To the Whole City - Summary

Language and the word "city" in the City Reaching Movement

The geographical language of city reaching, like theological language , is important to the reaching of the city.

There are four basic problems with the use of the geographical words for city:
   1) geographical boundaries problems

   2) a loss of the concept of the church “Parish”

    3) practical problems with connecting people across geography

    4) “City-Reaching” within rural and small town areas.

Four possible options of words to use with city reaching are

   1) City        2) Region        3) Polis and       4) Community.

These words have their own advantages and disadvantages for each local area. With
each possibility a certain amount of education and vision-casting will be necessary.
The important part of the decision-making process about language is love for one another.
We need to work to understand how different word choices will affect our ministry with different
groups. It is then, the hard work and prayer will occur; when we learn to submit to one another. The
goal should be a language that not only does not offend, but draws people together into something
that is bigger than their own individual ministries, and is reflective of the completeness of the church,
the gospel and the city.