Congregations and the kingdom of the Triune God: Mapping the road ahead for Southern African congregations.

Abstract

This article aims to map the development of Congregational Studies within the Southern African context over the past two decades. The journey starts
with an introduction to the field of Congregational Studies as a subdiscipline within Practical Theology, which is also part of the study of General Ecclesiology, while congregations are local communities of faith situated in historical and social contexts. The mission of the congregation is to serve the coming of the kingdom of the triune God. Vital congregations are called into the coming of the kingdom of the Triune God. The Church Life Survey, as an empirical instrument, provides significant answers to assist in the journey towards the fulfilment of the congregation’s calling. Collaborative research and the continuous development of a practical, missional theological ecclesiology should be important markers for mapping the road ahead.