticity of human culture (xiii)?” It is discovered that within “…the narratives of the Pentecost and the cross, the church originates and lives historically and culturally as God’s communal transformational parlance (xiii).”

Chapter four discusses the “Mestizo/a community of the Manana (xiii).” “Theologically, the latino theology of the spirit and its dynamic methodology-a Pentecost-cruciform-shaped theology; Ecclesiologically, the Mestizo/a community of the Manana pretends to be a latino ecclesiology from a postmodern perspective …embodying Jesus, his message the practices of Eucharist, with proclamatory and pastoral presence (xiii).”

ftsmc500 post for class 10/11/10

Professor Bolger's class was great today. It consisted of very interesting facts in regard to Martin Luther, Constantine, The Ecumenical Councils, The Oriental Orthodox churches, diaspora routes, etc. All information I have been wanting to get an accurate understanding on since reading "The Emerging Church," by Phyllis Tickle. Thank you for such great insite into our past and our future. I look forward to hearing and receiving more. Amen.

fts-mc500-post for 10/06/10 class

Today we discussed many different topics in class. However what was the most exciting exercise was when we split into small groups and began to role play as a House church of the 2nd century. We started out with prayer as we started discerning what roles each member of the team would play. It was a great start to a new beginning and hopefully how they would have started the day and activities in actual house churches of that day.

The Great Emergence-Phyllis Tickle

Book Report: The Great Emergence, by Rameses Sorrell

Three main questions come to mind when you think of the “Great Emergence,” “What is it, How did it come to be, and Where is it going?”(13)

Chapter one of “The Great Emergence” suggests that the Judeo-Christian and even Islamic faiths seem to evolve with almost Five Hundred year cycles. And with each evolution or change in the faith it seems to develop and spread to other cultures and dynamics.  One could say that within the Christian strain of the faith it started with the birth, ministry, crucifixion and resurrection of Christ the Messiah (26). Through followers and uprisings the demand for Christianity to grow was established. Meetings occurred and a growth of his teachings spread across the kingdom of Rome.  From the end of the 6^th Century and death of Rome(24-25), to the Council of  Chalcedon, to the “Filioque” and the “Great Schism,” (20-21) and eventually the “Great Reformation” and the use of a common Bible we get closer and closer to our own time that could be known as the “Great Emergence,” where we begin our own experience of change and an emerging church that begins to explore new doctrines and ways to spread the Gospels to all nations in every way possible.

Chapter two suggests that our faith is like a cable comprised of three parts, an outer casing that is the story of history, that protects us and our minds from going crazy over the reason why we are here on earth (34);A second inner part which is like the consensual illusion that all humans have about how this universe works and thus is understood to be truth,  though it may not be entirely correct (35); and a third inner part that is comprised of three parts, spirituality, morality, and corporeality-the tangible evidence of religion. All three of which hurt our feelings if hit too hard and create all chaos, mayhem, death and wars (36-38).

Chapter three discusses that Christian faith is part of the social construct of society. And just as society changes and discoveries are made in our universe so must religion and our view of God. The term “sola scriptura” arose, faith based only on what is in the scriptures. With this idea, it meant that more people had to be able to read and write.

This was the greatest Protestant movement of all time because it allowed for the literacy rate of almost the entire known world to rise. Ideas and different perspectives became more and more common place. Catalogued volumes of information and technology of the Greeks and Moors was ever present (46-48). Eventually, the printing press arose which made the Bible, Luther’s theses and all its rebuttals commonplace (48-49). The thoughts of scholars and actions of Columbus proved the world not to be flat and philosophers’ ideas of the Earth not being the center of the universe almost proved the church to be incorrect about many things (55-56).Reformation came and so did Catholic Reformation and a formal training of those suited to serve as Biblical clergymen, etc.(58). Ultimately with the shift of societies greater knowledge of doing things so was there a change in social strata that moved from serfdom to middle and upper classes and a freedom of thought that seems to define the change of the times (50-51) even now unto our Great Emergence.

Chapter four suggests that as time progresses new ideas, thoughts and inventions arise. The rise of television, radio, technology, light and electricity and even different theories about the mind, consciousness, self and the internet all pose questions about society and ones being. The questions, Who am I? What am I doing here? and Why am I here?

Challenge peoples’ own existence and give them so much insight about self and the outside world that they question if God even exists; Versus the times of old when it was the establishment of society deemed upon the masses through government decree. It is almost like Adam and Eve and the tree of knowledge. Once eyes are opened to both sides of the story our mind races with questions that need to be answered. “Where now is our authority?” But we must settle on the peace and understanding of what is already innately known and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior. (64-72)

Chapter five covers many different topics from Einstein and his theories about matter and

Relativity which lead to space exploration and people walking on the moon; It was a stepping stone downward of the faith of many because it tampered with the creation story of the two lights in the sky (82). Tickle speaks about Pentecostalism and the presence of the Holy Spirit in African American church and the way of worship which incorporated speaking in tongues.  Seen in the Azusa Street Revival, it led to Pentecostalism being second in Christian faiths only Roman Catholicism (82-87). She spoke of cars, and the leaving of the traditional community and church to go elsewhere to find enjoyment, ignoring the Sabbath. She spoke of Karl Marx and his ideas of Socialism which led many to agree that the state had the good of the people in mind. Ultimately absolute loyalty to this entity led to their demise (88-89). She spoke of AA, immigrants, the spirituality vs. religion of new religions like Buddhism and drugs, gays, technological advances, the morality of Dr. Kevorkian, the womans’ movement, and their involvement in the workforce during wartime (almost like the house churches of the past) which created a new family relationship and structure. She also spoke of the computer and the internet age and how influences and information of the outside world without supervision can be disinformation which only leads people astray; An unknowing of God. The twentieth century, liberation, and knowledge was the destruction of the idea of “sola scriptura” and leads people to ask “Where are we Going?” (91-116)

Chapter Six discusses how the current emerging church may interact. Imagine a square divided into four quadrants with the upper left representing the “Liturgicals,”

Orthodoxy and Catholic churches. The Upper right quadrant would represent “Social Justice Christians” like United Methodists, The Lower right would represent “Conservatives,” while the lower left would represent “Renewals.”(126). However because just as UMCs often adopt liturgical work and the Catholics also deal with Social justice, this diagram has to evolve to include at least a portion of each other in the quadrant. Imagine an intersection of the four quadrants with a flower shaped cross form (128). From then you can imagine the quadrant with swirled circular lines all through the centers of all the quadrants. Imagine this as the interaction of faith amongst each other in often secular or even “water cooler” type environments (131-132). However, sometimes there are those “reactionists” who are true to their faith and want to keep everyone separated. Imagine these lines going back on themselves (137). Now from here imagine “surrounding currents” where traditionalists, re-traditionalists, progressives and hyphenateds just free flow all through the four quadrants into different denominations (140). This represents the emergence of the new church where people are free to drift into churches and denominations with ideas, faith and spirit that just feels right to them because it’s God.

Chapter 7 discusses where the emerging church is going. Many terms come to mind. Orthonomy, “which may be defined as a kind of ‘correct harmoniousness’… or aesthetic us of harmonic purity for discerning truth.”(149) Another term that comes to mind is Theonomy, meaning that “only God can be the source of perfection in action and thought.” (150) Thus when asked “Where is the authority of the church?” They may respond “in the community” and in “Scripture.”(151) “What is the Emergent church?” A conversation, (153) that recognizes all of the socio/economic/political/intellectual and technological change of its age.

ftsmc500-10/04/10

The FTS MC500 class with professor Bolger on Monday 10/04/10 was extremely informative. He gave us facts about Table Fellowship and the ceremonies performed at the Last Supper/Lord's Supper;Gifts of the Holy Spirit and how women were extremely empowered and active in "house churches," they often received great gifts; Baptism and the difference between Judaic practices of cleansing and the Christian traditions; Leadership in the 1st century church, and how the roles of Bishop-Deacon-Elder evolved; 1st century dialogue and Inculturation, Paul's tactics of explaining faith in terms of the culture and how their practices of worship of their gods was a stepping stone to the "fulfillment" of revelation and worship of the true God Jesus Christ. It is a missions tactic still used today.

fts-mc500-09/29/10

Today's class with  Professor Bolger was especially interesting. We covered topics such as the 1st century Jewish prayers of Benediction. It is thought that these prayers along with the "Shema" may have evolved into the "Lord's Prayer" that modern day christians often recite. We covered topics such as Christ's role in Rome and how he was a new kind of prophet different from those seen before. He spoke of a message of love, forgiveness and advocacy of likeness to gentiles, versus what was seen from prophets before him that often excited revolution within Israel. Eventually attempts were made to overthrow Roman Government which lead to the death of the prophets and their followers. Thus a change was made within the followers of Judaism where they followed a Jewish rabbi with new teachings. Small churches began to form and eventually the numbers of christians grew to a possible number of 10,000 within the Roman Empire.

fts-mc500 blog-09/27/10

The discussion of mc500 class was very interesting today.  It was a great introduction of the class and what we will cover during the quarter. I appreciate the sincerity and the exploratory nature of the professor and how he would like us to dive into topics of diversity in real life and thus explore the experience of church in contexts and cultures different than our own. I am looking forward to the experience of this class and appreciate all that I will discover in my research.