The Promise of the Emerging Church: A Critical Engagement

Abstract

<p>This thesis maintains that the development of the "emerging church," in terms of both its theology and ecclesiology, is a needed and advantageous development within the current postmodem climate. Key introductory issues in relation to the emerging church are dealt with including its definition, its values, and its development. A theological evaluation is used to examine the emerging church's ecclesiology. The theological criteria developed to test the emerging church are whether it is incarnational and missional. Both criteria are theologically grounded with corresponding principles drawn from the theological examination. The principles are then used as means to evaluate the emerging church's theology and ecclesiology. The emerging church as an advantageous and positive development is substantiated through the missional and incarnational evaluation.</p>