Mission in Prophetic Dialogue

Abstract

“Prophetic dialogue” is the underlying ethos or spirituality of Christian mission. This view is rooted theologically in the missio Dei, from which flows a “dimensional” understanding of holistic mission. A “praxis matrix” traces the contextual dynamics of mission, and the concept of “transformative encounter” highlights the complex interaction between Christians and other communities. Two case studies explore the nature of prophetic dialogue: the reconciling work of Maggie Barankitse in Burundi and the sermon of Desmond Tutu at the funeral of Steve Biko in South Africa in 1977. The article concludes with reflection on dialogue as embrace and prophecy as unmasking and imagining.