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