The Timothy Conference

T H E T I M O T H Y C O N F E R E N C E

5. Traditional theological training is usually not relevant to the cultural or social experience of many urban Christian leaders or inner-city churches.

The Solution: The Urban Ministry Institute Principles for Rethinking the Elements of a Biblically Informed Paradigm For Urban Christian Leadership Development

I. Shift from Suburban, Eurocentric, and Middle to Upper Class Accessibility to Biblical and Theological Training to Providing Quality Biblical Investment to the Poorest of the Poor in Urban Areas in Their Own Cultural Context .

A. Theological Tenet: The poor are rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom of God, James 2.5.

B. Paradigmatic Ramification: Changing our view of the urban poor from the benefactors of our paternalistic aid to the warriors and ambassadors of God in the city.

C. Our Ministry Implication: TUMI unashamedly provides the best leadership resources available to leaders emerging from urban poor/underclass congregations .

II. Shift from Bible College, Bible Institute, Seminary, Christian Liberal Arts College, Missions Agency, or Para-Church Context to the Local Church as the Place Where Leaders are Selected, Trained, and Groomed.

A. Theological Tenet: The centrality of the Church, 1 Timothy 3.15-16.

B. Paradigmatic Ramification: Resourcing the churches so they can make their own decisions for Kingdom advance and expression as the Holy Spirit leads.

C. Our Ministry Implication: TUMI provides its leadership resources to leaders within and through the church, in all of its forms and venues .

III. Shift from Teaching and Covering Prosaic, Discursive Treatments on Theological Minutia to Telling and Retelling God’s Story in the Kingdom of God, with Jesus Christ as Center .

A. Theological Tenet: The biblical story of Christ and his Kingdom, Matt.6.33.

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