The Missionary as Toolmaker, Permission-Giver and Guide.

Recognition of the importance of contextual theology for the growth of an authentic church in a particular context presents the issue of how will people do this. There are situations where missionaries changed their message from depreciating local culture as a vehicle for Christian faith (though significantly they often were the preservers of the language), to saying to people you ought to chose local motifs. Enforced liberation can be another form of colonialism and better ways have to be found. Local Christians may need permission to express Christian faith in their own way, but the choice is theirs. They may also need tools to enable them to do exercise choices.

These are not the only valid dimensions of leadership in mission, but they are important factors.

Inspiration for this approach includes:

• Contextual theologizing

• Spiritual Direction which helps people discern what God is saying, particularly Spiritual Growth Ministries in New Zealand

• Conflict Resolution including Robert and Alice Evans and the Plowshares Institute

• Facilitation

• Adult Education

• Transformational Development, with thanks to World Vision.

• The idea of Church as a Learning Organisation

• Habitat for Humanity helping people work with others to build their own homes.

• Morris, Danny E., and Charles M. Olsen. Discerning God's Will Together : A Spiritual Practice for the Church. Nashville: Upper Room Books, 1997.

• Elmer, Duane, and Lois McKinney, eds. With an Eye on the Future : Development and Mission in the 21st Century : Essays in Honor of Ted W. Ward. Monrovia, Calif.: Marc, 1996.

Links

• Incarnation in mission, Annotated Bibliography

• Roland Allen, An appreciation by his grandson (pdf file).

• Lois Fuller, "The missionary's role in developing indigenous Christian Theology" Evangelical Missionary Quarterly, vol. 33, No. 4