(УУа а. 219)

Although being still a relatively recent phenomenon, the emerging church movement (EC) has attracted quite a lot of attention in both academic and church circles. This paper does not seek to cover the phenomenon as a whole. Its aim will be to look at EC from a missiological perspective and to critically assess potential problems as well as contributions of this new movement to the mission of the church at large. The paper will unfold in three steps. First, EC in general will be introduced very briefly. Second, most significant missiological contributions of EC will be discussed. And the third part will attempt to provide an evaluation of possible dangers or at least doubts which EC implies. The overall thesis of this article is that EC, insisting strongly on its missional character, has much to say to the traditional church and can enrich the latter’s mission enormously. Yet, at the same time, these impulses need to be accepted both critically and with a mind open to dialogue and cooperation.

This article is an attempt to reconstruct part of the redaction history of the 2013 convergence document, The Church: Towards a Common Vision (CTCV). Within Faith & Order one attaches great importance to the reception process of the interim drafts of important multilateral ecumenical documents. It is my contention that CTCV not only had to cope with a late Inter-Orthodox reaction, but also took the 2008 reaction of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity very seriously. My assessment of the impact of this reaction is at the same time a benevolent commentary on CTCV from a Roman Catholic perspective. Other contributions to this thematic issue in Exchange. Journal of Missiologial and Ecumenical Research 44 (2015/3), prepared by L.J. Koffeman & P. De Mey. The articles can be accessed or purchased online at: http://booksandjournals.brillonline.com/content/journals/1572543x - Leo J. Koffeman, "A New Ecumenical Reference Text?" (221-230) - Radu Bordeianu, "The Church: Towards a Common Vision: A Commentary in Light of the Inter-Orthodox Consultation at Agia Napa in Cyprus" (231-249) - Peter De Mey, “The Missing Link between The Nature and Mission of the Church (2005) and The Church: Towards a Common Vision (2013): An Assessment of the Impact of ‘A Catholic Contribution toward Revising The Nature and Mission of the Church’ (2008) (250-269) - Elina Hellqvist, "Satis est - necesse est: The Challenges of the Document The Church of Jesus Christ to The Church: Towards a Common Vision (270-283) - Benebo Fubara-Manuel, "In Communion with the Trinitarian God: A Reformed Reflection on The Church: Towards a Common Vision" (284-301) - Elizabeth Salazar-Sanzana, "The Church: Towards a Shared Vision: A Contribution from Pentecostalism" (302-316)