| From: Church with a Mission | To: Missional Church |
| Sending | Being sent by God |
| Mission as one among many activities of the church | A missional intention permeating all activities of the church |
| Mission as something the church does | Mission through being and doing |
| Mission as proclaiming | Mission as proclaiming and being a sign of the reign of God |
| Seeing persons overseas and the poor and minorities in North America as mission fields | Seeing the dominant cultures in the U.S. and Canada also as mission fields |
| Mission as "out there" | Mission as "right here" and "out there" |
| Mission as cross-cultural; membership recruitment or reclaiming inactive members is something else | Mission within and beyond ones own culture |
| Expecting to have an influential role in society | Expecting to be on the margins of society |
| Trying to recreate Christendom in a postmodern context | Living as an alternative society in a postmodern, post-Christendom context |
| Looking to methodological (or psychological or demographic) solutions | Looking to theological solutions and shifts in world view, as well as practice |
| Mission as obedience to the Great Commission | Mission as participation in Gods mission in the world |
| Church-centered mission; church growth is the primary measure of success | Mission centered on the reign of God; the church as instrument of and witness to the in-breaking reign of God in the world, as the church invites others to enter that reign |
| Theology of the church done with little reference to mission | Theology of the church and theology of mission as inseparable |
| Separation of church (nurture, worship, and maintenance) and mission | Mission-shaped church |
| Local congregation paying, praying, and sending | Local congregation engaged in mission |
| Mission agency conducting missionary activities on behalf of congregations | Mission agency seeing local congregations as partners in mission |
| Pastors central role as meeting the needs of members or serving as chaplain to society | Pastors central role as leading and equipping the covenant community in mission in society |