A207 Encouraging Mission as Part of the Beloved Community
In our contemporary globally interconnected world, international mission has evolved from a colonial paternalistic view of mission to an understanding of being sent to share the gospel of Jesus’ love. Mission is now understood as a companion relationship, sharing of gifts, that all parties bring to the relationship. Mission experiences of encountering God in others whose culture may be very different from our own have the power to transform individuals and communities. In the words of Barbara Brown Taylor, “The hardest spiritual work in the world is to love the neighbor as the self- to encounter human being not as someone you can use, change, fix, help, save, enroll, convince or control, but simply as someone who can spring you from the prison of yourself, if you will allow it.” This proposed resolution encourages dioceses, congregations, individuals to develop international mission relationships of mutually shared gifts, shared worship, and shared experiences. It is the intent that there be an understanding of mutual work among faith based organizations when working to live out our baptismal vows. In preparation and implementation of mission engagement, we encourage use of resources from the Global Episcopal Mission Network (GEMN), Episcopal Relief & Development, or other diocesan resources that may be available.
Explanation
In our contemporary globally interconnected world, international mission has evolved from a colonial paternalistic view of mission to an understanding of being sent to share the gospel of Jesus’ love. Mission is now understood as a companion relationship, sharing of gifts, that all parties bring to the relationship. Mission experiences of encountering God in others whose culture may be very different from our own have the power to transform individuals and communities. In the words of Barbara Brown Taylor, “The hardest spiritual work in the world is to love the neighbor as the self- to encounter human being not as someone you can use, change, fix, help, save, enroll, convince or control, but simply as someone who can spring you from the prison of yourself, if you will allow it.” This proposed resolution encourages dioceses, congregations, individuals to develop international mission relationships of mutually shared gifts, shared worship, and shared experiences. It is the intent that there be an understanding of mutual work among faith based organizations when working to live out our baptismal vows. In preparation and implementation of mission engagement, we encourage use of resources from the Global Episcopal Mission Network (GEMN), Episcopal Relief & Development, or other diocesan resources that may be available.