Called to Mission Finding Our Place in God’S Mission
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Presbyterian Mission World Mission Called to Mission Finding Our Place in God’s Mission Guidebook Friends of World Mission The joy of the Gospel calls each of us to participate in the redemptive ministry of Jesus Christ. We are called and commissioned as disciples in this world, equipped for ministries of healing, reconciliation and hope. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has a long history of responding to this collective call. For 180 years, Presbyterian World Mission has engaged in the work of addressing the root causes of poverty, working for reconciliation and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ (see “Critical Global Initiatives,” page 8). Just as the body of Christ is made up of many members, the ministry of Presbyterian World Mission is made up of all those Presbyterians who respond to the call of God with joy and thanksgiving. We are God’s people, called and commissioned for service. How will we respond to this good news? As you reflect on God’s call in your life, may you know that your ministry is part of a larger web of work, just as the ministry of Presbyterian World Mission is part of the larger web of God’s work in this world. Whether you sense a call to long-term service as a mission co-worker (see page 10) or are looking for tools to engage in short-term service (see page 17), Presbyterian World Mission is here to accompany you and your faith community. This guidebook is provided to serve as a companion in your discernment. Through it, we seek to share resources that inspire, to provide tools that equip, and to build relationships that connect U.S. Presbyterians to the larger body of Christ throughout the global church. We hope that you will use this resource in your journey, and that you will know the support of Presbyterian World Mission is with you along the way. As you discern and engage in this call to mission, always feel free to contact your Presbyterian World Mission staff. May the peace of Christ be with you. Ellen Ellen Sherby Coordinator, Equipping for Mission Involvement Presbyterian World Mission [email protected] 800-728-7228, ext. 5612 Contents How Presbyterians Do Mission 4 Introduction to Presbyterian World Mission 5 Faithful and Effective Mission: Core Values 6 The Presbyterian Approach: Partnership 7 Modes of Mission Engagement 8 Critical Global Initiatives Presbyterians Serving in God’s Mission 10 Mission Co-workers: A Bridge to the Global Church 11 Supporting Your PC(USA) Mission Co-workers 12 Hosting a Mission Co-worker 14 Young Adult Volunteers 16 Short-term Mission: History, Trends and Resources 17 Short-term Mission Trips: Making the Most of Your Experience 18 The Practice and Process of Partnership 19 Mission Networks World Mission Toolkit for Engagement 22 Taking It Home Discerning Your Mission Focus 25 Eight Steps to Make Your Mission Committee More Effective 26 Next Steps for Your Engagement 27 Resources for Mission Involvement Appendix A 30 Measure Your Mission! Mission Assessment Tool Appendix B 38 Mission Evaluation Template Appendix C 42 Crafting Mission Stories that Inspire Involvement How Presbyterians Do Mission Introduction to Presbyterian World Mission Beginning in 1837, the mission practices of partnership Presbyterian Church’s Board (see page 6) that characterize of Foreign Mission sent mission all Presbyterian mission work. workers into global service to Further, we live into the model preach, teach and heal. Over the known as “communities of years, our approach to mission mission practice,” which work has evolved, growing characterizes healthy mission stronger as our connections with involvement. Through these God’s people in the world have communities of mission practice, grown deeper. As Presbyterian Presbyterian World Mission, churches have grown and our global partners and U.S. flourished around the world, Presbyterians come together and Presbyterian World Mission’s share an identity derived from model has shifted toward one of common passion and calling, partnering with and equipping while maintaining separate these global partners. Around spaces of mission reflection the world, Presbyterian mission and action. By committing to workers equip partners for the interact regularly for learning and symptoms of poverty, violence work of feeding, healing and sharing, as well as for prayer, Bible and injustice, rather than the proclaiming the gospel in their study, reflection and worship, causes. Our global partners own national church. communities of mission practice challenged us to do something Drawing from our Reformed seek to increase the faithfulness more and identified three critical heritage of “reformed, always and effectiveness of our service in initiatives in which they need us being reformed,” Presbyterian God’s mission. to engage with them to make a World Mission continues to lasting difference in God’s world: gain insights and deeper Working on Strategy • Address the root causes of understanding into how God is with Mission Partners global poverty . especially as calling us to do mission together. In recent years, World Mission it impacts women and children. What was initially once a call set conducted an in-depth study • Share the good news of God’s aside for a select few, mission of mission leaders across the love in Jesus Christ . together work is now at the fingertips of all denomination, among ecumenical with other members of Christ’s Presbyterians. As the increasing and global partner churches body. globalization of the world makes and organizations and PC(USA) • Work for reconciliation amid travel and communication easier mission co-workers and others. cultures of violence . including across the globe, we are called We heard both hopes and our own. to coordinate our efforts not concerns for how our church In 2012, Presbyterian World just between the national church might increase the faithfulness Mission gathered a group and global partners, but across and effectiveness with which we comprised of global partners, Presbyterian congregations engage together in God’s mission. mission personnel, Presbyterian and mission communities in the One insight was heard frequently: Women, Young Adult Volunteer United States. Many of our mission efforts alumni, ecumenical mission We do this by affirming certain remained short-term in focus and leaders, seminary professors of core values (see page 5) and addressed almost exclusively the mission, seminarians, mission 4 advocates, mission network structure invites Presbyterians Mission has restructured its leaders, congregational from across the U.S. to join with work to increase its focus on mission leaders and leaders of global and ecumenical partners these critical global initiatives several Presbyterian mission to make a collective impact (see page 8) and to inspire, organizations. Together, they in the initiatives of poverty equip and connect Presbyterians worked to affirm a common alleviation, evangelism and to engage in more faithful and structure for mission. This reconciliation. As a result, World effective mission. Faithful and Effective Mission: Core Values Each year, more and more We will strive to be aware of • Relevance to God’s World Presbyterians are active in God’s issues of power and context, We embrace the call of God mission locally, nationally and both at home and abroad, as to respond with creativity and internationally. Each person well as the gifts and hopes of integrity to a rapidly changing brings innate attitudes and values all God’s people. and interdependent world that impact their mission service • Holistic Ministry where local and global concerns experience. Recognizing our core We seek to bring about the converge in new ways. We will values helps us establish faithful realization of God’s vision for maintain our centeredness in and effective mission. our fallen world: the redemption Christ as we follow the example of the whole creation, including of our spiritual ancestors: Core Values for both personal sinfulness and “The church reformed, always Mission Involvement the unjust structures of society. reforming” (Book of Order As a prayerful expression of the A Christ-centered proclamation G-2.0200). one universal church, we cannot of the gospel requires that we • Stewardship see the world as whole without work alongside our partners From the beginning God has the power of the Holy Spirit. In to share the gospel through called humankind to care for our brokenness, we are called to evangelism, minister in the created order; therefore, seek and share the good news of compassion, and advocate we will strive to restore Christ in common ministry with for justice. Together we discern God’s creation and to use its all Christians. We celebrate a new God’s gracious presence in the resources respectfully and energy for mission in the PC(USA) world and sustain our common responsibly. We, as individuals that claims the following values: hope through prayer and and as an organization, with all • Dignity worship. that we have belong to God; Created in God’s image and • Partnership therefore, we place under the forgiven by God in Christ, we Our work with partner Lordship of Christ our time, are all called to treat each churches and organizations talents and financial resources; person with dignity and respect, around the world and with our political and economic following the model of Jesus U.S. Presbyterians is based choices; our relationships; and and standing together with on mutual respect and our very lives. those who are marginalized. trust leading to common • Empowerment prophetic witness and to We will focus on long-term mutual transparency and relationships, building the accountability. Whenever capacity of each member of possible, we work in God’s the body of Christ to engage mission with other members in God’s mission in sustainable of the ecumenical family and ways. We affirm that God’s call with partners of other faiths.