I had hoped to blog last week about the General Assembly Mission Council's 2013-2016 Work Plan and other business coming to General Assembly. I will have to delay that until the end of next week. In the meantime, Presbyterian News Service has posted a piece about changes in the focus of World Mission that are indicative of changes that are developing in other ministries of the GAMC. I'll have more to say about this late next week.
Presbyterian News Service: 'A different time'
Reflecting the changing nature of the world and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the denomination's World Mission area is also evolving, moving toward a new model of communities of mission practice.
"To do all that, I know we need God's guidance," said the Rev. Hunter Farrell, director of World Mission, during a May 14 webinar for staff.
World Mission will encourage a different relationship with PC(USA) congregations, with every staff member seeing himself or herself as a "global connector," Farrell said.
As part of the 2013-14 Mission Work Plan and Budget — approved May 11 by the General Assembly Mission Council — World Mission eliminated 11 positions, some of which were vacant. In addition, the area created eight new positions that reflect its new vision.
One key part of that vision is the role of regional liaisons, who will work in an increased capacity to serve as point people between congregations and PC(USA) mission workers in their area of the world. They will act as diplomats and work to grow networks or communities of mission practice around World Mission's three critical global issues (CGIs) — addressing the root causes of poverty, especially as they affect women and children; sharing the good news of God's love in Jesus Christ; and being agents of reconciliation among cultures of violence.
World Mission is also creating new positions for three CGI catalysts. These staffers will each be assigned one of the CGIs and use their expertise to work with young adults, mission personnel and communities of mission practice for a strong and clear collective impact on the issue. ...
Is there anything in place to keep these "communities of mission practice" from being like the Israel-Palestine Mission Network--a rogue, semi-autonomous (but yet enjoying insider funding and status) hotbed of single-minded political activists? They act like they are official, but they're a closed group that pursues its own agenda, apart from what the PCUSA decides is to be done.
If we get more of these hotbeds of parochial craziness, we will not be well served.
Jim Berkley
Roslyn, WA
Posted by: Jim Berkley | May 29, 2012 at 12:06 PM