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than by methodological description. Taken up to a great extent by what we have
called "cultural exegesis" and the methods that seem best suited to reaching our
post-Christian society, we have neglected the theological bed-rock of what the
church is--its essence.

"Where there is fuzzy thinking about the church," said one observer, "there will
be no clear thinking about the ministry of the church."

That should call us to an

effort to restore this critical piton of ecclesiology--both its theology and its
practice.

Fisher's thoughtful analysis is helpful.

He points out that a renewed

ecclesiology must begin with the essence of the church--what the church is
precedes all else. Rather than this, most recent thinking about ecclesiology has
been centered on what the church does--on matters of organization, structure,
and the "practical" ministries we generate. In fact, says Fisher, "the practice of
ministry is now the theology of ministry."

When we disengage from theology

we are left with "ecclesial thinking along human organizational lines." From that
posture, it is not surprising that the dominant model for the church in recent years
(introduced by the megachurch) has been the corporate organization, and its
corresponding CEO leadership model. Nor is it surprising that along with this
organizational model has come a growing reliance on "technique." Embracing
twentieth century confidence in tangible, practical achievement and progress in
material terms, the American church bought into technique. Says McCullough,
"Americans...loved technique. Our most favorite home-grown philosophy is
pragmatism, the belief that the value of all ideas is determined by their practical
consequences."

Much of the recent criticism of evangelical ministry, as we

have noted, has centered on this issue.

If the starting point for reformation is essence, then we must begin to rebuild a
more powerful ecclesiology upon the two doctrines that give it life and authority:
the doctrine of Christ and the doctrine of the Word. The very real presence of
Christ is the ground and center of a transforming doctrine of the church. "We do
not understand the core nature of the church," said Greg Ogden, "until we grasp
the unspeakable truth that Jesus extended His life on earth through a corporate
body that can literally be called 'the body of Christ.'"

The early church was in

touch with this reality, convinced that the risen Christ was present with them, and
"for them that presence was...the essence of the church."

And so it must be today. To the extent that anything else--the "tools of
modernity," or the wisdom of the social sciences, or any other pretender--
infringes on the powerful presence of Christ, the church and its ministry will be
less than evangelical. Thomas Oden put it succinctly in light of Matthew 28:19-
20: "The divine command to preach, baptize and teach in Christ's name relying
on His presence is the ground floor of...the practice of ministry. Take away the
Lord's command, and the living presence to which it witnesses, and we have little
upon which to build any significant idea of Christian ministry."