During the 2nd Reformed Ecumenical Symposium in Rome, Italy, held from 22 to 23 November, 2024, on World Christianity in an Era of Accelerated Mobility, Dr. Daniel Rathnakara Sadananda delivered a public lecture at the Waldensian Church, Piazza Cavour. Titled “Church as Home in Borderless Ecclesia: Rethinking Ecclesia in the Light of Migration, Mobility, and Digital Connectivity,” the lecture presented a profound vision of the Church as a dynamic, inclusive home—one shaped by radical love, justice, and liberation.
Rethinking the Concept of Home
Sadananda began by urging the audience to reconsider the meaning of “home” in a world defined by migration, mobility, and digital interconnectedness. Traditional notions of home as fixed and static no longer suffice in a world where borders are constantly crossed—geographically, culturally, and digitally. Instead, he called for understanding home as fluid and adaptive, a sanctuary that offers belonging to the displaced and excluded. This reimagining, he suggested, must also extend to the Church, which is called to embody this transformative vision of home.
Biblical Foundations: Movement and Hospitality
Sadananda used the stories of biblical patriarchs and matriarchs to illustrate the evolving nature of home. He emphasized that Abraham and Sarah, at a time when they themselves were marginalized and vulnerable, became recipients of God’s radical hospitality. Their encounter with strangers who visited them not only provided sustenance but also opened new horizons, revealing the transformative power of divine presence. This moment underscores that true sanctuary is experienced not only through extending care but also through humbly receiving it in times of need.
Abraham and Sarah extended this hospitality to Hagar, a marginalized figure, demonstrating that justice and care for the vulnerable form the foundation of a true sanctuary.
Next, he discussed Isaac, whose re-digging of wells during conflict served as a metaphor for resilience. Isaac’s ability to move from sites of conflict to places of peace underscores the Church’s role in creating spaces of renewal and solidarity. Sadananda highlighted that a home, like the Church, must offer sustenance and restoration even amidst hostility.
Turning to Jacob, he emphasized that home is also a place of transformation and struggle. Jacob’s encounter with God at Jabbok, where he wrestled for identity and blessing, reveals that true belonging requires vulnerability and a commitment to justice. For the Church, this means embracing discomfort and engaging in struggles for equity and liberation.
The Exodus: A Borderless Ecclesia
Sadananda expanded on the Exodus narrative as a paradigm for understanding the Church as a borderless, adaptable home. The story of liberation from Egypt, he argued, represents a rejection of oppressive systems that confine and control. The wilderness, often seen as a place of hardship, becomes a transformative space where dependence on God fosters growth. He noted that the Tabernacle, a mobile sanctuary, symbolizes the sacred in motion, calling the Church to remain dynamic and responsive to changing realities.
The participatory leadership model in the Exodus, where Moses empowered elders to share responsibilities, served as another crucial lesson. Sadananda stressed that the Church must reject rigid hierarchies and embrace shared leadership, ensuring that the voices of the marginalized shape its mission. This inclusivity is essential for a Church that seeks to remain relevant and just in a rapidly evolving world.
Jesus: The Boundary-Crosser
Sadananda described Jesus’ ministry as the ultimate example of boundary-crossing. The Incarnation itself, he explained, represents an act of divine migration, as Jesus crossed the boundary between heaven and earth to enter into human vulnerability. Throughout his ministry, Jesus defied societal, religious, and cultural barriers, welcoming those excluded by traditional structures. Sadananda urged the Church to emulate Jesus by creating spaces of radical inclusion and liberation, where all, especially the marginalized, find belonging.
The Role of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit, Sadananda argued, is the architect of a borderless and transformative ecclesia. The Spirit moves with the displaced and empowers communities to build solidarity. He reflected on Pentecost, where language and cultural barriers were transcended, as a pivotal moment that calls the Church to embrace diversity and unity. The Spirit invites the Church to be a home where every individual is valued, and relational flourishing is prioritized over institutional rigidity.
The Trinity: Perichoresis and Theosis
Sadananda introduced the concept of the Trinity to deepen the vision of a borderless ecclesia. He described the divine relationship as one of perichoresis—a dynamic, interdependent dance of love among the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This divine movement invites all of creation into theosis, the transformative process of becoming like God. He argued that Godself exists in continual mobility, transcending boundaries and challenging humanity and creation to embody the imago Dei, the image of God. The Trinity, as a model of fluidity and interrelation, calls the Church to embrace movement and mutuality, rejecting static and exclusionary frameworks.
A Vision for the Future
Sadananda’s lecture challenged the audience to imagine the Church as a sanctuary without walls—an inclusive, dynamic space that resists exclusivity and adapts to the needs of a rapidly changing world. He urged the Church to shed its rigid structures and embrace its calling as a home for all, grounded in love, justice, and liberation.
As the world becomes increasingly fluid, Sadananda’s insights resonate deeply. The Church must embody this vision of a borderless ecclesia, serving as a transformative force in the lives of those on the margins. By doing so, it can truly reflect the boundless justice.
