MCN Foundational Pillars

Intro…

We attempt here to confirm and promote a sense of unity and common commitments to Biblical and Missional values for our Missional Church Network.

Foundational Pillars for a Missional Church Network

  1. Equipping for Engagement.  We aim to promote learning and maturity in ministry strategies as may be suitable beyond our local church walls.  This may include Faithfully Presence as well as Active Engagement within the Public Square (in its many potential possibilities.).  In attempting to help “equip the saints for ministry,” we seek to work with the local church with a focus primarily on issues and strategies for public ministry appropriate to laity engagement.
  2. We aspire to be Kingdom People.  This speaks to the Reign of God in the lives and hearts of His People, those that have been adopted into the Family of God by virtue of personal repentance and commitment to the Lordship of (allegiance to) God through the Work of Christ on our behalf.  Although we function IN the world, we are to represent a culture and loyalty OF another world.
  3. We are called to Love.  Exemplified biblically in so many ways, we pattern ourselves after Christ who “came not to condemn the World, but to give His Life to redeem.”  This Love is to be showered upon all in contrast to our frail human tendencies to categorize others as unworthy of Christ’s (and our) love.
  4. We are called to both Faith and Good Works.  Our call to Faith is a call to Christ-likeness, often expressed as Spiritual Formation and Discipleship.  Our Good Works are to flow naturally from a heart well-tuned to the Love of Christ made alive through the indwelling of His Spirit.   We are to do Good to All, especially those of the Family of Faith.
  5. We are created in the Image of God.  Collectively, we are all created by God, and in His likeness in so many ways, yet prone to wander by means of our Free Will.  Even when still in rebellion, it is God’s Will that all will come to him in Faith.  The Mission of God is to be lovingly engaged in bringing others to God through the atoning Work of Christ.
  6. We live under God’s Law and experience Divine Grace.  The Law, as viewed in the New Testament, creates expectations for righteous/holy living.  However, when out of balance with Grace, our readiness to judge others (rather than ourselves) is often counter-productive to proclamation of our faith.  Divine Grace encompasses a call to Repentance, Forgiveness, Hope, and a New Life in Christ.  In humility, we live with sensitive to the moral realities of right and wrong and seek God’s grace and forgiveness in our Journey of Faith and Pursuit of Righteousness.
  7. We accept the idea of “Common Grace.”  Since all of mankind are created in the Image of God, there exist certain fundamental qualities to be respected.  First, Christ died for all and seeks that all should respond to Him in faith and find New Life.  All are also endowed with reason and awareness of a moral code and on such basis are accountable to God and to one another.  While many may not identify with Faith and Redemption in Christ, all still have a capacity to know right from wrong and even to do good while still unresponsive to God in their personal lives.
  8. We are called to know and practice Truth.  Words such as discernment, righteousness, justice, and wisdom are found throughout scripture.  Truth encompasses both the matter of knowledge of our Faith (God and our relationship to him and others) and our understanding of the Larger Reality within which we walk and aspire to Rightful Living.  Truth is also defined in contrast to error, deceit, and counterfeit gods and related lifestyle.  Meanwhile, God is Truth in the same sense that God is Love.  Truth speaks of a Transcendent Reality of which we may always be limited in our full understanding (as in “seeing as through a glass darkly”).  In appropriate humility, then, we both seek to Know God and to Know Truth.  Its pursuit is an integral part of the Journey of Faith and a Righteous Life.
  9. We aspire be Salt.  We view Salt as providing good taste, promoting the healing of wounds and preserving all that is wholesome and good.   As Christ sent out his disciples to be both Salt and Light, it followed an extended period of preparation.  We too sense the need and value for such preparation.
  10. We aspire to be a Light.  We view Light as bringing clarity and guidance to “the way” as Christ taught and in whose path we follow.  It is a Light defined by both Attractiveness, Relevance, and Truth.  Such a Light must reflect the Gospel of Christ and His Kingdom with faithfulness and integrity.

The above statements are advanced as points for discussion and potential agreement.  We see them as potential core beliefs/agreements that provide a foundational approach for effective Missional Engagement.

A fuller statement of Evangelical beliefs were adopted more than 50 years ago in the Lausanne Covenant, which has also been enhanced periodically over time.

Further thoughts and suggestions are most welcome.

* An update of an earlier statement.  We continue to expand our vision and refine our documents.

 

This page by: Ron Richmond
First published:  2025/05/25
Latest revision:  2026/07/18