Rocky Mountains Region

Call for papers – Ecclesiology and Mission

The church is the Body of Christ in the world. It is the embodiment of the gospel and commissioned to reproduce itself among all nations. Its expression is diverse and continually evolving as it interfaces with the changing world it is sent into. The church came into being as the community of Jesus’ witnesses who were commanded to go out to their neighbors, towns, cities, and the ends of the earth. It is dynamic, creative, reproducing, and courageous as its members seek to nurture life in locally reproducing ways, wherever they find themselves.

The church is a mission community dedicated to proclaiming and teaching God’s word. It cares for and extends God’s family. Demonstrating the power of the Holy Spirit, the church brings God’s light to dark places, being a relevant societal example of holy living. It pursues God’s concerns for the world it inhabits and the communities its members are a part of. The church honors God as it affirms and encourages the diversity of all he has created. However, churches also often become institutions which struggle to retain their life-giving mission orientation.

Papers are invited on any aspect of ecclesiology and mission. Topics include but are not limited to:
• Theological explorations of mission and the church
• The church’s specific role in mission
• Any aspect of church planting
• Models of church as they relate to mission
• How the church mobilizes for mission
• Church and parachurch roles in training for mission
• Issues relating to churches in mission contexts
• Diaspora churches
• Intergenerational church planting
• Church planting and evangelism in the context of violence
• The role of community in the church’s mission
• The role of the sacraments in mission
• The role of Bible translation in church planting

Preliminary papers – Regional meetings March/April 2025
(Specific date for Rocky Mountain region will be announced soon)

To encourage research on ecclesiology and mission, preliminary papers (2000 words) are invited for presentation at regional meetings. These preliminary papers will be reviewed by regional teams and, according to their quality, recommended for full paper (4500-7000 words) presentation at the annual conference.

Presentations
This year we will also consider PPT/video presentations on our subject without a paper. We will accept presentations with the understanding that if it is chosen for the national conference a paper will be required for the national presentation. Please submit a 500 word summary explaining the presentation.