Abstract
Consumerism is an ideology that greatly impacts our society. The Church is not immune to the logic and the practices of consumerism. In fact, one might suggest that our ecclesiology is often informed by consumerism. Consumerism presents the Church with a problem because the very logic of consumerism shapes the way that one thinks about Church. Church can become another commodity like everything else that exists to be consumed for its own sake. This research project focusses on young adult churchgoers in Christchurch (18-25 years old) from a variety of denominations to explore how their ecclesiology has been shaped by consumerism. This age group is one that has in many ways been discipled by consumerism. This project seeks also to articulate how the Church is to participate in the mission of the Triune God. A participative model grounded in Trinitarian theological reflection can give young adults an alternative ecclesiological vision – a participative ecclesiology that invites churchgoers to be participators rather than consumers, or in other words to be the Church rather than consume Church.