A study on the lived experience of Koinōnia in a post-apartheid, post-Armstrong congregation: A transition from power-imbalance to Koinōnia

Abstract

The triune God reaches from within his perichoretic unity (Eugenio, 2014:156), into his creation, inviting all of humanity to participate in the Triune community of “shared participation—a participation together—in the perichoretic community of Trinitarian persons” (Grenz, 2003:268). Within this community, humanity finds it is made-in-God’s-image value and can live in the freedom of God’s communion (Knight, 2007:1).This article considers the experience of koinōnia in a church where membership lived through transitions of both apartheid and legalistic religion simultaneously, based on the research question, “What is the lived experience of koinōnia in the post-apartheid, post-Armstrong Grace Communion International Johannesburg Congregation”. Where genuine, evangelical, Trinitarian koinōnia exists, there appear to be blockages in the progressively deepening life in community. With significant input from the work of Lincoln (Lincoln, 2009) Koinōnia is explored through five considerations: identity, common life of believers, virtuous life, ubuntu, and practical sharing. Koinōnia in the lived experience of people who have traversed the ills of apartheid and the transitions of legalistic religion are encountered, exposing the beauty of diversity, the need for common values, and the commitment of time together in Scripture. Responding to meaning full moments (Frankl, 2006) towards Christlikeness by the power of the Spirit, not the flesh (Galatians 5:13–22), appears to significantly draw believers into the unity that Jesus prays in John 17. A more faithful practice is envisioned where believers build trust in the Spirit’s unifying power and presence and, from within the identity of Christ, are encouraged to explore various responses to meaningful moments towards Christlikeness. As the article and antecedent research suggests, widening and deepening individuals’ awareness of common life may build the connectivity of the visible vessel fulfilling its mandate to reflect God to the world. The Church is like a diverse tapestry attending to the calling of mending what was broken by harmful religious and political practices.