Local Yet Connected: Towards An Ecclesiology for the Urban Context

The nature and posture of the church in urban settings has been given too little attention. In many respects, churches function as if they are in tight-knit smaller towns, assuming mutual trust, established relationships, and community. Churches have given into superficial tribalizations (ethnic homogeneity, partisan political affiliations, and other more subtle cues like dress, jargon, or unexplained rituals. Well-intentioned churches are often slow to respond and engage swift-moving urban society. In order for the church to thrive in the city, fresh thinking is necessary. Moreover, “structural differentiation” is exigent if the church aims to address needs in the broader society.