You may be wondering what a Missional Order is anyway?
Well, though we have an idea where to start and what it might look like for now, we are beginning something new that is organic and may look different as it grows. We hope that a simple framework can guide us in a common journey together and trust in God that this will be enough to make a good start of it. We will need all those that desire to be a part of a Missional Order to not only practice this with us but also to teach us and others what they learn along the way. These will be collaborative intergenerational mini communities; where all the parts are equal spiritual contributors.
Everyone is invited to participate in a Missional Order but not everyone needs to. We are all at different places in our spiritual journey.
Lastly, a Missional Order is one way of practically living out what Jesus said to his disciples in the Sermon on the Mount.
Matthew 5:19-20 “Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus Christ
Thus, A Missional Order practices together and teaches each other how to follow the Jesus Way. The promise it that if we do this we will see great things happen in the Kingdom.
It is called missional because the groups are interested and active in joining together with what God is already doing in them and around them. Practically, this means that groups will become more Anabaptist as they tend actively to their inner expressions of faith and their outer expression of faith.
It is called an order because groups are intergenerational mini communities gathering around several practices. Groups choose practices that they are interested in exploring and practicing together as a group. This will make them very organic in nature and each group will look different than the others.
The practices that each group will choose will help the group to easily notice God’s activity in their lives and in the world. Practices will also help them to naturally join in God’s activity wherever they see it happening. As a Missional Order Network we collaborate together to discern practices based on the Scriptures. Currently we are working together to come up with nine starting practices to choose from that will be accessible and essential. Some of these might be: lectio divina, contemplative prayer, the examen, a daily office, keeping the sabbath, hospitality, finding God in the ordinary, etc. Others may be created directly out of Matthew 5-7 such as: practicing being salt and light, fasting, alms giving, valuing everyone, non retaliation, etc.
The groups exist to inspire, encourage, challenge, support and collaborate together around the Jesus practices they have chosen together.
The hope is that each group’s life together will be evidence that God is truly at work in them and in the world.
