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Pandemic Ecclesiology

 The enforced closing of Sunday and other "in-person" gathering led to many churches experimenting with online and alternative methods of working.

But I wonder if enough reflection has been done theologically, and ecclesiologically around this.

I wonder what moving forward post-covid will look like, or will the moment be lost in the haste of re-opening, of going back to our old ways?

Frost & Hirsch in their influential book from a few years ago now, "The Shaping of Things to Come". raise some questions worth reflecting on


  • Do you need to meet in a church building? Not necessarily.
  • Do you need to meet weekly? Not necessarily. The first Christians met every day. A church can meet as often as it needs in order to fulfill the above commitments. 
  • Do you need a minister? Not necessarily. The New Testament is clear on the need for accountability, admonishment, and learning. It does speak about leaders (elders) exercising humble and loving care for a community. But you don’t need an ordained minister for that.
  •  Do you need to sing hymns? Not necessarily. There is mention in the New Testament of the value of singing spiritual songs. But if the goal is that worship and learning occur when you meet, you can use as few (none?) or as many songs as you need. 
  • Does someone have to bring a sermon? Not necessarily. As long as people have an opportunity to hear from God, through his Word and other means, it doesn’t matter whether one person speaks for thirty minutes or thirty people contribute a minute each. Learning, worship, and the opportunity for God’s Word are essential. How they play out is entirely open to experimentation. 
Ask yourself, “If we could start church all over again from scratch, would we do it the way it’s currently being done?”

Frost, Michael. The Shaping of Things to Come: Innovation and Mission for the 21st-Century Church (p. 106). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. 

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