Sacred Roots Workshop

86 Sacred Roots Workshop: Retr ieving the Great Tradi t ion in the Contemporary Church

C. Four phases or periods set forth in the Apostolic Tradition

1. Time of Christian inquiry: the seeker period , which ended with the rite of welcome into the Church. This was a ministry to the unchurched , helping clarify the issues of conversion for the seeker.

2. Time of instruction: the hearer period , which ended with the enrollment of names (covenant) into the body. This was a ministry to new-born believers .

3. Time of intense spiritual preparation for baptism: the kneeler period , which ended with water baptism . This was a ministry to the novice believer .

4. Time after baptism for incorporating the new Christian into the full life of the Church: nurturing the faithful into full membership (anointing with holy oil in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, sealing on the forehead, and participation in the Eucharist) . This was a ministry to new members of the body .

D. Notice the thinking of the early Church.

1. Biblical faith and conversion involves the entire community confirming and verifying the personal faith and assent of the believer.

2. Evangelism, worship, and discipleship were not separated, and they were intimately tied to our ongoing spiritual pilgrimage as believers together in the Church.

3. The aim of evangelism and discipleship is full participation in shared spirituality within the Christian community; the ultimate aim of all spiritual effort was