A Trinitarian Theology of Family Ministry
Dennis Guernsey answers in Family Ministry and a Theology of Family: A Personal Journey, an essay in Incarnational Ministry (eds: Kettler and Speidell). Guernsey, now deceased, teamed with Ray Anderson at Fuller Theological Seminary to develop an approach to family ministry informed by Trinitarian theology and family systems psychology (click here for details).
In Guernsey's view, "family" is best understood as a verb, rather than a noun. Family is about being "familied." Unfortunately, some family ministries are more about programs and structures than about loving, family-like relationships. As guidance to churches wishing to join with Jesus in relational ministry to and through families, Guernsey offers five theological principles:
1. "Human persons are created in the image of God and are of infinite value" (p222). Whatever defaces or destroys this imago dei is contrary to God's will and must be resisted. Accordingly, effective family ministries have a strong ethical center.
2. "Human persons are created as relational beings to exist in cohumanity as male and female" (p222). Guernsey emphasizes the conjunction and (male AND female), noting that effective family ministries facilitate the participation of both men AND women as relational persons in relational ministries that view the church itself as a relational family.
3. "The church as the body of Christ is the real presence of the incarnate Christ in the world" (p223). The human person Jesus Christ (now glorified and in heaven), is present and active in the world through his body, the people of God (the church). This people is called to family-like relationships - both with one another and with those in the world around them. It is in and through these relationships that the help and healing of God flow to us through the Holy Spirit from Christ himself. Expanding on this thought, Guernsey makes this important statement:
If it is going to be real, Christianity must work in the most intimate of relationships: between husband and wife, parent and child, sibling and sibling, friend and friend, believer and believer, believer and unbeliever. As the people of God we paint a family portrait as we demonstrate the real presence of Christ in the world through our love for one another (p223).4. "The church is primarily the people of God, and secondarily the place they gather" (p223). When we understand this, family ministry becomes more about relationships than about programs - about being "familied," rather than merely talking about family.
5. "Family ministry takes place most naturally wherever and whenever people feel most natural" (p224). Unfortunately, family ministry programs often are highly structured and thus rather artificial. Effective family ministries put people in settings where they are comfortable and thus can be "real" - relating with one another in natural ways. In that regard, it's helpful that family ministries take advantage of a culture's family rituals and celebrations. These gatherings tend to be centered in homes and other community spaces outside of church buildings.