An African youth perspective on missional ecclesiology; a Methodist reflection

Abstract

Missional church is not a new concept that is going around, however it is only recent that it has begun to be place more in the forefront in the context of the church. In this happening also, especially in the traditional mainline churches, there have been some gaps that have been left over, the most prevalent of those gaps being that of young people and how things relate to them. This study aims to show the state of missional church from the perspective of young African people in the context of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa. A comprehensive literature review is tabled in this study, which displays what exactly missional church entails and how it can be implemented. The study continues to table the MCSA as missional church and the components thereof referring back to some of the teachings and practices of the founder of Methodism, John Wesley. We continue on to investigating the state of youth ministry in the missional church; reflecting on this from the general African state and then narrowing the reflection down to the MCSA. In that section as well, the latest developments in the MCSA are tabled as well. The study continues to table the aspects of missional church that are ascribed to by the youth in the church; a case study of implementation there is tabled as well. The role of the youth pastor and local preacher as driver is tabled in the study as well and a brief reflection is made on that as well stipulating the key roles of the offices. The study concludes with an integration of all the chapters into the title and offers a brief conclusion and recommendations.