Shifting Ecclesial Leadership (Intro)

This essay will begin with three important definitions that will lay the frame for the arguments in the text to follow. The first important definition is that of the modern self. The modern self articulates a reality that one’s personal identity and destiny should be the self-construction of a rational, autonomous individual. The second important definition that will be important for this paper will be that of the post modern self. In remaining cohesive with the definition for the modern self, the post modern self then articulates a reality that happens both in and beyond the self-construction of a rational, autonomous individual. The final framing definition that will be important to lie in moving forward will be that of church. In its most simple form, church is the group of people called out by God. Of all of the Gospel writers, Matthew is the only one who tells of Jesus using a word that we now translate as church, and he only uses the word three times. The word is e˙kklhsi÷a and is a construction of two words, ek (out) and kalew (to call). In its most literal sense, this word is translated as those who are called out. Yet the obvious question remains, called out for what? The church is a group of people, called out by God in order to render the meaning of the drama of redemption in new sociohistorical contexts through its corporate life. Other important definitions will be handled later as these definitions will be more fluid depending upon the lens, modern or post modern, that the words are viewed through.
The church’s story in North America is deeply immersed within the story of modernity. This is problematic for the church in that the majority of North Americans no longer view the world through a modern lens. The spectacles that North Americans now where are of a postmodern bend. Since the church’s role in the world is to render the meaning of the drama of redemption in new sociohistorical contexts through its corporate life, the church’s job is now to properly respond to this earth-shaking shift from modernity to post modernity. Throughout time, people have responded to the vision and action of leaders. Whether it is responding to the leadership of Martin Luther in the Reformation, or the leadership of Martin Luther King Jr. in the civil rights movement, leadership is required for change to happen. This paper will begin by examining the ecclesial leadership of Jesus and Paul. I will then move into arguing that ecclesial leadership needs to begin equipping the church to shift toward a proper balance of orthodoxy and orthopraxy through prioritizing orthokrisis.