Diploma: Foundations in Missional Training and Church
Leadership
An Introduction to Missional Ecclessiology
This is the second of eight courses being offered as part of the Diploma in “Foundations of
Missional Ministry & Church Leadership." This Diploma program is being offered in partnership
with Forge Canada. The training is prepared to serve the Diaspora leader who is seeking to be
credentialed within a partner denomination.
FACILITATOR: Cam Roxburgh, Trevor Seath, Ontario Forge Team
I. COURSE DESCRIPTION
Somehow we have allowed the church to be shaped more by culture than by the actions and
being of the God we love and serve. As we examine the role of the people of God in the mission
of God in Canada at the beginning of the 21st Century, it will be important for us to not ask “what
works?” but instead to ask “what is right?”
This course will begin by addressing some of the issues facing the church today. We are in a time
of moving from continuous to discontinuous change. It is crucial for the church to understand the
missional nature of God (who He is) and to understand the actions of this missional God
(missiology – what is He doing?) before we ask the question of who we are and what we are
invited to do. Missional Ecclessiology must start with a missional theology.
Many frameworks for life together have been posed over the centuries, but the framework that will
be used for the understanding of the missional church is not new, but rather rooted deeply in both
the teaching of the Jews, and in the teaching of Jesus. Mission is at the very centre of the
purpose and action of God. Our identity as His people is rooted in His being and His action.
The course begins with understanding a Missional Theology. Missiology follows and is the
understanding of what God is doing in a particular context. Who we are as His people and what
we do, reflect what we believe about God, and His invitation to us to participate in His mission.
This course will include teaching, discussion, assignments, reading, and interaction with
practitioners.
II. LEARNING OUTCOMES
This course is designed to help the leader to gain a deeper understanding of the mission of God
and more importantly to this course an ability to begin to apply this to their understanding and
practice of who we are as the people of God.
1. An introductory level of understanding in the missional nature of God.
2. An introductory level in a missiological approach to their context
3. A missional framework for the identity and practices of God’s missionary people
4. An ability to help others to love God with all of their heart as mission
5. An ability to help others to love God with all of their mind as mission
6. An ability to help others to love God with all of their strength as mission
7. An ability to help others to love God by loving their neighbour as mission
8. An ability to help others to love God by loving one another as mission
9. A thought out rule of life in order to engage spiritual growth
III. COURSE REQUIREMENTS
A. REQUIRED TEXTS
Roxburgh, Alan., and M. Scott Boren. Introducing the Missional Church. Grand Rapids: Baker
Books, 2009.
Forge Canada. A Missional Church Reader (to be handed out at the first class)
B. SUPPLEMENTARY / RECOMMENDED READING:
Hirsch, Alan. The Forgotten Ways. Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2006.
Moffitt, Bob. If Jesus Were Mayor. India: Harvest Press, 2004
Guder, Daryl. The Missional Church. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998.
C. ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING
1. Class Participation and Peer Coaching – 30%
2. Practical Assignments – 50% (due each class and two weeks after final)
3. Writing Assignment – 20%
D. GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR THE SUBMISSION OF WRITTEN WORK
Students should consult the current Academic Calendar for academic polices on Academic
Honesty, Gender Inclusive Language in Written Assignments, Late Papers and Extensions,
Return of Assignments, and Grading System. The Academic Calendar is posted at
www.tyndale.ca/seminary/calendar.
IV. COURSE SCHEDULE (40 hours total course time)
Classroom – 14 Hours
Community – 4 Hours
Peer Coaching - 4 Hours
Reading - 8
Assignments - 10
January 21
6:30 – 9:30
Introduction to Course (Cam and Trevor) Session 1 – A Missional God (Cam and Trevor) – Understanding the Missional
nature of God through and in scripture. God is missional in His being and in His
actions.
January 22
9:00 – 4:00
Session 2 – A Missional God at Work (Cam and Trevor) – God is at work in
neighbourhoods. We need to be able to learn to discern what He is doing so that
we might join in His activity.
Session 3 – A Missional People Overview (Cam and Trevor) – our identity comes
from our belonging to the family of God. Our activity comes in that we have been
invited to join God in His mission.
Session 4 – Worship as Mission (Cam and Trevor) – mission is not just outreach
or evangelism. It comes from everything that we do as we reflect the nature of
God. Our hearts are to be undivided – this is mission.
February 10
Session 5 – Mind as Mission (Forge Team) – we learn to be on mission as we
love Him with all of our minds.
Community and Character
Teaching
Discussion and Assignments – Worship Assignment due
6:30 – 9:30
February 24
6:30 – 9:30
March 10
6:30 – 9:30
Session 6 – Stewardship as Mission (Forge Team) – we learn to be on mission
as we love Him with all of our strength.
Community and Character
Teaching
Discussion and Assignments – Mind Assignment Due
Session 7 – Neighbour/hood as Mission (Forge Team) – we learn to be on
mission as we love Him by loving our neighbours and neighbourhood.
Community and Character
Teaching
Discussion and Assignments – Stewardship Assignment Due
6:30 – 9:30
Session 8 – Community as Mission (Forge Team) – we learn to be on mission as
we love Him by loving one another.
Community and Character
Teaching
Discussion and Assignments – Neighbour Assignment Due
April 7
Community Assignment and Writing Assignment Due
March 24
There will be opportunity to gain further resources by gaining access on to the Forge Moodle site.
Details of this will be given during the introduction to the course.
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