Nazarene Theological Seminary

Feb. 10, 2011 - This morning, Nazarene Theological Seminary (NTS) hosted a book release celebration to commemorate the publication of Missio Dei: a Wesleyan Understanding. The book was written by NTS faculty members, as well as one NTS alum, and published by Beacon Hill Press. Dr. Eugenio Duarte, General Superintendent in jurisdiction for NTS, was present and commended the faculty on this achievement.

Dr. Ron Benefiel, President of NTS, shared, “The purpose of this volume is to introduce a biblical, Wesleyan theological engagement of the missional church conversation to pastors and congregational leaders in ways that provide a compelling vision for church renewal.”

The text is divided into three sections: tracing the missio Dei in Scripture, a Wesleyan theology of the missio Dei, and participating in the missio Dei. At the book release event, several of the writers provided a brief summary of his or her chapter, and then engaged in conversation on that topic with a group of students. The gathering closed with Dr. Roger Hahn, Dean of the Faculty, leading a prayer of dedication.

This writing project was part of a larger initiative to move NTS forward as “a missional seminary serving a missional church.” In 2009, NTS received a grant from the Kern Family Foundation as part of its Leading Through Change program, a cohort of evangelical seminaries exploring the disruptive change in our society and the implications for graduate theological education. The other seminaries in the Kern cohort urged NTS to articulate clearly how the missional initiatives at NTS flow directly from its Wesleyan theological tradition.

In the book's preface, Dr. Keith Schwanz, Assistant Dean, wrote, “If the practices of the church are not motivated by a white-hot core of theological convictions, the church will rush from fad to fad in search of the next ‘cool’ idea. By contrast, if the practices of the church emerge from deeply held theological convictions, the church will remain centered on God and God’s purposes.”

Jesse Middendorf, General Superintendent in the Church of the Nazarene, shared in the book’s foreword, “Nazarene Theological Seminary has provided us with this magnificent resource. The essays are thoughtful, theologically sound, and unambiguous. Mission is not an option for the church. It is in the very character of the relationship we as a people, as well as individuals, have with a missional God…I commend this book to every pastor, superintendent, evangelist, and layperson.”

Missio Dei: a Wesleyan Understanding is available for purchase from Nazarene Publishing House. NTS will host a workshop track on the missional church at the M11 conference, drawing in part from this book. NTS is committed to participating in the missio Dei by training women and men for faithful and effective ministry, and serving as a theological resource for the church.

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