Partnering Together in God’s Global Mission: Strategy Process Report

A journey in partnership — now go deeper Contents

3 Director’s Message

4 Introduction

6 Description and Outcomes of Each of the 10 Consultations World Mission Staff, Mission Co-workers, Regional Liaisons

8 Global Partner Consultations Africa Middle East and Europe Asia and the Pacific Latin America and the Caribbean

25 Domestic Partner Consultations U.S. Southeast U.S. Northeast U.S. West Non-World Mission Staff of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) People of Color

40 Research Services Key Findings

41 Going Deeper Director’s Message It has been a blessing to serve as the interim director of World Mission these past few months. I’ve been doing a lot of listening — to global partners, mid councils, mission co-workers and staff. We are not only looking at the past to see what we need to carry forward and build on; we are also looking toward the future. World Mission’s strategic planning process encompasses both of those categories. I wanted to share with you the status of our work by providing this report. World Mission began compiling information, both qualitative and quantitative, in the fall of 2018. We gathered input from domestic and global partners, as well as allied organizations, with the intent of creating a new strategic vision to carry us through the next decade. Our previous strategic plan was formulated over a decade ago, and Sara Pottschmidt Lisherness there was a need for a fresh reading of the signs in a rapidly changing Director, Compassion, Peace & geopolitical and religious context. Justice Ministry, and Interim Director, The strategy process included 10 consultations, domestic and Presbyterian World Mission international, with more than 500 participants and 140 global partners. Those strategic conversations gave our partners the opportunity to talk in-depth with World Mission staff about the changing landscapes in their communities and also provided our partners a space to share together and look for new ways to collaborate. After nearly 18 months of gathering insights, there were 300 pages of notes to analyze. The PC(USA)'s Research Services team spent weeks looking for common themes and produced a 40-page summary report, which offered deep insights but no clear priority or directive. What it did show clearly was that there were areas where World Mission needed to go deeper. Those included more in-depth missiological grounding, insights from our ecumenical partners and additional input from our mission co-workers. Additionally, both the 222nd and 223rd General Assemblies (2016 and 2018) directed the PC(USA) to act boldly and compassionately to serve people who are hungry, oppressed, imprisoned or poor. This gave birth to the Matthew 25 invitation, adopted by the PC(USA) to actively engage in the world around us, so our faith comes alive and we wake up to new possibilities. More than 550 churches and mid councils have joined to support that work to date. The three focus areas of Matthew 25 — dismantling structural racism, eradicating systemic poverty and building congregational vitality — have been adopted by the Church, and whatever vision we set for the future will reflect this commitment. The process for gathering additional input has already begun and is ongoing. It will become part of the Presbyterian Mission Agency’s overall strategic plan and will guide World Mission’s work for the next five to 10 years. We do not yet have a final date for rolling out a complete analysis because we want the quality of work to drive the process, not the timeline. There will be regular updates along the way.

3 Introduction Between September 2018 and July In each consultation there was also 2019, the World Mission ministry a locally led, contextual reading of area of the Presbyterian Mission the signs of the times that paved Agency held 10 consultations, the way for exploring the question, involving 522 participants from “Where is God calling us to put our our global partners, PC(USA) energy today?” constituencies and Presbyterian An overview of the entire process Center colleagues, plus around is illustrated on the facing page. 50 Louisville-based World Mission staff and World Mission regional At the end of the process, we staff from across the world. It was had accumulated more than a significant consultative exercise 300 pages of table group notes, that grew out of the initial idea full of wonderful observations, of then World Mission Director insights and ideas. This material José Luis Casal that we should was passed to the Presbyterian review World Mission’s strategy Center’s Research Services team and how we engage with our for analysis of key themes to help global partners and PC(USA) structure our discussions and constituencies. reflections on the outcomes. Each consultation table group had Except for the initial consultation also been asked to identify the with World Mission Louisville- two key points they had heard in based staff and global regional answer to the questions: staff, all the consultations followed the same pattern, exploring these • Where is God calling us to put our questions: energy today? • How effective have we been • What does it mean to be partners as partners sharing together in in God’s mission today? God’s mission? At the conclusion of each • Where is God calling us to put consultation, the table groups our energy today? were asked to name the one thing they wanted World Mission • What does it mean to be partners to hear from everything that had in God’s mission today? been said. • What might this look like in With all this information, the practice? directors and coordinators of • What resources are needed, and World Mission met in retreat what can we contribute? along with the Rev. Dr. Diane At each consultation there were Moffett, president and executive both local and Presbyterian director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency (PMA) readings Mission Agency, who had of Matthew 25. Engaging and participated in many of the illuminating Bible studies helped consultations leading the PMA us to delve into what it means to reading of Matthew 25. They were be a Matthew 25 church, as the joined by colleagues from Human PC(USA) has been mandated by its Resources and Communications General Assembly to become. to discern where all we had heard was leading us.

4 Facilitated by Ed Cortas from the Services team identified in its Center for Nonprofit Excellence, analysis of all the outputs from who had been accompanying us the consultations. as our consultant, we dug deep It was an amazing privilege to into the material and into our accompany my colleagues, our own workings as World Mission. global partners and people from That is still a work in progress, across the PC(USA) representing but you can read our initial so many different strands of the observations at the end of this church as we wrestled with the publication. First though, get a overarching question of what it feel for the journey and read how means to be a partner in God’s each consultation contributed global mission at this time. to the process. We have included Thank you to everyone who has each table group’s two-point and been a part of this process. We one-point answers, referenced look forward to continuing the above, to give examples of what journey with you. each consultation lifted up for us. Following the consultation Philip Woods reports, we have provided the World Mission Associate Director — key findings that the Research Strategy, Program and Recruitment

Strategy Process Overview

Global Partners Domestic Partners Internal key learning key learning key learning & visioning & visioning & visioning Africa Southeast World Mission Middle East Northeast Staff & Europe West Asia Pacific PMA, OGA, & Latin America PCUSA Agencies & Caribbean People of Color World Mission Strategy Table Retreat

5 World Mission Presbyterian World Mission Staff and mission personnel held its first consultation among reviewed World Mission’s current Staff, Mission World Mission staff on Sept. 11–12, strategic direction to determine 2018, during regional staff training what was going well and what Co-workers and days held in Louisville. World needed improvement. The Regional Liaisons Mission dedicated two full days to following captures a limited work with Louisville-based staff, selection of comments regarding internationally deployed what has been working and what and regionally serving mission has not, in terms of the work of co-workers to provide input reconciliation, evangelism and into the process. The process addressing causes of poverty. was facilitated by two World Mission staff.

Reconciliation Working Not Working • Peru and Chile: reconciliation with the environment • At times global issues hinder the reconciliation process. For • Partners interested in learning how we are addressing racism example, the current travel ban to North Korea hinders the peacemaking process. • Development of trauma healing ministries has been meeting a great need. • Need to collaborate more closely with Compassion, Peace & Justice ministry • Good work addressing issues of violence against women and children, thanks to Presbyterian Women and other programs • Compassion fatigue and disaster preparedness • Good interfaith dialogue, action and cooperation in different places

Evangelism Working Not Working • Training of leaders is highly appreciated, though World Mission • Mislabeled — what we really mean is education has limited capacity. • Many forces continue to tie to old definitions of evangelism. • Leadership development that is contextual • Lacking one common understanding of the Word • Local initiative and imagination in evangelism work • Not listening to our partners as they evangelize to us; • Holistic evangelism learning is a way • Constructive exchanges between church planting teams — • We haven’t done a good job helping partners with challenges. U.S. and Iraq • Community Health Evangelism (CHE) is working!

Poverty Working Not Working • Collaboration with the Office of Public Witness and Presbyterian • Mislabeled (e.g., poverty alleviation [is not] addressing root Ministry to the United Nations causes of poverty) • Economic development is related to peacemaking and poverty • Have we sufficiently identified various root causes of poverty? alleviation, and we cannot look at any of these in isolation; we • Young Adult Volunteer program leadership teaches that at times need coordination between programs and access across regions. we may need to “give someone in need a fish” (using the fishing • Mission co-workers as witnesses and the interpretation of root metaphor). Sometimes we need to teach someone in need to fish, causes/injustices effect changes in view and practices in the U.S. sometimes we need to ask the question of why some people have • We have worked through and strengthened our partners’ access to fish through others. ministries, therefore helping people. • We have a limited understanding of resources; we are constrained • Shift to sustainable, community-based approaches (CHE ministries) by a focus on money. • Could lead to missed opportunities to collaborate with other agencies (Presbyterian Mission Agency entities)

6 Staff also reviewed World Mission’s Staff also engaged in an The responses were as follows: stated core values: dignity, exercise to explore the “signs • Missiologically sound, adaptive holistic ministry, empowerment, of the times.” The results were and nimble organizational partnership, relevance to God’s exhaustive. Highlights included structures world and stewardship. Mission the growing gap between rich personnel noted that their role and impoverished; corruption; • Being bold as the Body of Christ over the years has shifted from “truth” no longer exists/matters; • Being in step with the “doers” to accompaniers. Pastor climate change; Christianity spirit in our purposes and training, ministries of Community growing in global south; lack of methodologies Health Evangelism (CHE) and intergenerational engagement • Accompany mid councils and advocacy work were stated as in the West; migration and congregations examples of this model. displacement; human trafficking; • Mutuality and transformation The value of partnership was populism/fear-mongering; racism; lifted up across the board, with Poor People’s Campaign; Black • Exploring new patterns of the recognition that there is Lives Matter; sanctuary cities; partnership youth protesting; pervasive social always room for improvement. • Do justice, love kindness, walk media; corporate power; greed; For example, staff mentioned humbly with our God (Micah 6:8) concerns with the grant-making civic disconnection; and American • Repent and pursue reconciliation process; it follows strict and capitalism. with communities of color necessary guidelines provided Finally, in preparation for a by the Presbyterian Mission brainstorming exercise to imagine • Bridging organizational divides. Agency, yet can be experienced the future of World Mission, The final activity of the consultation as disrespectful to global partners. staff shared where they saw was to work on steps that could One person commented, potential energy for collaboration be taken for each of the responses. “The built-in power differential with partners. Ideas focused on Though the work was arduous, of PC(USA) as the giver of accompanying partners in their it was fruitful for further staff resources” makes it hard at times work with marginalized people conversation and as a basis for to engage in relationships that and ministries of peacemaking, planning for the consultations empower partners. CHE, conciliar work and that followed. Staff, including mission personnel, collaboration with nonprofits and also noted that there is always other agencies around specific a need to check and evaluate and systemic issues. cultural assumptions and improve The consultation continued with in cultural proficiency. The desire a consensus exercise to answer for more opportunities to have this multi-part question: In light of global partners participate in what we have heard and learned mission within and to the U.S. was so far, where do we feel God is expressed. Other topics that arose calling us in our engagement in the conversations about core with/as partners in God’s mission? values were the need to address stewardship of the environment, to better connect local and global mission, and to engage more fully in ecumenical conversations and relationships.

7 Global Partner Consultations

Africa Middle East and Europe Latin America and the Caribbean Asia and the Pacific

8 Africa World Mission’s first international Ms. Afiwa Allahare opened a consultation took place Nov. stimulating discussion of “the Consultation 27–30, 2018, in Nairobi, Kenya signs of the times” from her with 80 partner representatives vantage point as executive from across the continent and secretary for communication and Countries: 15 PMA staff, including World climate change for the All Africa Cameroon Mission’s Africa regional liaisons Conference of Churches (AACC), Democratic Republic of Congo participating. The Rev. José Luis a continent-wide ecumenical Equatorial Guinea Casal, then-director of World body whose 192-member Ethiopia Mission, told representatives of organizations represent more the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s than 140 million Christians across Ghana global partners in Africa, “I think it’s Africa. She identified a number Kenya symbolic that our first consultation of areas that demand the urgent Lesotho takes place in Africa. This continent ministry and witness of the church, Madagascar occupies a very special place in including peacebuilding, church Malawi the Global South and represents leadership development, human Mozambique a light of hope for the future of trafficking, the needs of vulnerable Niger humanity. Africa is a reservoir of populations, health and healing, human energy, dynamism and disintegration of the family unit Nigeria resources.” and climate change. Rwanda In an opening Bible study on The Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett, South Africa Matthew 25:31–46, the Rev. president and executive director South Sudan Lydia Neshangwe, clerk of the of the Presbyterian Mission Sudan Presbytery of Zimbabwe of the Agency (PMA), shared the vision Togo Uniting Presbyterian Church of of the PMA’s future work plan, Zambia Southern Africa, highlighted some designed to help the PC(USA) live Zimbabwe of the key themes in Jesus’ familiar into its commitment to becoming parable of the sheep and the a “Matthew 25 church.” She invited goats. She reminded participants participants to reflect on how that sheep and goats were equally Jesus sought to change people prized in both ancient and modern by telling the parable of the cultures, noting with amusement sheep and the goats in Matthew how difficult it is in practice to 25. Moffett saw in the passage a separate them. She also pointed call to recognize God reflected out that both the “sheep” and in all people, to act boldly and the “goats” were surprised by the effectively in good stewardship judgment they incurred, whether and to make faith come alive laudatory or critical. “This lack of through action and works. certitude is an unnerving theme. Animated by these inputs, partner It is something that we live with representatives discussed the in Africa, but still find hard to consultation questions. Sharing accept,” she observed. “But that’s occurred in table groups of eight the wisdom of the Bible. It disturbs partners, designed so that each us because it doesn’t support group reflected regional and our biases and agendas, then it gender diversity. Simultaneous transforms us.” translation facilities enabled partners from French-speaking nations to take part fully in the conversations and the group reporting.

9 Africa Consultation: • To deepen our commitment to • Cross-cutting issues (e.g., climate Table group responses evangelism and discipleship change, human trafficking, • We need to be united to deal disability, negative ethnicity, with challenges in our various xenophobia, racism, sexual Where is God calling us to put our contexts. orientation, etc.) energy today? • Youth and women’s programs • Institutional development • Organize seminars with target • Developing sustainable groups. • Trauma healing and peacebuilding ministries • Evangelism (revisiting methods • Peacebuilding and reinterpreting) • Develop spirit-driven, holistic ministry that includes • Developing youth ministries • Re-read the Scriptures, taking evangelism, mission and social into account the signs of times. • Developing ministries for people responsibilities. with disabilities • Adapt programs/curriculum, • Deepen contextual taking into account the contexts • Capacity-building for church transformation, theological and leaders of the Bible and what is biblical training. happening today. • Empowerment and • Being rather than doing • Intervention at the church, at the transformation of vulnerable community or society, and in the • Sensitivity and response to the groups such as youth, women, partnership poor and those with special children and those with special needs — equitable distribution needs, widows, etc. • Address quality problem. Quantity is not the only • Advocacy • Mutual trust in program funding importance. • Evangelism/witness and • Addressing issues of structural • Respond with training. All discipleship (holistic ministry) poverty focuses on theological training. • Development (health, education, • Displaced people Capacity needs to be developed agriculture) • Climate justice in other fields, too. • Celebrate diversity and • Racism • We must educate young people. nurture unity. • To be a Matthew 25 church

10 What does it mean to be partners • In view of the previous questions some partners do not take this in God’s mission today? God is calling us today to put into into account. And when we do • Be allies. practice the received Word — as not take it into account it will it is said in Luke 4:18–19, “The be difficult to accomplish the • Be associates. Spirit of the Lord is upon me mission. For example, the lack • Be collaborators. because he has me.” Anointed of consideration of one or the • Share experiences for common to proclaim the good news to other, intolerances. interests. the poor, to heal those who • Where are we going with the are brokenhearted, to proclaim • Consolidate the exchange partnership? What is our mission deliverance to the captives, and today in the partnership in the of experiences in human, to recover the sight of the blind, material and financial resources mission which God confides to set free the oppressed, and to us? We say that there are a (e.g., exchanges between the to proclaim a year of the Lord’s churches in Africa and the church number of elements that must grace.” This is the same question/ be taken into account: tolerance in America, and also between call as in James 1:27. the African churches themselves; and active listening. We must see between women, young people • This also requires the church to that there are certain partners, and children). take an interest in social justice, or one that is only listening, but of vulnerable groups, through not acting. And partnership, in • Strengthen solidarity in both concrete and measurable order to accomplish the mission, misfortune and happiness. actions. needs to be active listening. • Lead together the spiritual • A return to spirituality and There must also be empathy, fight against Satan. quality of members in our mutual consideration, and • To share the same faith churches mutual synergy and humility in partnership. • To have the same vision of • In conclusion, all these actions the mission are with our partners. • We need to be mutually supportive. • To accept to be missionaries • We reflected on three levels. of God • We need to be mutually 1. Define the partnership. The beneficial. • To discern together the partnership requires an challenges of the hour association, i.e., one and the • We need to have respect and trust in our partnerships. • To be complementary in actions other both contribute to bring about joint action. • The partnership has to be • Interdependence to face the governed by love which is the challenges of today 2. What is ultimately the mission God has entrusted to us? center of the Christian faith. • Respect and mutual “Make disciples of all nations” • The partnership should be consideration (Matt. 28: 19–20.) How to guided responsibly and with • Have terms of reference realize this mission? The accountability. through which the partnership partners are assumed to have • As human beings we have can be evaluated in time and a common vision. In addition shortfalls. We need to show space/place. to the common vision, partners mutual respect between the must also take into account • To be partners in the mission haves and have-nots. priority actions that may lead of God is to take into account to this mission. And among • Listen to each other. Listen failures of where we have not the priority actions, there is actively. Encourage dialogue, been effective and to know evangelization, and also works, not monologue. how to read the signs of the as it says in James 2:16. times to be active. • Acknowledge each other’s 3. When we are in partnership gifts. Acknowledge and give there are from time to time thanks for what we receive obstacles that can come. And from each other.

11 • Move to the people and walk What is the one thing that you with them (the church incarnate). would like World Mission to • Mutuality (mutual responsibility, hear and take away from this respect, dialogue, contribution to consultation? one another’s needs). • Partnership results in fishing • Telling our stories to one another together. • Networking • Unity is a strength in the mission of God. • Ground research by partners on the specific needs of their • To exercise our partnership communities for the transformation of the community, including the • Mutually beneficial relationship Church, toward the ideal, the • Understanding/respecting each Church according to Matthew 25. other’s values • Working in Partnership to be • We can have exchange visits • Principle of subsidiarity a Matthew 25 church actively related to evangelism. There • Discern God’s will for our engaging the world with “Bold needs to be engagement on respective contexts and Compassionate Actions that Bring Hope” to our troubled both sides — mutual respect and • Interfaith dialogue support, mutual learning and world facilitating each other’s ministries. • Partnerships must be born • We need to have unity in out of mutual respect and our purpose. • Communication will help in understanding of each other’s partnering. There should be contexts. • We need to counter and dialogue not monologue. combat Islam. • We must work together toward • We need to show tolerance desired transformations. • Peacebuilding and in working together but not reconciliation efforts • Partnerships are more beneficial tolerate things that contradict • Bible-centered evangelism the Word of God. when they are long-term. • Commitment to networking • Identify needs and encourage • There is a need for more each other. Desire to live like networking. • The church should incarnate Christ. Recognize being is more • Most important! Build itself to the world like Jesus did. important than doing. relationships of mutual support • Demand-driven projects should • Understand one another’s and respect. be mutually agreed by partners life perspective in light of the • Practical participation as to ensure sustainability. Word of God. co-workers • Evangelism • Presbyterians in Africa • Stand in solidarity in times • Witnessing Christlikeness and should form an association. of crisis. equipping the next generation Presbyterians worldwide should • Come and “fish” together (i.e., be in partnership have an annual meeting. Nairobi in community with one another) • In God’s mission, relationships Consultation gathering could as partners. are fundamental and require form a committee to spearhead time to cultivate. the meeting and to generate • Importance of remaining in a newsletter or Presbyterian community in the midst of magazine. difference — wrestling together • Mission co-workers should • Privilege to bear witness with/ be bilateral. to one another as we help one another to identify gifts (e.g., resourcefulness) and challenges

12 Africa Consultation: Illubabor Bethel Synod Participating Partners Institut Médical Chrétien du Kasai Institute of Arts and Social Sciences Akrofi Christaller Institute Jimma Bethel Synod All-Africa Conference of Churches Josophat Mwale Theological Central Church of Africa Institute Presbyterian — Blantyre Justo Mwale Theological College Central Church of Africa Lesotho Evangelical Church Presbyterian — General Assembly National Black Presbyterian Caucus Church of Central Africa Nile Theological College Juba Presbyterian — Harare Synod Nile Theological College Khartoum Central Church of Africa Presbyterian — Livingstonia Presbyterian Church in Cameroon Central Church of Africa Presbyterian Church of Africa Presbyterian — Nkhoma Presbyterian Church of East Africa Central Church of Africa Presbyterian Church of Ghana Presbyterian — Zambia Synod Presbyterian Church of Nigeria Chasefu Theological College Presbyterian Church of South Church of Christ in Congo/Dept. Sudan of Women and Families PRODEK Church of Jesus Christ in RECONCILE Madagascar South Sudan Presbyterian Communaute Presbyterienne Evangelical Church au Congo Southwest Bethel Synod Communaute Presbyterienne de Kinshasa Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church East Gambella Bethel Synod Universite Presbyterienne Eglise Evangelique de la au Congo Republique du Niger University of Livingstonia Eglise Evangelique School of Theology Presbyterienne du Togo Uniting Presbyterian Church in Eglise Presbyterienne Southern Africa Camerounaise Uniting Presbyterian Church in Eglise Presbyterienne au Rwanda Southern Africa — Presbytery of Ethiopia Evangelical Church Zimbabwe Mekane Yesus Uniting Presbyterian Church Evangelical Presbyterian Church, in Southern Africa — Synod of Ghana Zambia Evangelical Presbyterian Church Uniting Reformed Church of of South Africa Southern Africa Iglesia Presbiteriana de Mocambica West Gambella Bethel Synod Iglesia Reformada Presbiteriana Western Wollega Bethel Synod de Guinea Ecuatorial Zomba Theological College

13 Middle East World Mission global partners “Our history is written on white from Europe and the Middle East pages with blood,” he said. He and Europe gathered Dec. 10–13, 2018, in believes Christians do have a Berlin, Germany, for the second future in the Middle East rejecting Consultation in a series of four consultations violence and building bridges of with partners from around the truth and love. Countries: world. Fifty global and ecumenical Dr. Peter Pavlovic, study secretary Armenia partners attended the meeting of the Conference of European Belarus where the group collectively Churches (CEC), talked about Belgium looked at the signs of the times in the regional consultations CEC Czech Republic each region, what can be learned recently organized to study Egypt from the past, what it means to current trends in the European Germany be God’s partners in mission and Union. “Europe is not as united Greece what resources are needed to as many people believe,” he said. Hungary move forward. “There are new lines of division Iraq Andrea Zaki led the consultation growing between people and Israel-Palestine in a reading of Matthew 25 from nations.” He said that 20–25 Jordan an Egyptian perspective noting years ago, the expansion of the Lebanon that in this passage Jesus invites European Union was a time of Poland us to accept and embrace those optimism, but things are different Portugal who are stigmatized and isolated today. “Complex issues such as Russia by society. In Egypt, 30 million migration, debt and the rise of Spain people live under the poverty populism have made it more Syria line of which most cannot meet difficult to evaluate these issues in Turkey their basic needs. This is where the local context and act jointly.” United Kingdom the mission of the church comes Dividing into smaller groups Ukraine into play: to take its responsibility throughout the consultation, to serve the needy and the the groups began to see themes suffering, to help the poor and emerge. Phrases such as “together marginalized, which, according in partnership equally,” as well as to the words of Jesus himself, the mutual values of “respect, trust, is a key role that must not be relationships and fellowship” were overlooked by the church. repeated. Each table also tackled Father Nagi Edelby, coordinator the issue of sharing of resources, of the Middle East Council which included everything from of Churches (MECC), gave a educational materials in different brief overview of the current languages, a database of partner realities facing Christians living needs, the sharing of data, and in the Middle East, where the mutual spiritual support. Christian population has declined dramatically because of war and instability in the region. He said Islamic-Christian relations have and continue to be a critical issue.

14 Middle East and • Community development/ Europe Consultation: empowerment of people and transformation of church Table group responses leadership • Inclusion of the marginalized Where is God calling us to put so they are the voice our energy today? • Support leadership • Must be people-centered development, e.g., trauma • Equality of partners training, both for the helpers and those in need. • Support and solidarity to each other • Work with migrants — training citizens/organizing/ • Friendship: Serving God together advocacy/lobbying/prophetic/ • Common aims and goals pursued humanitarian support. in solidarity • Peacemaking: e.g., church • Find common interests — no negotiating between Russians, imposition of ideas/agendas. Ukrainians, Belarusians; youth • Round tables good: multiple dialogue/safe place for gathering partners together sharing needs • Church bringing Roma and non- and possibilities Roma together (trauma healing/ • Strengthen Christian witness and training material for grassroots) presence in places like the Holy • What about the poor churches? Land — accompaniment and Not enough Bibles, buildings; companionship. pastors not paid … how • Prophetic voice for holistic to empower/support small mission of church — challenge churches unjust structures • Migration: As more countries • Youth and women deny legal status to migrants, empowerment (and involvement) churches need to respond. in church life • Integration/inclusion, e.g., • Outside the camp: expand especially on the youth level — horizons; church is not narrowly church in diversity defined— conformity, • How is the church relevant? comfortable, facility to look out! Share resources. Safe space for our uniqueness/ • United in preaching the gospel. more open to welcome different Informed prayer expressions of faith/diversity/ witness • Work on relationships: WCC, WCRC, PC(USA), CWM • Transform injustice — share the Gospel: act/witness. • Communications • Holding on to our youth and • Work on social issues, bringing them back to the church ecumenical events. • To be prophetic — to be really • Cultural exchange alongside the marginalized • Networking all the partners

15 • Common projects for local • Partnership needs to be (Grateful to PC(USA) for grappling churches grounded in being participants with “life” in the context) • Supporting local projects in the building of God’s kingdom, • Two aspects of partnership that embodies Matthew 25:5–25. • Staff — strateg[ize] together, with • The gospel maps the structural goal focused on Christ (so we • Scholarships injustice we see in the world don’t give up when there are • Work camps (youth, etc.) to the root causes deep in the challenges/obstacles) • Linking the local churches of human heart in a way that • Hope together in Christ politics cannot. different countries • Unity in diversity • What is the message we present? • The necessity of such • Listening more to each other consultations What do we portray? • Respect and consider differences. • Enhancing communication with • Dilemma: so many partnerships, partners, information on possible priorities vs. internal conflict • Learn from each other. useful programs • Partnership — ideally being • Work with each other. • Learning from each other together rather than “forced” • Mutuality — this needs to be together (for an agenda) broadly understood as including • Good, authentic representation values such as respect, equality, What does it mean to be partners within the church/more strategic equity, networking, sharing, in God’s mission today? and more effective if linking with new configurations of partners, • Fellowship on an equal level church leadership communication, peace between • Serving God and people • “What can the PC(USA) give countries, three-way mission, together us?” — congregational partners; a true balance between social justice and proclamation of • Faithfulness mainly resources/money/one- way travel … It is better when the gospel. • Friendship there is mutuality. • Networks — we need to move • A call • Relationship building — away from bilateral partnerships • Relationship with action from developing trust/connection and toward multilateral networks both sides with many — harder at the that promote synergies. top but need to find time to • Round table (Discussion — listen and drink tea! Small steps, Seeing needs of each other) What is the one thing that you walking together • What God may be calling would like World Mission to • PC(USA) — layers of partnership us to do hear and take away from this — lay/clergy consultation? • To listen to each other • Difference between partnership • Mutual respect • To learn more about each other and sponsorship; enrichment • The Kingdom of God can only be • To be together stories/respect/mutuality vs. built through mutual partnership Americanized/impersonal — • To change the society by and companionship; with not helpful showing a good example gratitude for the diversity and • Communication — clarity/they richness in the Body of Christ. • To catch the moment need to understand me to • New connections • To be ready to change the plans help me • To act • Direct visits — to see the • To unite diplomacy mission local challenges and better understand; e.g., a week or more • Equal decision-making process site visits (i.e., no imbalance of power)

16 Middle East and Evangelischen Kirche Berlin- Moscow Protestant Chaplaincy Europe Consultation: Brandenburg-Schlesische National Evangelical Synod of Oberlausitz Participating Partners Syria and Lebanon Evangelical Lutheran Church The Reformed Church in Hungary in Russia The Reformed Church in Poland Belarusian Orthodox Church Evangelical Lutheran Church Berliner Missionswerk in Jordan and the Holy Land The Reformed Church in Portugal Church of Scotland Evangelical Reformed Church The Reformed Church in Spain Churches Commission for in Greece Russian Orthodox Church Migrants in Europe Federation of Protestant Russian Union of Evangelical Conference of European Churches Churches in Italy Baptists Coptic Evangelical Organization Fellowship of Middle East Synod of the Nile for Social Services Evangelical Churches United Reformed Church Evangelical Church of the Jinishian Memorial Program Czech Brethren Middle East Council of Churches

17 Asia and the Pacific current partner relationships, what and little empires are openly it means to be partners in God’s creating the politics of fear based Consultation mission today, where God is calling on discriminating and bullying us to put our energy and what the other, particularly the weak, resources are needed to move the minorities, the stranger and Countries: forward. the poor,” he said. “The ecumenical Bangladesh After the opening prayer and a movement is in crisis. It is no Burma (Myanmar) Matthew 25 Bible study led by longer strongly rooted in the Cambodia Dr. Havilah Dharamraj, academic people and it does not speak a China dean of the South Asia Institute of prophetic voice, which echoes in Fiji Advanced Christian Studies, the the realities of people’s struggles Hong Kong group heard two very different for life. The ecumenical leadership Indonesia presentations about reading the has suffered from bureaucratic and Japan signs of the times in Asia and business-oriented mindedness Nepal the Pacific. Both presentations that lacks the sense of calling Pakistan addressed the impact of empires and devotion.” He believes that Philippines on the church and on God’s Christian leadership needs to South Korea creation, whether focusing on engage more around the utopia of Sri Lanka humanity or the physical earth. God’s Kingdom and rediscovering Taiwan The Rev. James Bhagwan, faith at the margins. “God’s love,” he Thailand general secretary of the Pacific said, “defeats the politics of fear.” Vietnam Conference of Churches, said the During a Bible study on the second Pacific region prefers to look at day of meetings, the Rev. Dr. Diane itself as the oceanic continent. Moffett, president and executive “The ocean does not separate us, director of the Presbyterian Mission but brings us together,” he said. Agency, shared with the group the “We work together to discern concept of what it means to be a the common issues. We are Matthew 25 church. “As with many stronger when we speak together of our congregations, mid councils with one voice.” Those ongoing and other groups, Matthew 25 issues include nuclear testing, is a natural fit for our partners modern-day slavery, economic in the Asia Pacific as they labor globalization, trade, HIV/AIDS and to eradicate systemic poverty, sexual and reproductive health. dismantle structural racism The organization has the added and create vitality within the challenge of communication. More congregations and communities than 2,000 languages are spoken they serve,” she said. in the Pacific. Although the crisis is “The World Mission Asia Pacific escalating, the Conference hopes consultation was a great time for they can have a realistic impact. “If me to listen, learn and lead our we cannot be brothers and sisters partners in the understanding of to the fish, the land and the air, what the PMA’s direction is with at least let’s be good neighbors,” regards to being a Matthew 25 Bhagwan said. church,” she said. “It was also a Rev. Dr. Jooseop Keum, professor time to encourage and celebrate World Mission global partners of World Christianity at the the various ministries where the from Asia and the Pacific gathered Presbyterian University and Matthew 25 church is already Jan. 27–30, 2019, in Chiang Mai, Theological Seminary in Seoul, being embodied. I came away full Thailand. Fifty representatives from looked at the signs of the times and blessed by hearing how God is partner churches came together through a theological lens. This, operating through the ministries of to discuss the effectiveness of too, is in crisis, he said. The top our partners.” leadership of the global empires

18 Asia and the Pacific • Discern and articulate our faith Consultation: relevant to what’s happening around us; go out — be a SALT. Table group responses Driven by our faith-rooted compassion, we ought to serve Where is God calling us to put the marginalized and oppressed our energy today? passionately. • Pray and ask for direction: • Be a prophetic voice in Listening to the Holy Spirit; Give these challenging situations; us wisdom to manage tensions denouncing the evil and between church and state. announcing the good news (i.e., reconciliation, upholding human • Explore ministries addressing dignity). mental health issues (i.e., trauma, depression,) looking beyond — • Reconciliation within churches, prevention through addressing within wider society, within the root causes (i.e., domestic creation and within ourselves violence, slow recovery from • Challenging and identifying disaster, etc.). power structures in place • Respond to the increasing • Proclaiming/seeking the truth humanitarian crisis caused by • Genuine, risky accompaniment • Moving from competition natural and human-induced to cooperation disasters through equipping • Moving from exclusion to churches on preparedness, What does it mean to be partners inclusion response and mitigation. in God’s mission today? • We do mission for the glory of • Invest in discipling the next • Mission from the margins: look God! ... not for our own glory. generation; intentional where God is at work and join development of young leaders with the people there. • Partnership is taking risks. in ecumenical agenda (mission • Humility with passion • Mutual trust at the margins); increasing • Mutual responsibility involvement of youth in • Mutual understanding, learning decision-making. and respect working toward a • Mutual relationship common goal • Represent Christianity among • Resource sharing inter-faith and non-faith • Fuels us to be in solidarity • Being in solidarity with the context; to understand each with each other despite our people on the margins other, cooperation, coexistence, differences and accompany • Recognizing local capacities interfaith dialogues must be the “least” pursued (i.e., working together • Challenges us to take risk and be • Mutual trust and respect with issues that affect all— courageous to do God’s mission through sharing resources and increasing one voice). having a clear sense of one’s own information. • Partner with civil society groups, contributions (i.e., recognizing • Challenging each other and particularly the secular sectors, the gifts of young people, taking risks influencing their perspectives acknowledging limitations and • Honest conversations — safe from other faith; bringing the strengths) spaces for difficult issues voice of the voiceless to wider • Sharing the same vision • Committing and following community. • Moving from donor-recipient through on supporting work for • Support refugees (i.e., internal, relation to partners relation Kingdom values of structural external). • Moving from denominational justice, dignity and freedom mission to ecumenical mission

19 What is the one thing that you Asia and the Pacific National Council of Churches would like World Mission to Consultation: in the Philippines hear and take away from this Pacific Conference of Churches consultation? Participating Partners The Presbyterian Church in • Pursue Shalom. Myanmar Christ would have us act in The Amity Foundation Presbyterian Church in the concert to bring the kingdom Asia-Pacific Mission for Migrants Republic of Korea of God here on earth. China Christian Council/National Presbyterian Church of Korea Our intention to work as one — TSPM together. Presbyterian Church of Taiwan Christian Conference of Asia Churches to awaken and realize Presbyterian University and their role in these critical times. Chung Chi College Theological Seminary Restore trust with each other Church of Bangladesh South Asia Institute of Advanced to strengthen partnership and Church of Christ in Thailand Christian Studies move on with the mission. Church World Service Vietnam St. Andrew’s Scots Kirk Church, • Trust God, be bold and take risks! Ewart Women’s Christian College Sri Lanka • Youth empowering for United Church of Christ in Japan sustainable, transformative Forman Christian University mission-holistic-integral, Hong Kong Council of the United Church of Christ in the contextual-historical Church of Christ in China Philippines • A genuine and risky McGilvary College of Divinity United Mission to Nepal accompaniment that is willing Migrante International and able to collaborate and innovate National Christian Council of Sri Lanka • Relations are positive and balanced between “soft” and National Council of Churches “hard” exchange: inputs, outputs, in Korea results, change, etc.

20 Latin America partner churches, theological broken communities and broken seminaries and faith-based individuals. We touch each other and the Caribbean organizations joined Presbyterian by building relationships. We don’t Mission Agency staff at the send a package to the poor; we visit Consultation consultation. them in prison. We question how The opening devotional reflection food has become a weapon of war. Countries: was led by the Rev. Blanca Cortés, We question the commercialization Argentina dean of the Evangelical Faculty of of water sources. We challenge Brazil Theological Studies in Managua, homelessness, and the building Cayman Islands Nicaragua. As she glanced around of walls to keep us separate from Costa Rica the room, Cortés recalled that those who are on the margins.” In Chile Jesus’ parable of the mustard seed, all of this, Bloomfield observed, Colombia found in Matthew 13, reminds we must pay careful attention Cuba us that “the potential of God’s to how and through whom we Curaçao Realm — hidden in a tiny grain of have experienced God’s grace in Dominica mustard — sprouts forth in our our lives. To shield ourselves from Dominican Republic relationships and provides the those who suffer, from those on El Salvador fertile space where God’s Spirit the fringes of society, is to shield Guatemala comes to nest.” ourselves from God’s grace. Haiti The Rev. Dr. Yvette Noble “When you think of the Caribbean, Honduras Bloomfield, deputy general you probably think of sun, sea and Jamaica secretary of the United Church in dance. But pain and possibility are Mexico Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, closer to the truth,” says Gerard Nicaragua led participants in a conversation Granado, general secretary of the Peru on Matthew 25. As she approached Caribbean Council of Churches. Surinam Jesus’ treatise on the judgment of Granado described the Caribbean Trinidad & Tobago the nations at the end of Matthew as one of the most complex and Venezuela 25, Bloomfield insisted that the diverse regions on the planet. A division between sheep and history of competing empires has goats, between the righteous and left the region with the challenge unrighteous, was not due to the of building coherent societies latter’s violation of a moral code out of the remnants of genocide, but because they failed to be the slave trade and indentured fully human toward their fellow servitude. humans. They failed to show Granado added that other major compassion. This extended to a challenges for this region include failure of memory on the part of climate change, immigration, the unrighteous, Bloomfield said. violent crime related to drug They ask the divine judge, “When trafficking, and violence against did we do all this to you, Lord? women and children. When did we see you hungry, The Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett, thirsty, naked and imprisoned?” president and executive director They failed to recognize their of the Presbyterian Mission own inhumanity. Agency, led the meeting through The Latin America and Caribbean “What does the PC(USA) seek the PC(USA)’s vision to become a partner consultation held Feb. through mission?” Bloomfield Matthew 25 church, and thanked 25–28, 2019, in Cartagena, asked. “If we are seeking fame participants for the thoughtful Colombia, marked the end of and a sterling reputation, we and provocative table discussions. the cycle of four international won’t find it in this text. God’s She enthusiastically commented, consultations with global partners. mission is not to promote acts of “Thank you for challenging us. We Sixty people representing 33 charity, but to touch the lives of need to be challenged!”

21 Latin America and the • The church should not lose its What does it mean to be partners Caribbean Consultation: identity — social, to educate in in God’s mission today? all areas, be in solidarity with Table group responses • A two-way street (reviewing the the other. value given to the contributions • Concern ourselves for the each partner brings to the table) Where is God calling us to put spirituality of others. • Get to know one another, our energy today? • Projects that aim toward growth celebrate together, listen • Loving sustainability and independence to one another, create and • Celebrating of those who live in our cultivate affectionate and frank communites relationships. • Growing • Accompaniment of all vulnerable • An equitable and just sharing of • Listening groups from a faith and human resources to sustain (support) • Articulating rights perspective God’s mission in the current • Praying • Humanitarian aid in an context • Receiving, welcoming ecumenical environment out • Challenge one another to be of diaconia faithful to the gospel. • Strengthening • Learn to read the signs of the • The importance of regional • Sharing times out of a reflection of the liaisons and other staff that have • Accompanying needs of the community. become our family, even though • Systematizing • Apply the see, judge, act they live far from their borders • Reconciling approach. • We ask ourselves: o What motivated PC(USA) to • Transforming • See the reality, analyze the reality from the eyes of God, act to see re-think their mission in this way? • Discerning the other as your brother or sister. o Why was Matthew 25 chosen • Learning • Recover our ecumenical vision — as the theme to motivate the mission of the whole • Reforming “creation as a manifestation of God." denomination? • Find meaning for life and for • Trust community. The church should • The most important thing accompany people in this search “diaconia” • Mutuality, mutual transformation for meaning. • How to recover the vision of a • Prophetic witness • Recognition and acceptance of united Latin America • Intercultural enrichment the other as a full human being • Human rights • Re-define links (We all give and with dignity • Economic justice we all receive.) • God’s creation: recognizing that • Fraternity (sister/brotherhood) we are an integral part of her • Ecological justice (creation) • Gender justice • Solidarity • The theology of the cross as a • Gender diversity • Relationships of respect sign of love toward reconciliation • Social justice • Reciprocity as a main element • God is calling us to engage • Horizontality • Promotion and construction in “kenosis” — self-emptying • Symmetry of peace (Phil. 2:8–11) — in order that the • Improve relationship(s) with God. Church might become the church • Complementarity • Walk with people in the of Matthew 25:31–46. • Evangelical solidarity community . • Respect • Transparency

22 • Interdependence • “Empty hand theology” — we • Communication come ready to receive from each other. • Responsibility • Questions: o What did the PC(USA) learn What is the one thing that you from its partners in mission would like World Mission to from Latin America and the hear and take away from this Caribbean? consultation? o What transformations has it • Fluid, dynamic mutuality experienced? between all partners • Create dialogue. • Generate a common agenda in the region, grounded in work by • A common project “mutual consensus. recognition” • Affirm everything that we worked • Mission that we can do together on here; being a Matthew • Be critical, evaluate projects from 25 church in a deep way can both sides. generate changes in our ways of • Produce educational materials relating with one another. together. • Remember that we are all called • Common projects: migration, to serve (to diakonía); we must humanitarian aid, human walk together as equals. rights, political advocacy, • Affirm that we should dig deeper women, children, from the faith into what it means to be a perspective, diaconia and rights Matthew 25 church. The way in • Work the crisis to give meaning to which we need to reflect is the life, to strengthen the church and question of what unites us. theological education. • Is Matthew 25 enough to create • What is happening in the context this union, partnership? of the PC(USA)? • That what we have begun here • Mutuality goes deeper and generates a change in our relationship as • Unlearn old patterns of partners relationships. • Remember that diaconal work • Don’t repeat pattern of capital — is important, we are all called to labor. serve. • Matthew 25!! — Risks? • Not just economic, but also time • Building a shared agenda • Walking as equals • Connecting different parts and • Mutuality regional bodies • Establish an ongoing • Real partnership builds on trust, process of discernment and understanding culture, receiving mutual accompaniment and hospitality. accountability. • Engaging in “kenosis” — self- emptying ourselves to become the Church of Matthew 25:31–46

23 Latin America and the Comunidad Teológica Evangélica Iglesia Presbiteriana — Reformada Caribbean Consultation: de Chile en Cuba Participating Partners Comunidad Teológica de México Iglesia Presbiteriana de Venezuela Comunión Mexicana de Iglesias Iglesias Reformadas — Argentina Reformadas y Presbiterianas AIPRAL — Alianza de Iglesias Iglesia Reformada Calvinista Presbiterianas y Reformadas de Episcopal Church of Haiti de El Salvador América Latina FUMEC — Federación Universal Igreja Presbiteriana Unida do Brasil Asociación La Iglesia De Dios de Movimientos Estudiantiles Joining Hands Network FONDAMA Cristianos Asociación Red Uniendo Manos Misión Evangélica Presbiteriana El Salvador Graduate School of Religious de Honduras Science — São Paulo Caribbean and North American Presbyterian Church of Trinidad Council for Mission Iglesia Evangélica Dominicana & Tobago Caribbean Council of Churches Iglesia Evangélica Peruana Reformed Church of Curacao CEDEPCA — Centro Evangélico Iglesia Evangélica Presbiteriana Reformed Church of Surinam en Chile de Estudios Pastorales en Centro RUMP — Red Uniendo Manos América Iglesia Evangélica Presbiteriana contra la Pobreza Costarricense Centro Inter-Eclesial de Estudios Seminario Ecuménico de Teológicos y Sociales Iglesia Evangélica del Río Teología en Cuba de la Plata Centro Regional Ecuménico de United Church of Jamaica Asesoría y Servicio Iglesia Evangélica Valdense and the Cayman Islands del Rio de la Plata CEPAD — Consejo de Iglesias Pro- Universidad Bíblica Alianza Denominacional Iglesia Morava en Nicaragua Latinoamericana Iglesia Presbiteriana de Colombia

24 Domestic Partner Consultations

U.S. Southeast U.S. Northeast U.S. West PC(USA) Agencies People of Color

25 U.S. Southeast in the Middle East office at the The Rev. Jan DeVries, then general PC(USA) headquarters in Louisville, presbyter of Grace Presbytery in Consultation to serving as the pastor of a Texas delivered the closing sermon congregation in Atlanta for 11 based on Matthew 9:27–31. years, to a period of restlessness She began, “So, this morning I The first of the national three years ago. stand here as a pilgrim whose consultations was held March journeys which have taught me 21–23, 2019, at the Calvin Center This “restlessness” led Sanders to an incredible reverence for human near Atlanta, GA. Thirty-two people organize a 1001 New Worshiping life, for the powerful complexities representative of different PC(USA) Community, which currently of religious dogmatism, for constituencies in the Southeast exists as the Art, Inspiration, the simplest cravings for basic region came together to discuss Justice podcast based in Atlanta. necessities of human life, for and discern God’s mission in a He left behind a full-time job the depth of faith of people as rapidly changing world. with salary, benefits and a pension. “Now I’m part of the ‘gig they seek to survive and thrive. “Because we are living in a different What then brings us together in world, we have to begin to think economy,’” he said. “I am trusting the nudge of God in what I am this place? Let me suggest some how to do mission in this particular hopes I bring as we move ahead time, for this particular world,” said doing in each and every moment of this ministry,” Sanders said. with a reinvigorated spirit.” the Rev. José Luis Casal, then- She lifted up several crises in the director of World Mission. “This is The Rev. Dr. Fahed Abu-Akel, the world that need our attention and the purpose of this conversation. first Arab American moderator of coordinated efforts: flooding in Every opinion is necessary. Every the PC(USA) General Assembly Nebraska and the upper Midwest, idea is important.” (2002), led the Bible study on famine in Sudan and solidarity with The Rev. Marthame Sanders led Matthew 25. Sharing his life/faith Palestinian Christians and Muslim a presentation on the “sign of the journey, Abu-Akel explained how brothers and sisters. his mother, Adlah, and Dr. Doris times.” His personal journey is an “We claim to be mission partners example of mission extending Wilson, a Scottish missionary serving in the Middle East, with many international churches. beyond the confines of traditional What does it mean to be partners “church.” Sanders described his transformed his life. Because of their witness, they nurtured in with a church overwhelmed by the journey from cradle Presbyterian, impossibility of telling the story, to seminary “to figure out what him a calling to mission service. In the midst of war, destruction and responding to the desperation of I believed,” to mission service human need, and rooted squarely with his wife, Elizabeth, in a occupation, the love of parents and family and his mother’s faith in in the Gospel and in the history Palestinian village, to working of teaching and living the Good Jesus Christ were the transforming power in his life. News? How do we learn afresh to be partners beyond the giving of Abu-Akel shared how this money, as important as that is? transformation led to the founding How do we tell the story? How do of the Atlanta Ministry with we make possible the voices that International Students (AMIS). He need to be heard on the pages of served as its executive director Presbyterians Today or finding ways until 2012. Initially, there were for webinars, let alone in our own 2,500 international students locales? Who are our partners? I from 100 nations involved. Today, suggest that some of our partners 30 colleges and universities in have yet to be discovered — here Metro Atlanta minister to 14,000 at home and beyond.” international students from more than 175 nations through AMIS. It is a transformative ecumenical “mission at our doorstep.”

26 U.S. Southeast • Visiting each other (not just Consultation: U.S. people go “over there”) — speaking, learning about Table group responses community and church projects, etc. Where is God calling us to put • Community effort/mutuality our energy today? • Priority: environmental justice • More effective communication because it affects all of us; and interpretation we need to listen to partners • Infrastructure needed to build especially in places and awareness and connect missional communities who have not efforts/robust mission portal been the major contributors to environmental destruction • Create innovative ways like wealthy people from the to enhance more local U.S. have. congregations in global mission. • Hospitality • Deconstruct existing mindset and rebuild. • Mutuality • Build a model that is flexible and • Empowering each other can handle global mission on a • Focus on mutuality of relevant way for different types of the relationships: mutual congregations. accountability, mission with • Shift from contextualization to others and not for others; community development. mission that includes receiving from partners and not only • Communication relaying giving to. information from mission personnel to mission co-worker • The centrality of Jesus Christ to PC(USA) membership and is demonstrated in our shared vice versa commitment to God’s reign of justice. • Maintaining focus on “Critical Global Issues” on an international and local level What is the one thing that you How our local issues inform our would like World Mission to understanding of global issues hear and take away from this consultation? • We believe in and seek to What does it mean to be partners EMBODY an intentionally mutual in God’s mission today? partnership model of mission, • Communication in World Mission, mid councils, • Engagement and partnership groups: (i.e., Presbyterian Peace Fellowship and • Relationships of mutuality other para-church orgs, Mission • Student engagement (i.e., with Networks, etc.). We practice this International students like Fahed mutuality and partnership in: suggested and like they do in o Communication Atlanta) o Addressing the emerging • Support networks realities of global mission • Support and give guidance; partners time and energy.

27 o Exchange of ideas U.S. Southeast National Asian Presbyterian Council o Sharing resources (finances Consultation: National Black Presbyterian Caucus and others) Participating Constituents National Middle Eastern o Sharing information Presbyterian Caucus • The necessity of making dynamic 1001 New Worshiping Presbyterian Peace Fellowship decentralized connections Community (Aijcast) Presbytery of Greater Atlanta between PMA, mid councils, Boriquen/Iglesia Presbiteriana Presbytery of Tropical Florida congregations and global En Camarones partners with a central focus on Salem Presbytery Charleston Atlantic Presbytery God’s mission Second Presbyterian Church • Presbyterian World Mission serves Friends of Sabeel North America of Louisville as a conduit of God in the world, Grace Presbytery Synod of the Mid-Atlantic standing in mutuality with global Iraq Partnership Network mission partners and helping Synod of South Atlantic the members of the PC(USA) Joining Hands for Justice Young Adult Volunteers Alum understand that we need our Madagascar Mission Network Young Adult Volunteers Alum mission partners more than they Mid-Kentucky Presbytery Leadership Council need us so the PC(USA) may sustain focus on the important Mission: Hope — Congo over the urgent. Mujeres Hispanas Latinas Presbiterianas

28 U.S. Northeast bandwagon, but for the The Rev. Shannan Vance-Ocampo, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) general presbyter of the Presbytery Consultation to be known for its core values of Southern New England and and commitments. To have people chairperson of the Outreach say, “Oh, yeah: They’re the ones to the World Committee of the Thirty-eight people representing actually willing to put skin in the Presbyterian Mission Agency congregations, new worshiping game when they say they’re sorry Board, said: “It was energizing communities, mid councils, for all the things they did to the to talk with Presbyterians from caucuses for communities of color, Native Americans in the United around our region who are Young Adult Volunteer alums, States, or to indigenous persons invested in World Mission from mission networks and others anywhere in the world.” He different locations and missional gathered April 4–6, 2019, at the added that he doesn’t care about commitments. There are many Stony Point Center in Stony Point, growing the number of shifts in our future, and I am NY. The first day of the consultation Presbyterian church members, excited to see how World Mission, coincided with the 51st but instead cares “about being a in consultation with partners anniversary of the assassination of faithful follower of Jesus. I think internationally, domestically and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., that’s what mission should be.” within the Presbyterian Mission who is remembered for his legacy Agency and Office of the General of courage, not fear. Rev. Raafat Girgis, moderator of the National Middle Eastern Assembly, sees that future Rick Ufford-Chase, co-director of Presbyterian Caucus, led the unfolding as they present plans in Stony Point Center and moderator Matthew 25 Bible Study. He said the fall of this year.” of the PC(USA)’s 216th General he comes from a marginalized Teresa Larson, an alumna of the Assembly (2004), spoke about community and that Matthew 25 PC(USA)’s Young Adult Volunteer the signs of the times, saying “emphasizes a holistic living of program and student at Louisville Presbyterians must be prepared the Gospel, both spiritually and in Presbyterian Theological Seminary, to practice boldness in a time of social activism.” Girgis explained seemed to agree with Vance- fear. “We are a fearful people. We the message of Matthew 25 for Ocampo. “It was encouraging are scared to death,” Ufford-Chase the 21st century is spiritual and inspiring to be in a place said. “If we want to do, embody, maturity and focusing on the with leaders from all across the be mission in the coming year, other. He quoted Paul in Colossians denomination who were not we must recognize and be able to 1:28–29 in which Paul describes afraid to share their experiences, accept the cost of following Jesus.” why he struggles with all the challenge one another, or He said the goal is not to get more energy God has inspired in him reimagine new missional and people on the Presbyterianism so that he can “present everyone relational paradigms for the

mature in Christ.” PC(USA).” She added: “I’m hopeful that the leaders in World Mission heard the resounding desire for clear communication, resources to facilitate connections of mutuality across all dimensions of our denomination’s approach, and understanding of what it means to be a church that is co-laboring with God, one another and all of our global partners.”

29 U.S. Northeast • Partnership is showing up, Consultation: consistently. Table group responses • To continuously embody Matthew 25 values • To witness to the transformative Where is God calling us to put power of Jesus Christ our energy today? (Brief Statement of Faith 11, • Call to rediscern our call — we lines 65, 66) are not going anywhere, the mission field is everywhere. • Partnership is solidarity and deep listening. • To relearn mission — mission as learning, in all places, at all times • Solidarity — broader than current definition of partnership • Teach, Preach, Heal (1 Tim. 2) • Partnership — mutual learning, • Calling: to accompany and to be building and becoming our accompanied hopes for others • Co-laborers — 1 Cor. 3:9 (Amaury Tanon-Santos’ translation: “We are co-laborers together in God’s What is the one thing that you Synergy, caring for and building would like World Mission to up the economy of God.” hear and take away from this consultation? • Our calling is reckoning with our history, and then Micah 6:8 — • Do a follow-up with mission Justice, kindness, walk humbly co-workers to use skills learned with our God. in other countries as a domestic co-worker, and share their skills • Calling — the mutual practice of needed in U.S. communities (i.e., annunciation and denunciation, sustainable agriculture). And/or choosing life over death, and partner with mission leader from love over hate other country to share skills as mission co-workers here. What does it mean to be partners • Holistic and reciprocal mission in God’s mission today? • Prioritize and structure the • Partnership: issues-based relationship of World Mission to • Climate change, immigration congregations and mid councils – issues that affect everyone, according to the 3 empheses of everywhere the Matthew 25 initiative • Looking for mutuality and • Stop being fearful and commonality — question the prophetically dismantle our continuing use of partnership othering-ness. language • Learn to be adaptive, innovative, • Partnership is genuine and responsive. relationship.

30 U.S. Northeast Mid Atlantic, 1st Rocky Mount, Presbytery of Northumberland Consultations: Black Caucus Redstone Presbytery Synod of the Participating Constituents Mission Presbytery Trinity National Asian Presbyterian Council Synod of the Covenant 1001 New Worshiping Community National Hispanic Latino/a Synod of the Northeast (Okra Abbey) Presbyterian Caucus Synod of the Northeast — Borinquen Puerto Rico National Middle Eastern Presbytery of Newton Presbyterian Caucus Cuba Partners Network Synod of the Trinity New Wilmington Mission Ethiopian Mission Network Synod of the Trinity/Shenango Conference Presbytery/New Wilmington First Presbyterian Church of Niger Mission Network Presbyterian Church Plymouth, Michigan Northeast/Southern New England/ Young Adult Volunteers Ghana Mission Network Presbyterian Peace Fellowship/ Young Adult Volunteers/ Guatemala Partnership Network PMAB Presbiterio de San Juan Israel Palestine Mission Network Pittsburgh Presbytery The Interdenominational Presbytery of Elizabeth and Theological Center (Atlanta) Presbytery of Newton Kenya Mission Network Presbytery of Lake Michigan Maumee Valley Presbytery

31 U.S. West sometimes that we just don’t During the closing worship, know where we’re going until we the Rev. Cindy Kohlmann, co- Consultation get there. Strategic planning is moderator of the 223rd General necessary, but it won’t always take Assembly (2018), preached on us where we need to go.” Matthew 25:31–46. After reading World Mission’s third national the passage from The Message, consultation was held May 10–12, Noting that more than two- Kohlmann explained, “The most 2019, at Zephyr Point Conference thirds of Presbyterian churches significant language shift between Center in Zephyr Cove, NV. Thirty- have fewer than 100 members, The Message and the NRSV is this: seven Presbyterians gathered to Van Marter said the PC(USA)’s instead of using ‘the least of these’ provide input into World Mission’s whole concept of world mission to describe those who received strategic planning process. — congregations sending large care, The Message uses ‘someone “Together we want to take a new groups on mission trips, large who was being overlooked or look at the future, what it is and congregations with “mission ignored.’ ” Kohlmann said this what we need to do in this new pastors,” and resources geared change in language is helpful world,” said then-World Mission to medium- and large-sized because it redirects our focus and Director Rev. José Luis Casal. “The churches — “is not reality-based.” helps us learn the truth. She said biblical word that there ‘is a new He questioned how we can adapt Jesus centers the forgotten and heaven and a new earth’ is always World Mission and its resources so marginalized by claiming their God’s work.” that churches with fewer members are able to participate in mission. identity as his own, and it’s how Early in the consultation in his we notice those we would reading of the “signs of the times,” Rev. Dr. Valdir França, area normally ignore that is at the Rev. Jerry Van Marter, former coordinator for Latin America heart of God’s judgment. director of the Presbyterian News and the Caribbean, led a Bible “During this World Mission Service (PNS) and currently the study and discussed the PC(USA)’s Consultation, we have lifted stated clerk of Mid-Kentucky Matthew 25 vision, which seeks up again and again that we Presbytery, shared some of his to engage congregations, need to be in relationships of insights gleaned from his 26 years presbyteries and synods in mutuality, where those of us with PNS. He described the “Cuban transformative ministry in their who are dominant, powerful and GPS,” by which remote churches own particular situations. privileged conduct ourselves on the island can only be found by França pointed out that the with humility and listen more asking a succession of strangers context for the writing of Matthew than we speak,” Kohlmann said. along the road for directions. The 25 closely parallels the church’s “That begins with de-centering, lesson to be learned, Van Marter context today: cultural and which leads us to noticing, seeing said, “is that we need to admit religious identity in the face of and valuing, which, when we’re

a rapidly changing world. “Who willing to take the risk of our are we? and What should we hearts being broken and our be doing? were a dilemma for priorities being challenged, leads the early embattled Christian us into relationship. For us in community just as it is for us today,” the dominant culture, for us as he said. Matthew, França said, “was members in the PC(USA), this is trying to help the early Christian the place where the risk is greatest. community identify itself as a Will we stop and notice? Will our missionary movement, to develop noticing lead us to listening? Will a missionary ethos as its identity.” our listening lead us to loving?”

32 U.S. West Consultation: • Mutuality: humility Table group responses • Mutual listening and learning, across nations and between local and national PC(USA) Where is God calling us to put our energy today? • Rethink “resources” — sharing, valuing all types of resources and • Calling to energy challenging structures that limit • Communication them through stipulations and o Ministries restrictions (of people, money, o Effectively etc.) with polity, legal, etc. o Intersectionally • For the PC(USA), being partners o Listen and hear means working in mutuality. o Model a good way • For the PC(USA), being partners o With mid councils, means listening. GA, national office • Building trust o With pews • Mutual accountability • Restoration: core praxis of Christian mission/living out What is the one thing that you the gospel would like World Mission to • Diverse expressions hear and take away from this • Our calling from God to share consultation? the gospel and our engagement • Humility in community go hand in hand • Be with all the people — spend • To be led by the majority world more time? • God is calling the PC(USA) • Mission is BEING WITH to let our partners (broadly • Be/continue to be — Humble in understood) set the agenda. approach to ministry • God is calling PC(USA) to erase • Apply/change what you have historical boundaries. heard/learned. • Reconciliation and peacemaking • Often we talk about but don’t • Being more in relationship with really change. each other • Emphasis on world mission and • Operating in a more holistic way local mission (spiritual, physical, social) • Determine WHAT is really needed. What does it mean to be partners • Continue to work on in God’s mission today? communication — try and try • Mutuality again until we get a response! • I learn from you, you learn • Does World Mission see from me us (synods, mid councils, presbyteries, churches) as • World Mission learns from pews, partners — U.S.-based resources? mission field, etc., and vice versa. • When you bring in people of • Gospel and justice must go hand color, be sure to put people, in hand in priority and practice systems and support structures • Responsive/agility in place to allow them to soar using their gifts. 33 • In light of a vision inclusive of Negative vs. positive First Presbyterian Church of the whole gospel: All constituencies Fort Worth Nurture collaborative People we haven’t Grace Presbytery relationships between World characteristically heard Korean P.C. of Miami Mission and the local churches, • Engage and collaborate with Living Waters for the World including presbyteries. younger generation in our local Mid-Kentucky Presbytery Learn about and allocate faith communities. National Asian Presbyterian Council resources to empower local church mission initiatives. • World Mission to stimulate Presbytery of Los Ranchos innovative thinking about Presbytery of San Gabriel • Breaking paradigms mission priorities and increase Point Loma Community Breaking down barriers to the free our agility in addressing them Presbyterian Church flow of expertise and experience and responding to anticipated Redlands Community, Riverside of the Gospel: trends and technological Presbytery changes in the world West — majority world Saint James Presbyterian Church/ National — Local NAPC World Mission — local church U.S. West Consultation: Synod of Southern California and ministries (especially those who Participating Constituents Hawaii/St. Mark PC/Los Ranchos are welcoming the world) Stony Point Center/Presbyterian • Mutuality can’t happen without Network for Korea continuing to listen to all Anaheim Korean Presbyterian Synod of Southern California constituencies and people that Church at Southern California and and Hawaii/International we haven’t characteristically Hawaii Theological Seminary heard (especially the voices of Calvin Institute of Christian Synod of Southern California people of limited economic Worship and Hawaii resources) … and listening Community Presbyterian of Synod of Southern California without adjusting to what you’ve Riverside Presbytery and Hawaii/Brentwood heard doesn’t produce real Covenant Network of Presbyterians Presbyterian Church mutuality. EMPACT Africa Syria Lebanon Partnership Network Argument over “voices long Young Adult Volunteer Program silenced” vs. the poor

34 PC(USA) Agencies Rev. Dr. Cliff Kirkpatrick, former Gradually that’s morphed into stated clerk of the General “mission from the margins” Consultation Assembly, former director of because “part of mission is to Worldwide Ministries, and now be open to finding mission professor of World Christianity and happening where we didn’t Ecumenical Studies at Louisville expect it,” he said. Participating Constituents: Presbyterian Theological Seminary, In three or four decades, Islam may Presbyterian Mission Agency set the scene for the consultation. well be one of the largest religious Office of the General Assembly Kirkpatrick gave the assembled groups in the U.S., Kirkpatrick said. gathering a 22-question pop quiz Presbyterian Investment Part of that will occur through on ecumenical and interfaith & Loan Program immigration patterns, he said, developments that have occurred Presbyterian Foundation although about 70% of people over the last century. who immigrate to the U.S. are The Board of Pensions Test-takers were surprised at some Christian. “To be the church is to Presbyterian Women of the answers to Kirkpatrick’s quiz: be a missional church,” not one • While a century ago 4 in 5 that sees mission “as one more Christians lived in North America program,” Kirkpatrick said. “It is who or Europe, that number today we are and how we are engaged in is about 1 in 3. About 2 in 5 what we do.” The fourth national consultation Christians now live in Asia or This was a slightly different was held June 5, 2019, in Louisville, Africa, which is now the world’s consultation where KY with 54 staff representatives statistical centerpiece continent the participants made from the Presbyterian Mission of Christianity. recommendations not only for Agency (PMA), Office of the • While the current membership of World Mission, but also for the General Assembly, Presbyterian the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) work of the Presbyterian Mission Investment & Loan Program, is about 1.45 million, fully 94 Agency. During the conversations Presbyterian Foundation, The million people around the world it was repeatedly emphasized the Board of Pensions and Presbyterian worship in churches founded or need to dismantle the silos and Women. The gathering began with co-founded by PC(USA) mission develop a collaborative model participation in the Intercultural efforts. “That’s often a surprise to of mission. Mission is the work of Celebration prepared by Racial our people,” said Kirkpatrick. “We the whole church and starts with Equity & Women’s Intercultural have a network of friends and our personal transformation. “We Ministries in the Presbyterian colleagues around the world.” have to be transformed if we want Center’s Chapel. to be transformative,” expressed • In Latin America, the largest James Rissler, president and CEO Following the Intercultural group of Christian worshipers is of Presbyterian Investment & Loan Celebration, Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett, not Catholic, but Pentecostal. Program. president and executive director • The title and theme of the of the PMA, led the gathering most recent World Council of in a Bible study on Matthew 25, Churches conference on mission reminding participants of the and evangelism was “Together origins of the Matthew 25 vision Toward Life: Mission from the and its three programmatic Margins.” That movement started emphases: eradicating poverty, out as “mission to the margins,” overcoming structural racism and Kirkpatrick said, one that focused promoting congregational vitality. on serving and caring for people.

35 I suggest that some of our partners PC(USA) Agencies What does it mean to be partners have yet to be discovered – here at Consultation: in God’s mission today? home and beyond.” Table group responses • Reframe it, keeping in mind and having a greater awareness that partnership comes with power Where is God calling us to put imbalances. our energy today? • Be open. Reverse sending mission • Clarify our calling. co-workers, be open to receiving • Flip the script — do things in people here to teach us. And new ways. more focus on mission in the U.S. There are many potential mission • We need to engage in a new way. partners who have moved from One of the things we are sensing other countries to this nation. is God inviting us to a new way of Mission happens around the calling. Whom do we call? Where world and across the street . do we call? Calling and sending: maybe we are being called away • Get back to that sense of from a colonial model of sending partnership within our agencies, to identifying partners and having within the PMA. We need to do them called as our mission that with integrity before we co-workers (turning things can talk about being faithful upside-down). partners externally. If we are not doing it well “at home” in our • The context for calling is larger own building, then how are we than World Mission and larger doing that with integrity beyond than the PC(USA). That gets to the ourselves? importance of interpreting to our congregations and beyond them: • We need to not only pay lip how does the PC(USA) engage in service to partnership. It does the world? not mean listening only to our partners but also being • God is the oppressed, the transformed by our partners. If vulnerable. What would it look like a congregation wants to invite to listen to and follow their cue? people different from themselves, • OK to let go you don’t invite them to • Calling to join in rather than lead assimilate. What would it look like to be partners that listen but also • To disrupt systems of injustice transforms the way we partner? (Matthew 25) • What if partnership is not • Rejoice together in God’s love (as attainable, do we give up? a response). Because God calls us to it, we keep • Working across ministry areas and going on. agencies of the PC(USA) • Confession has to be a big part of • In the Presbyterian Center, BE the all of this. What do we do when hands, feet and voice of Christ we cannot do that? Sometimes in the world (be a Matthew 25 you cannot. But you can move church). forward and try not to repeat the same mistakes as before. • Going into partnership with a willingness to be transformed, knowing that it is God that does the transforming

36 • Sharing of dreams, challenges and reporting on information shared Cabinet members have to be opportunities (where we come in the past consultations. the first to demonstrate and together to talk about all of those) • Matthew 25: if we are living into set that expectation for staff, • Imagine new structures and being a Matthew 25 church to be willing to collaborate and accountabilities to nurture then we need an organizational engage in partnership. partnership. If you are seen as framework to be a Matthew 25 • Focus on the structural issues: doing better work by keeping in church (hiring, developing staff, the inherent structures that your own silos, then that is not evaluation, etc.). have caused problems. You going to happen. • Thank you for allowing us to be still have to address symptoms • Use the Presbyterian Center in part of this conversation and to but focusing on structures partnership with the community continue to shake things up, and that cause that. And for those and in support of the community, help us move from the center affected by improper structures working on Matthew 25 calling. to the margin model with the in place, that there would be notion that so many good things ways to address that. are happening at the margins, • Mission co-workers need to be What is the one thing that you which is actually the new center. held accountable. They lift up would like World Mission to Don’t be afraid to look at what global partner projects. Who hear and take away from this we are not doing well. vets the projects of global consultation? • Help us as people who work partners? • Every action of every ministry here in the center to be more • What is the face of the mission area affects every other ministry involved in the community co-worker that we are seeing? area and their ability to do their here in Louisville in making Whose story are we hearing? actions. a difference, informing What message is being • Concern about the process partnerships that will enhance transmitted? Whatever the and the depth of work being our ministry. mission co-worker is doing, done in the consultation and • We want World Mission to be whatever they look like, they are the coordination that did or did encouraged. It is a daunting task, representing the PC(USA). not happen with other ministry but PC(USA) is a people of hope. • How can we be encouraged to areas beforehand and during • If being collaborative and cross over ministry areas to learn the consultations, and the about each other? materials that were presented. partnership-oriented is a We would have liked fuller priority, then Leadership

37 People of Color On June 30, 2019, 31 people of Following the pattern of the color gathered in Louisville for other consultations, the Rev. Consultation the final consultation of the World Dr. Diane Moffett, president Mission strategy process, exploring and executive director of the the same question as the other Presbyterian Mission Agency, led Participating constituents: consultations: How should we do a Bible study on Matthew 25. She Administrative Services Group mission in the 21st century? The informed the consultation that Atlanta Presbytery group was welcomed by the Rev. the text of Matthew 25, adopted José Luis Casal, then-director of by the 2016 General Assembly Avenue Presbyterian Church World Mission, who invited the for all our churches, is the biblical Charleston Atlantic Presbytery participants to be honest and foundation of the PC(USA)’s new Compassion, Peace and Justice share their ideas and challenges. mission strategy and will help us to He repeated the same invitation understand how to do mission in Crossroads Antiracism that led the previous consultations: the 21st century. To be a Matthew Organizing & Training “Be honest, be blunt, make us feel 25 church is to be a mission- Ewe Church of America (NCP) uncomfortable.” oriented church. Hispanic/Latinx National Rev. Alexandra Zareth, associate Following her presentation, the Presbyterian Caucus for Leadership Development gathering was led in a reading Korean Central Presbyterian & Recruitment for Leaders of of the “signs of the times” by the Church, Cleveland, Ohio Colors, led the opening worship Rev. Alonzo Johnson, director of challenging the participants to the Self-Development of People Korean Presbyterian Church think creatively and to be open to program, exploring and analyzing of Miami new possibilities. Using the text the current context in the U.S. Presbyterian Church in Taiwan of the conversation between Ruth and the world today. Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and Naomi in the Old Testament, Human Resources (A Corp) Zareth challenged the group to consider, “What if this conversation Presbyterian Mission Agency was something different and Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys implied different things?” This Pulse Church, Atlanta, Georgia challenge to imagine other possible alternatives opened the Racial Equity & Women’s dialogue in a very creative way. Intercultural Ministries Riverside Presbyterian Church, Sterling, Virginia Virginia-Highland Church, Atlanta, Georgia Westminster Presbyterian Church, Trenton, New Jersey

38 People of Color • Our call is to have the What is the one thing that you Consultation: conviction to do what God would like World Mission to wants us to do now. hear and take away from this Table group responses consultation? What does it mean to be partners • Dismantle the white supremacists Where is God calling us to put in God’s mission today? colonizing structure. our energy today? • Engage in partnership that • Whatever changes come as a • Confess, lament and repair exhibits intentional listening, that result of this consultation, please the Christian hegemony and proactively responds to and is be discerning and diligent in white supremacy ideology, i.e., animated by the needs of global taking time to communicate and colonialism, capitalism, war partners. share those changes/shifts with mongering, we imposed and help the various communities through spread globally • Sending vs. transformation local church, engagement, • Critical presence that centers • What would the transformation individual stakeholder relationships and is grounded in process look like in practice? conversation and popular reciprocity/mutuality • Partners must be heard and education and articulation in the public space. • Must be transformed from just heeded. evangelism (Matthew 28) to a • Review collaboration (or lack of) • Stop and actually listen in order holistic ministry (Matthew 25) with migrant churches. to renounce and relinquish the power and perspective under • Evangelization • Reciprocity which we currently do mission to • Matthew 25 church • Equality in/of relationships others and make the necessary personnel, systemic, and • Rebirth our theology of mission in • Partnership requires mutuality, theological changes so we can thought and practice fairness and trust. live out God’s incarnate mission. • We are called to be partners in the • Partnership is more about • Systemic change will bring new work that God is already doing in listening than imposing our ideas life to the church (do not fear). the world. (listen to what God is saying and • Our call is to remember both what what the community is saying). God has done for us and the pain we have caused in mission work.

39 Research Services Key Findings

40 Going Deeper

As you might expect with such a wealth of material, reaching conclusions has been far from easy. Nonetheless, two days of very intense reflection and discussion led World Mission’s leadership team to conclude that there were certain issues that emerged from the process that called us to go deeper. We identified them as follows:

• Missiology • Colonialism and its impacts • Partnership and mutuality past and present • Matthew 25 vision and our • Content of World Mission’s work global engagement • Acquisition and use of resources

While there had been significant Colonialism and its impacts past God (in this passage and others) missiological input to all the and present are the baggage places those who are on the consultations (including the use we carry with us, affecting our margins, people who are living in of Together Towards Life: Mission conversations and relationships in poverty, in prison, or are strangers, and Evangelism in Changing ways that undermine our attempts as the agents of God’s action in the Landscapes, the World Council to nurture healthy partnerships. We world. What are the implications of of Churches’ 2013 statement on need to face this and acknowledge this for how we both work, witness mission and evangelism), there how it continues to manifest and understand ourselves? had not been time to deeply itself not only in our international Only in the light of digging deeper engage with the material and partnerships, but also in our into these themes can we begin grasp such emerging concepts relationships with peoples of color to think about the content and as “transformative mission” and and migrant communities in the methods of World Mission’s work. “mission from the margins.” Both U.S. This is heart and center of the As we go deeper in our explorations concepts and other ideas emerging work we need to do to overcome there will be questions around how from the process suggest that we systemic racism both in the church we acquire and use resources. So, need to embrace a paradigm shift and in the world, which is one of the there is more work to do, and more in how we approach mission and current strategic emphases of the intentional, focused conversations our global partnerships. However, Presbyterian Mission Agency, and to have. It may not be a strategy as there is a need for more serious an area where — in continuing to conventionally understood, but it is missiological work around this, with wrestle with this — World Mission a program of work that we need to both our partners and within the may have something significant to attend to going forward: Exploring PC(USA). contribute. with our global partners and Mutuality was lifted up by all the Many questions were raised about domestically how God is leading us global consultations as the form the Matthew 25 vision and where it to witness to God’s love and justice of partnership that we should be might lead the PC(USA), particularly in these times and building each striving for, but what might this look in its global engagement. This other up to that end. like in practice? Because of resource needs addressing so that the and power differentials this is easier frame of reference for our working said than done, and by its very with Matthew 25 is larger than nature needs to be worked out with the U.S. and does not fall into the our global partners. It also needs to paternalistic/colonialistic “least of be considered in the context of the these” trap. Mission understood as next key theme. being the transformative work of

41 Notes Notes Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 100 Witherspoon St. | Louisville, KY 40202 Presbyterian Mission 800-728-7228