One of the most mesmerizing sights in nature is the murmuration of starlings—a flock moving in what appears to be chaotic yet beautifully coordinated patterns. Without a single leader, each bird instinctively adjusts its position in response to the movements of those nearest to it, creating a collective dance in the sky. From the outside, the pattern seems almost random, yet it’s profoundly unified. It is this image of murmuration that offers a compelling metaphor for how the ekklēsia participates in the perichoretic mission of God.
In my forthcoming book, Innovative Disruption, among other things, I explore the role of the church within the perichoresis of the Trinity—the mutual indwelling of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, where each Person of the Trinity is distinct but united in mission. This divine relationship is the perfect example of how the ekklēsia is called to function in its own participation in God’s mission in the world. Just as a murmuration reflects a dynamic, harmonious movement, so too the ekklēsia embodies the relational and communal aspects of the Trinity moving together in mission without losing the uniqueness of each member.
Ekklēsia and the Perichoretic Mission
One of the most mesmerizing sights in nature is the murmuration of starlings—a flock moving in what appears to be chaotic yet beautifully coordinated patterns. Without a single leader, each bird instinctively adjusts its position in response to the movements of those nearest to it, creating a collective dance in the sky. From the outside, the pattern seems almost random, yet it’s profoundly unified. It is this image of murmuration that offers a compelling metaphor for how the ekklēsia participates in the perichoretic mission of God.
In my forthcoming book, Innovative Disruption, I explore the role of the church within the perichoresis of the Trinity—the mutual indwelling of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, where each Person of the Trinity is distinct but united in mission. This divine relationship is the perfect example of how the ekklēsia is called to function in its own participation in God’s mission in the world. Just as a murmuration reflects dynamic, harmonious movement, so too the ekklēsia embodies the relational and communal aspects of the Trinity moving together in mission without losing the uniqueness of each member.
The Dynamic Mission of the Ekklēsia
A murmuration’s strength lies in its dynamic movement. No bird operates in isolation; rather, each one contributes to the collective formation, adjusting in real-time to the movements of the others. Similarly, the ekklēsia—the community of God’s people—operates as a dynamic body. No single member directs the whole, but each contributes, animated by the Holy Spirit with Jesus as their head, to the larger purpose of reflecting God’s kingdom on earth. This dynamic reflects the very essence of perichoresis, where the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit move in perfect harmony, giving and receiving within their relationship while actively participating in the ongoing mission of redemption.
The apostle Paul captures this image of dynamic unity when he writes, “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (Rom 12:4-5). The church, much like the murmuration, is not static but constantly moving and responding to the Holy Spirit as it responds to the needs of the world. The mission of the ekklēsia is one of constant engagement, where every believer, like each bird in a murmuration, must remain sensitive to the movements of others, ensuring that the community remains united in purpose.
Leadership Without Centralization
In a murmuration, no one bird leads the flock, yet the group moves with astonishing coordination. This is similar to how leadership in the ekklēsia should function. In contrast to rigid hierarchies or centralized leadership structures, the church is meant to empower each believer to take on the role of a leader within their context. Just as each bird plays a role in the formation of the murmuration, so each member of the ekklēsia contributes to the mission of the church, exercising their gifts and responding to the Holy Spirit.
This idea of decentralized leadership is crucial for the perichoretic mission of the church. The early church was characterized by its ability to grow through interconnected communities, where leadership was shared and everyone had a role in the mission. Paul emphasizes this when he writes, “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it” (1 Cor 12:27). Each believer is called to contribute to the whole, with no single person holding dominance over the movement. Similarly, the modern ekklēsia might consider moving away from centralized models of leadership and embrace a more fluid, participatory model, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide each member in their unique calling.
This kind of leadership doesn’t diminish the role of pastors and elders, but it encourages a collaborative and mutually dependent model that reflects the very nature of the Trinity. As Peter writes to early church leaders, “shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:2-3).
Mutuality and Interdependence
At the heart of both murmuration and perichoresis is the idea of mutuality. In murmuration, each bird’s movement depends on the movements of its neighbors, creating a system of interdependence. Likewise, the perichoretic relationship of the Trinity is defined by mutual giving and receiving, where the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct yet inseparable in their mission.
The ekklēsia is called to reflect this mutuality in its mission. No believer operates independently of the others; rather, the church thrives when each member is actively engaged in contributing to the whole. Paul reminds the church in Ephesus that the body of Christ is “joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love” (Eph 4:16). This is the essence of the perichoretic mission—the ekklēsia moving as one body, united by the Spirit with each person playing a vital role. Just as murmuration depends on each bird’s responsiveness to the flock, so the mission of the ekklēsia depends on each believer’s responsiveness to the Spirit and to one another.
A Unified, Dynamic Mission
One of the beautiful aspects of murmuration is its unpredictability, yet it remains unified. The starlings adapt to changing conditions and environments while maintaining cohesion. Similarly, the mission of the ekklēsia is not rigid but adaptable, responding to the cultural and social realities of the world while staying true to the gospel. The perichoretic mission calls the church to be agile and responsive, able to move with the Spirit while maintaining a shared sense of purpose.
In Innovative Disruption, I argue that the church must embrace this dynamic nature, recognizing that the mission is not confined to static forms but is constantly adapting as the Holy Spirit leads. The church, much like the murmuration, must be flexible and creative in its engagement with the its community and the world, all while remaining grounded in the mutual love and mission of the Trinity. The fluidity of murmuration offers a vivid image of how the ekklēsia can remain unified in purpose while constantly moving forward in mission.
Jesus Himself speaks of this kind of fluid movement when He compares the work of the Spirit to the wind: “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8). The church, like the wind, moves in response to the Spirit’s guidance, adapting to circumstances but always working toward the mission of glorifying God by making disciples.
Conclusion
The murmuration of starlings provides a powerful metaphor for understanding the role of the ekklēsia in the perichoretic mission. Just as a flock of starlings moves in dynamic, unified patterns without centralized control, the church is called to participate in the relational, mutual mission of the Trinity, guided by the Holy Spirit. The interdependence, fluidity, and adaptability of murmuration reflect how the ekklēsia should operate—each member playing a vital role in contributing to the movement of the whole and responding to the Spirit’s guidance. As the church continues to live out its calling in the world, it is in this perichoretic dance that the mission of God is fulfilled.