The ebb and flow of grace : an investigation into the Presbyterian Church in Ireland's missionary theory and praxis
Abstract
The flag of the Republic of Ireland enshrines two distinct traditions. The Green
represents the Nationalist and the Orange the Loyalist. Traditionally these colours
have been associated with different cultural and theological views. In focusing on the
Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI), this dissertation seeks to engage with a
denominations whose history includes evangelism, Church extension/ planting and
ecumenism. PCI’s activity is set within the wider context of “mission-as-evangelism
and ecumenism” in and from Ireland. This research aims to discern PCI’s theological
justification for mission-as-evangelism and ecumenism.
PCI’s mission-as-evangelism and ecumenism is considered in respect to a theological
and practical understanding of and relationship to the Catholic Church. Attention is
given to a theological consideration of PCI’s historical and confessional position on
Catholicism. Further, attention is given to how PCI, in reflecting their historical and
theological position on Catholicism, can engage with Catholicism through missionas-
evangelism and ecumenism.
This dissertation considers the theological question whether the doctrinal tenets of
confessional Presbyterianism are a hindrance or an aid to mission-as-evangelism and
ecumenism. In asking this question, this research seeks to respect the theological and
historical traditions of the Reformed Churches and to highlight the contribution of
Reformed theology and Churches to the belief and praxis of mission-as-evangelism
and ecumenism. This research seeks to highlight the mutually informative
relationship between evangelism and ecumenism. This relationship is investigated to
understand how they enrich one another. The possibility of mutual enrichment leads
to the question whether both the evangelical and ecumenical perspectives can be
adopted with integrity, in the light of the historical and confessional theology of the
PCI. This research also seeks to discern whether the evangelical and ecumenical
positions are mutually exclusive with regard to their theology and ecclesiology. The
theological question is filtered through Irish Presbyterianism within the matrix of
Ireland. Motivations are a key subtext of this dissertation, particularly the motivations for the
PCI’s mission-as-evangelism and ecumenism. Motivations of history, culture and
politics are reflected upon to discern whether they have primacy over or equality
with theological motivations. The discussion is carried out through a conscious
engagement with Catholic theology, within the specific context of Ireland.
After the Introduction outlining the background and problem statement, Chapter Two
looks at the missional history and tradition in Ireland. Mission-as-evangelism and
ecumenism within the PCI receives specific attention. Chapter Three outlines the
current literature of mission, evangelism and ecumenism in order to highlight a gap
which this research attempts to fill. Chapter Four considers the theological
touchstones on which mission-as-evangelism and ecumenism rest: missiology, the
kingdom of God, covenant, culture, ecclesiology and ecumenism. Chapter Five
conducts a dialogue with the Catholic theology of mission-as-evangelism and
ecumenism. Chapter Six considers the Reformed understanding of the Ordo Salutis
as the theological model of how mission-as-evangelism and ecumenism respond to
the gospel. Chapter Seven acts as a case study of mission-as-evangelism and
ecumenism within the PCI. In conclusion, the research questions are answered in the
light of the dissertation’s harmony, and implications are offered for further research
on mission-as-evangelism and ecumenism within PCI
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- Theology [480]