Evangelism in the German Landeskirchen after the Leipzig Synod 1999

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• I. Introduction
• 1. The 'EKD Mission Synod'
• 2. Personal Experience
• 3. General Aim and Purpose
• 4. Basic Assumptions
• II. The Declaration of the Leipzig Synod and the EKD report Taking the Gospel to the People
• 1. The Leipzig Declaration - An Assessment
• 1.1 The Present Situation
• 1.2 The Nature of Mission
• 1.3 The Ways of Mission
• 2. Taking the Gospel to the People - An Assessment
• 2.1 The Present Situation
• 2.2 Evangelism: The Proclamation of the Gospel
• 3. Summary
• III. Empirical Research
• 1. Evangelistic Initiatives
• 1.1 ProChrist
• 1.2 Willow Creek
• 1.3 The Alpha Course
• 1.4 Summary
• 2. Survey: Evangelism and Mission at Grassroots Level in the Rhineland
• 2.1 The Leipzig Synod and its Effects
• 2.2 Methods of Mission and Evangelism
• 2.3 Mission and Evangelism Training
• 2.4 Summary
• 3. Theological Training
• 3.1 Evangelism Studies at Theological Faculties
• 3.2 Theological Literature
• 3.3 Summary
• IV. Investigating Key Theologians
• 1. Karl Barth
• 1.1 The Missionary Church
• 1.2 Evangelisation and the Nominal Christian
• 1.3 A Critique: A Theology of Proclamation and Election
• 2. Dietrich Bonhoeffer
• 2.1 Mission - the Act of the Sovereign God
• 2.2 Mission as the Church-With-Others?
• 2.3 Mission Preaching
• 2.4 Critique: The Spreading of the Word
• 3. Paul Tillich
• 3.1 The Spiritual Community and the Functions of Churches
• 3.2 The Functions of Expansion
• 3.3 Critique: Humanity's Estrangement from itself and the New Being
• 4. Wolfhart Pannenberg
• 4.1 The Church: A Missionary Movement and a Sign of the Kingdom
• 4.2 Personal Witness and the Missionary Proclamation of the Church
• 4.3 Critique: The Unity of Conversion and Baptism
• 5. Jürgen Moltmann
• 5.1 The Mission of the Spirit

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This dissertation aims to investigate the state of evangelism in German Protestant churches after the 1999 Leipzig Synod, which emphasized the church's primary mission. It examines the gap between the synod's declaration and the practical reality at the grassroots level, exploring theological reasons for this disparity. The study suggests potential measures to promote evangelism further.

• The impact of the 1999 Leipzig Synod on evangelism in German Landeskirchen.
• The discrepancy between official church pronouncements on mission and actual practice.
• The theological underpinnings of evangelistic approaches (or lack thereof) in contemporary German Protestant theology.
• Analysis of successful evangelistic initiatives (ProChrist, Willow Creek, Alpha Course).
• Suggestions for promoting evangelism within the German Protestant context.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

I. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the dissertation. It briefly discusses the 1999 EKD Mission Synod and its emphasis on mission as the church's primary task. It then introduces the author's personal experiences, which motivated the research, outlining the general aim and purpose of the study and stating the basic assumptions underpinning the investigation. The introduction serves to contextualize the research problem and lay the groundwork for the subsequent chapters.

II. The Declaration of the Leipzig Synod and the EKD report Taking the Gospel to the People: This chapter provides a critical assessment of the Leipzig Synod's declaration on mission and the EKD report, "Taking the Gospel to the People." It analyzes the current situation of mission in German Protestantism, examining the nature of mission as defined by the Synod and the various methods proposed for its implementation. The chapter explores the emphasis (or lack thereof) placed on evangelism within these documents and assesses their practical impact at the grassroots level. The analysis includes a close examination of the report's strengths and weaknesses, setting the stage for the empirical research presented in the following chapter.

III. Empirical Research: This chapter presents the findings of empirical research conducted to assess the state of evangelism at the grassroots level. It examines several significant evangelistic initiatives (ProChrist, Willow Creek, and the Alpha Course), evaluating their strategies, successes, and limitations. A survey of evangelism and mission in the Rhineland region further complements this analysis. It looks at the impact of the Leipzig Synod, prevalent methods of mission and evangelism, training programs and their effectiveness. The chapter integrates these varied empirical findings to create a comprehensive picture of the current state of evangelism within the German Protestant context, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities present.

IV. Investigating Key Theologians: This chapter delves into the missiologies of several prominent German Protestant theologians, including Karl Barth, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Paul Tillich, Wolfhart Pannenberg, and Jürgen Moltmann. For each theologian, the author examines their understanding of mission, evangelism, and the role of the church in the world. A critical analysis of each theologian's perspective is provided, evaluating the implications of their views for contemporary evangelistic practice in Germany. This exploration of theological viewpoints aims to offer a deeper understanding of the underlying theological factors contributing to the state of evangelism in the German Protestant churches.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

Evangelism, Mission, German Landeskirchen, Leipzig Synod 1999, EKD, Protestant Theology, Empirical Research, Missiology, ProChrist, Willow Creek, Alpha Course, Karl Barth, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Paul Tillich, Wolfhart Pannenberg, Jürgen Moltmann.

Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview

What is the main topic of this dissertation?

This dissertation investigates the state of evangelism within German Protestant churches following the 1999 Leipzig Synod, which emphasized the church's primary mission. It examines the gap between the synod's declaration and practical reality at the grassroots level, exploring theological reasons for this disparity and suggesting potential measures to promote evangelism.

What key events and documents are discussed?

The dissertation centers around the 1999 Leipzig Synod and its declaration on mission, as well as the EKD report, "Taking the Gospel to the People." These documents form the basis for the analysis of the current state of evangelism in German Protestantism.

What is the scope of the empirical research?

The empirical research includes an examination of successful evangelistic initiatives such as ProChrist, Willow Creek, and the Alpha Course. A survey focusing on evangelism and mission at the grassroots level in the Rhineland region further complements this analysis, considering the Leipzig Synod's impact, prevalent methods, and training programs.

Which theologians are analyzed in the dissertation?

The dissertation analyzes the missiologies of several key German Protestant theologians: Karl Barth, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Paul Tillich, Wolfhart Pannenberg, and Jürgen Moltmann. Their perspectives on mission, evangelism, and the church's role are examined and critically analyzed to understand the theological factors influencing evangelistic practice in Germany.

What are the key themes explored in the dissertation?

Key themes include the impact of the Leipzig Synod on evangelism, the discrepancy between official church pronouncements and actual practice, the theological underpinnings of evangelistic approaches, analysis of successful evangelistic initiatives, and suggestions for promoting evangelism within the German Protestant context.

What are the main findings or arguments presented?

The dissertation aims to highlight the gap between the stated goals of the Leipzig Synod and the practical realities of evangelism in German Protestant churches. It analyzes this gap through empirical research and theological reflection, ultimately offering suggestions for improving evangelistic efforts.

What is the structure of the dissertation?

The dissertation is structured into four main parts: an introduction, an assessment of the Leipzig Synod and related documents, an analysis of empirical research on evangelism, and an investigation into the missiologies of key theologians. Each section contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the research question.

What are the keywords associated with this dissertation?

Keywords include Evangelism, Mission, German Landeskirchen, Leipzig Synod 1999, EKD, Protestant Theology, Empirical Research, Missiology, ProChrist, Willow Creek, Alpha Course, Karl Barth, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Paul Tillich, Wolfhart Pannenberg, and Jürgen Moltmann.