The Church in Mission

Last August we returned to the U.S. for seven months of visitation in local Presbyterian churches and presbyteries to share our stories on ministry in Brazil and interpret the global witness of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Our first stop was Louisville, Kentucky for a week with Worldwide Ministries Division, now called World Mission Program Unit (WMPU) office staff for general orientation. It was particularly encouraging to hear the stories of the many and diverse other mission co-workers around the world. Once again, it left us grateful to be a part of this larger group.

It was also a time of uncertainty. Worldwide Ministries office and field staff had just been drastically reduced (the latter from 300 in January to 235 in August); I think the largest proportional reduction in my 29 years of service. And more was to follow. A reorganization of the national offices was forthcoming, which furthered the climate of uncertainty. Finally, it was announced that no future assignments to the field would be made beyond June 2008, at least until the budget for beyond 2008 was established in about another year. All that uncertainty, for good or bad, came through when we were interviewed along with Melanie and Scott Smith by Presbyterians Today at the end of the week. The interview was published in October as simply, “Mission Uncertain?” and it provoked considerable reaction.

I do not think that the reporter, Toya Hill, meant to question the mission itself of the church, but rather, the current patterns of support and sending, although that clarification was never made. I’ve thought a lot about this since then, especially as we visit churches and presbyteries in North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Florida and California (with trips to mission consultations in between to Germany and Spain!). I want to share some of these thoughts—they are my own and are not necessarily the views of any official body—in the hope that this may clarify what is happening (if for no one else than myself!) and what the prospects are for the mid-range future (short-range 12-18 months planning is already in gear). They are meant to be positive and constructive, and at the same time, as transparent and realistic as possible. Continue Reading »

Recently Marta and I participated in the Third (annual) Consultation of the Brazilian Diaspora near Frankfurt, Germany, and the Third Iberian American Missionary Conference (COMIBAM) in Granada Spain (the first was held in São Paulo in 1987 and the second in Acapulco in 1997). Both were moving events and encouraging especially to the two of us as we continued to encounter Brazilians from all over the world who, at one time or another, had studied with us or read some of the material we’ve produced. My overall sense was that the Brazilian missionary movement is moving into a new phase, beyond the initial enthusiasm of the 70’s and 80’s and the discoveries of the challenges of ministries in other cultures and often lack of adequate infrastructure and support of the 90’s, to some real contributions that can happen after 20-30 years in cross-cultural ministry, as some of these missionaries now have. Of course, the “former” two phases also continue to accompany the movement and will do so simultaneous to this newest phase. I believe that will require the following responses pertinent to us:

For North American or European based mission organizations, it will require some discernment and selectivity as they seek to partner with increasing numbers of Latin American missionaries. They come to the U.S. and Europe in all stripes and sizes and I think the North Atlantic operations can benefit from careful screening and recommendations from their overseas partners and mission personnel. For some mission personnel involved in this movement, we may contribute to this movement in a number of ways. We basically need to: first, encourage the movement; second, allow room for talented Latin Americans to assume leadership positions; and third facilitate the networks of relationships that the movement needs to further their outreach.

First, we need to encourage the movement itself. When we were at COMIBAM last week, I met a Presbyterian couple with OC International who had worked in Brazil for some 20 years in the area of mission research. They have now moved to Malaga, Spain to be available to train and pastor the 300+ Brazilian missionaries ministering in Northern Africa and the Muslim world! Another couple, also Presbyterian and working with OC International, have left Brazil after 20 years and relocated to England, basically for the same purpose.

The consultation in Frankfurt of the Brazilian Diaspora was illustrative of the great need for continuing education and encouragement that this group of several hundred in Europe need and are inviting. There I connected with two fascinating brothers in this endeavor: Tomé and Fabiano. Their parents are both from India and immigrants to Mozambique where the brothers were raised. Tomé went to Brazil as a young man some 20 years ago for theological education and today is one the Baptist denomination’s top leaders in missiological education. He also coordinates the missionary work of the Brazilian Baptist Convention in Europe and parts of Africa. His brother, Fabiano, just finished his PhD in Sociology at Cambridge University and is currently the director of a Theological School in Portugal which will host the Brazilian Diaspora next year. Together we have a desire to continue a project of continuing theological education for Diaspora Brazilians. We’ll see what develops.

Second, we need to allow room for talented Latin Americans to assume leadership positions. Mission personnel need to move beyond occupying full-time positions in national institutions to one of support in the areas of greater needs.

Third, we need to facilitate the networks of relationships that the Brazilian missionary movement needs in order to further their outreach. Those are some initial thoughts that this experience provoked.

Concerning the events themselves, there were 50-60 Brazilians at the consultation in Frankfurt and over 2,000 persons attending COMIBAM (300 of them were Latin American missionaries).

Yours in Him….Tim

Technorati: Latin American missionary, missionary, missions, mission conference

As local congregations become involved in overseas mission projects, especially through on-site visits, they also increase their desire for a more relational approach to mission support. They want to do more than simply write checks. They desire a more personal involvement. The propriety of this desire merits it own reflection (perhaps on another occasion), but for now, I will assume the more noble motivations and consequences of the desire for greater local and “hands-on” involvement. Local congregations might consider the following criteria when attempting to establish healthy mission partnerships. The criteria are by no means exhaustive. They are the fruit of my conversations with the mission team of one local congregation. Other contributions to this reflection are welcome.

Generally, a relational approach to mission support implies an approach that is more “direct” and “personal”. It is important to consider who might be the recipients of that personal and direct relationship. These recipients can be among one of three groups of “partners”: 1) mediating parties in the local congregation’s culture (e.g., the mission organization, whether denominational or multi-denominational) and their staff both within the local congregation’s (originating) culture and also within the target culture; 2) Christian organizations and churches autonomous to the target culture; and 3) the people you ultimately want to reach through the project. The local congregation needs to consider their relationship with and impact on each of these potential partners. They especially need to consider the second of these partners: the Christian organizations and church bodies that God has raised up in those regions to reflect His grace and mercy. To focus on either 1) the mediating parties (including their staff, such as ourselves) or even 2) the people you ultimately want to reach, runs the risk of resorting to the old model of dominance in partnership. Such an approach does not adequately recognize and empower the body of Christians God raised up in the area where you wish to serve him to maintain and further the ministry which a local congregation from another culture may initiate. Local Christians are the ones who will remain long after the expatriate sponsoring congregation moves on to other projects years later. Although I realize this is not entirely an either/or choice, certainly the equipping of Christ’s body from the local culture to continue whatever task a local congregation from another culture may substantially enable, is fundamentally more far-reaching than the immediate gratification one might have from a “direct” involvement with some lost soul.

Think of the potential local mentors in the body of Christ already present in the context where ministry is sought. North American churches have traditionally conceived their role in a missionary situation as that of the primary agents, with national partners as adjuncts. Perhaps a more appropriate role for us is that of learners, mentors, and equippers of those faith communities we have all been privileged to birth.

Technorati: mission partnerships, missions, Christianity

Welcome to to this forum of reflection on the missional character and witness of the church. I hope you will feel free, not only to comment on the themes expressed, but also to contribute your own insights to this perennial role of the people of God in the world today.