Mission in Christ's Way

There are some persons, who, by virtue of their faithful and effective leadership, transcend their particular church community to become leaders for all Christians Archbishop Anastasios Yannoulatos is such a figure. This collection of his essays deserves to be read by all Christians who care about the theology and practice of mission. All readers will surely be challenged by the Archbishop's vision of mission "in Christ's way." Table of Contents Introductory Letter of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew p. xiii Preface p. xv 1 “THY WILL BE DONE” MISSION IN CHRIST’S WAY A. Reality and Expectation 1. “Thy will be done.” 2. On a personal level. 1. “Thy will be done.” 2. On a personal level. p. 3 B. Mission in Christ’s Way 1. The Trinitarian relationship and reference. 2. Assumption of the whole of humanity. 3. The radical and eternally new element: Love. 4. The paradox of humility and the sacrifice on the Cross. 5. Everything in the light of the Resurrection and eschatological hope. p. 7 C. Fullness and Catholicity 1. Tendency to minimize the demands and the cost of doing God’s will. 2. Excludes isolating ourselves in an individualistic piety. p. 13 2 ORTHODOXY AND MISSION   A. Mission: The Undoubted Obligation of the Orthodox 1. Ecumenicity and apostolicity: Essential elements of Orthodox ecclesiology. 2. Orthodoxy—Resurrection—Mission. 3. Orthodox spirituality: “Being in Christ” and mission. p. 25 B. Fundamental Attributes of Orthodox Mission 1. Expression of repentance and concern for the whole Church. 2. Incorporation, not only adaptation. 3. Worship and autonomy. 4. Basic characteristics of the Orthodox missionary. p. 30 3 THE PURPOSE AND MOTIVE OF MISSION (From a Theological Point of View) A. The Theological Starting Point p. 41 B. The Ultimate Goal of Mission p. 45 C. The Immediate Goals of Mission 1. Preaching the Gospel. 2. The establishment of a “local Church.” 3. The doxology must also echo beyond the limits of the Orthodox community. p. 49 D. The Motive of Mission 1. Inner necessity for the conscientious believer. 2. Profound inner necessity for the Church. p. 58 4 THEOLOGY, MISSION AND PASTORAL CARE A. Significance and Unity of Missionary and Pastoral Work in Today’s Circumstances 1. The religious morphology of the modern world. 2. Basic truths regarding Christian witness. 3. Qualitative growth and pastoral responsibility. p. 68 B. Traumatic Situations Inhibiting Orthodox Witness 1. Spiritual level of the clergy. 2. The languidness of contemporary theology. 3. Insufficient administrative structures for the needs today. 4. Inertia and passivity of the ecclesiastical body. 5. Other weak points of the ecclesiastical reality. p. 77 C. Dynamic Presence and Witness in the World 1. A joyful proclamation in the specific circumstances of life. 2. A word of life and consolation. 3. Acceptance of pain and the Cross; ascetic experience. 4. The worshipping experience of Orthodoxy. p. 85 Clarification of the Phrase: “The Liturgy After the Liturgy.” p. 94 5 “THY KINGDOM COME” ORTHODOX WITNESS TO THE MODERN WORLD A. Biblical and Hermeneutical Facts 1. The meaning of the Kingdom of God. 2. Mission: The proclamation of the Kingdom to the end of the earth. p. 99 B. Proclaiming the “Kingdom” in Various Regions of the World 1. In the regions of the “Eastern world.” 2. In the so-called “third world.” p. 103 C. The Preaching of the Kingdom of God and Our Personal Responsibility 1. The development of its “signs” within ourselves. 2. The Kingdom of God has come and is coming. 3. A gift of God, but also intense human effort. 4. Incorporation into the mystical Body of Christ. 5. Experiencing the Kingdom of God in the life of worship. 6. The Kingdom of God “is not of this world.” 7. The urgency of its proclamation. 8. Jubilation, but also tribulation. p. 111 6 DISCOVERING THE ORTHODOX MISSIONARY ETHOS A. Theological Self-Awareness 1. The obligation of mission. 2. The meaning of mission. p. 119 B. Realization of Orthodoxy’s Historical Reality 1. The Byzantine Church. 2. The Russian Church. 3. Other Orthodox Churches. p. 121 C. Problems and Activities of the Contemporary Orthodox Mission 1. Contemporary problems. 2. Activities of Orthodox missionaries today. p. 125 D. The Orthodox Ethos in Christian Witness 1. Incarnation of the Word. 2. In the light of Trinitarian theology. 3. Inner genuineness. 4. The Divine Liturgy is a central axis. 5. Freedom and ease facing the world. 6. “My power is made perfect in weakness.” p. 128 7 THE ASCENT OF HUMAN NATURE A. The Ultimate Sign of Glory for Human Nature p. 137 B. Implications for Direct Matters 1. The value of the material world and the human being. 2. An invitation to transformation of the whole world. 3. Deep joy from understanding the coming of the Kingdom. p. 140 8 EUCHARIST—SERVICE—WITNESS IN MUTUAL RECIPROCITY A. Worship p. 147 B. Service p. 149 C. Witness p. 151 9 THE DOXOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING OF LIFE AND MISSION A. A Theological and Biblical Review 1. Manifestation of His Glory. The distinction of the essence and energies of God. 2. The Glory of God is extended to all the world. p. 157 B. Appropriating and Radiating the Glory 1. Two continuous movements of the same pulse. 2. It must be spread throughout the earth. p. 161 C. The Doxological Character of Theological Reflection and the Life of Worship 1. A portent and prelude of the final hour. 2. The journey is accomplished in Christ, in the Church. p. 165 D. Living in Humility the Crucified Love from “Glory to Glory” 1. In Christ, through the Holy Spirit, within the Church. 2. An uninterrupted dynamic development. p. 170 10 “YOUR WILL BE DONE” MISSION IN CHRIST'S WAY (A Theological Reflection on Mission) A. The Relationship of Christ to the Father p. 179 B. Response to the Love of God p. 181 C. A Sense of Powerlessness and of Power p. 182 D. Existential Experience of the Resurrection p. 183 E. A Process with Cosmic Dimensions p. 185 11 ORTHODOX MISSION: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE A. A Quick Glance at the Past: Basic Principles of Orthodox Mission 1. Orthodox Byzantium. 2. Russian missionary activity. 3. Mission as resistance. 4. Periods of bleakness and lethargy. p. 192 B. The Contemporary Period 1. Jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. 2. Jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa. 3. Other Orthodox missionary hearths. 4. Structures and centers supporting external missions. 5. A work still limited. p. 200 C. Toward Development of Orthodox Mission in the Future 1. Theological understanding of mission—a necessity. 2. Serious study of the evolving world. p. 210 12 DIALOGUES AND MISSION A. Inter-Religious Dialogue 1. New possibility and challenge. 2. Orthodoxy—open to dialogue. p. 225 B. Right and Obligation of Orthodox Witness 1. Deposit of experience. 2. Participation in the process of the transformation of the world. p. 229 13 THE GLOBAL VISION OF PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL A. Steadfast Framework and Clear Perspective of the Gospel 1. The Old Testament. 2. The horizon of the New Testament. 3. Orthodox ecclesiology and universality. p. 236 B. The Global Vision in the Liturgical Experience of the Gospel 1. The rhythm of daily and weekly worship. 2. Triodion and Pentecostarion. p. 242 C. The Global Vision in Ecclesiastical Action and Life 1. “Globalization”—new worldwide problems. 2. Toward new codes of communication. 3. Harmonizing local and global obligations. p. 247 14 REDISCOVERING OUR APOSTOLIC IDENTITY IN THE 21st CENTURY A. The Words “αποστελλω,” “αποστολη,” and “αποστολος” in the New Testament 1. Disciples and apostles at the same time. 2. The apostolic work continues in time. 3. The range and character of the mission of the disciples of Christ. p. 259 B. Living the Apostolicity of the Church Today 1. Stimulating the awareness that we belong to a Church that is “apostolic.” 2. A few characteristics of our time. 3. Exodus—to reach out. 4. Being present in the environments of those “outside,” offering what God has given to us. p. 265 C. Renewing the Apostolic Conscience 1. Of the apostolic vision. 2. Of the apostolic zeal. 3. Of the apostolic ethos. p. 272 15 INSTEAD OF AN EPILOGUE «Καί ἰδού ἐγώ μεθ’ ὑμῶν εἰμί . . . » “And lo I am with you . . .” (Matthew 28:20) A. Authority in the Universe p. 279 B. Journey to All Nations p. 280 C. “All the Days” p. 283 Biographical Sketch p. 287 Publications of the Author p. 293 Index p. 305 Product Details Paperback: 337 Pages Publisher: Holy Cross Orthodox Press ISBN: 978-1-935317-07-4 Product Dimensions: 6 x 9 Author:  Archbishop Anastasios of Albania Publication Year: 2010