Colin Adam links has a link to the site below containing the statement of faith and ministry vision from the recent Gospel Coalition conference, check it our here...
www.justinbuzzard.com/buzzard_blog/files/foundational_documents.pdf
on his blog. This is, I believe, hugely significant as a piece of work. I suppose that this is just a case of taking the opportunity to endorse what it says and urge consideration of how this might underpin and transform ministry for God's glory. Thanks to both Colin and Justin.
The concluding paragraph in particular made my heart burst:
'The ministry we have outlined is relatively rare. There are many seeker-driven churches that help many people find Christ. There are many churches seeking to engage the culture through
political activism. There is a fast-growing charismatic movement with emphasis on glorious,
passionate, corporate worship. There are many congregations with strong concern for doctrinal
rigor and purity and who work very hard to keep themselves separate from the world. There are many churches, usually urban ones, with a radical commitment to the poor and marginalized.
We do not, however, see enough individual churches that embody the fulsome, integrative gospelbalance we have outlined here. And while, in God’s grace, there is an encouraging number of bright spots in the church, we see no broad movement yet of this gospel-centered ministry. This balance will produce churches filled with winsome but theologically substantial preaching,
dynamic evangelism and apologetics, and church growth. They will emphasize repentance,
personal renewal, and holiness of life. At the same time, and in the same congregations, there
will be great stress on cultural engagement in art, business, scholarship, and government, and on justice for the poor. There will be calls for radical Christian community in which all members
share wealth and resources and make room for the marginalized. These priorities will all be
combined and will mutually strengthen one another in each local church.'
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