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Lenten Studies 2023

SEEKING “WHAT IS THE CHURCH?” IN TIMES OF TRANSITIONS AND NEW CHALLENGES
Dr. Carlos Cardoza-Orlandi

FEBRUARY 26-28, 2023

Through the series of lectures, the congregation will be exposed to recent debates about church growth and vitality, providing biblical and theological contributions from different church traditions and helping the congregation reflect upon its own history and theology of church within the Reformed tradition.

Schedule & Topics:

Sunday, February 26 at 9:30 a.m.: Christian’s Response to “What is the Church?” in times of turmoil”
A review of the four basic approaches to the nature of the church and its mission in the 20th Century. Discussed will be “the Church Inside-Out,” “Church Growth,” “The Missional Church,” and the Inter-cultural church.”

Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. A Light Dinner in Fellowship Hall
Sunday, February 26 at 6:30 p.m.: “What is the Church?” Developing Theologies for the Global North from Experiences in the Global South: The Case of Donald McGavran, India, and “the Church Growth Movement.”
Donald McGavran was a distinguished missiologist and the main theologian behind the ecclesial category of the “homogenous unit,” strongly shaping Church Growth movements and networks. We will explore his contributions and challenges in his proposal and briefly identify places where Protestant denominations embraced his theology.

Monday, February 27 at 7:30 p.m.: “What is the Church?” The Influence of Vatican II, Leslie Newbigin, and missio Dei in the development of “The Missional Church” (and the Counter-cultural movement).
Vatican II and the Protestant (Anglican figure) Leslie Newbigin (who was the first bishop of the Church of South India), re-interpreted the essence of the church in the Euro-American milieu. While in the Church Growth Movement the church is the theologicus locus, the missional church locates the center of its understanding of being church in God’s missionary activity (missio Dei).

Tuesday, February 28 at 7:30 p.m.: “What is the Church?” From Numbers to Theologies of Intercultural Worship and Engagement
This lecture explores two different case studies to expose the congregation to the promises and challenges of Church in times of Transitions.

Location:

All lectures will take place in Fellowship Hall. p.m.

Our Speaker:

Lewinsville welcomes the return in person visit of Dr. Carlos Cardoza-Orlandi, the Frederick E. Roach Professor of World Christianity in Baylor’s department of religion. Dr. Cardoza-Orlandi was the 2022 Lent Study speaker who presented his lectures on ZOOM.

Dr. Cardoza-Orlandi is an interdisciplinary scholar and historian in the fields of world Christianity and mission studies, Dr. Cardoza researches interpretations of the Christian movement around the world on both institutional and popular levels, the socio-cultural interplay between Christians and other faiths and more.

These lectures will be presented in person but will be recorded for later viewing.