| This research attempted to investigate how the Presbyterian denomination reacted to the urbanization process in Brazil, with particular attention to the churches in the city of Londrina. Although being the first to start an official missionary endeavor in Brazil, the Presbyterian Church is today a middle-sized denomination compared to others, with little participation in society. Supposing that this timid development is partially due to its inadequacy to the urban context, this investigation addressed the theological presuppositions behind the actions of the first missionaries and pioneers as well as their missionary strategies, which set the ministerial pattern for the first indigenous pastors. Since the urbanization process in Majority World countries has its peculiarities, the study focused on some historical, sociological and anthropological concepts in order to understand the interaction between the church and the urban milieu in Brazil.; Historical research was done concerning the insertion of Presbyterianism in Brazil, general aspects of Brazil and the development of city of Londrina. A case study methodology was used to investigate the Presbyterian Church in Londrina and its interaction with the city. Sociological and biblical theological research was done with respect to urbanization and urban mission. An ecclesiological approach using the sociological concept of rurban continuum was done with the goal of suggesting practical actions to the Presbyterian Church regarding the improvement of its structures and missional postures in the Brazilian urban context.; The results of this research showed that, although well intentioned, the Presbyterian Church restricted for a long period of time its missionary vision to the interior of Brazil. Both the missionary focus and the dominant rural cultural environment of local churches hindered the adaptation of the denomination to the new urban configuration of the Brazilian society. The concept of cultural continuums, especially the rurban continuum, can help the Presbyterian Church affirm the core values that came from its rural past and at the same time revise, reevaluate and reform its configuration in order to be effective in its urban mission task. |
