Philip Knutson describes a lay/clergy workshop and its relation to the church in the U.S.
Dear Friends in Christ,
“It was a revelation!” declared one participant. “I am converted!” declared another. These were some of the reactions expressed at a recent Christian Education workshop in Johannesburg, South Africa. The theme of the workshop was “The Missional Church as a Learning and Teaching Community.” The seven dioceses of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (ELCSA) each sent three representatives (clergy and lay).
To hear that we are all missionaries by virtue of baptism was what got the participants so excited. Over three days of Bible studies, presentations and group discussions, we learned that the church has no missions of its own nor delegates mission to a few on behalf of many. There is one mission and that is God’s mission. We learned that the Triune God is a missionary God on a mission for the sake of the whole world. We are all called, gathered, and sent in God’s mission.
Several of the participants admitted they thought of missionaries as those who come from overseas. They saw themselves largely as recipients of mission as church members or church workers, but not as real missionaries. Discussions about the stereotypes and distortions regarding mission and missionaries were frank and challenging. To hear, in light of declining membership, that the ELCSA is a church with 600,000 missionaries and the ELCA with 4.7 million missionaries was an exciting new revelation. The participants embraced the understanding that every congregation is a missional congregation with a missionary membership.
Based on Jesus’ challenge to the disciples in Matthew 9:10-17: “You yourselves give them something to eat,” the point was clearly made that it was a misperception for the disciples to think of sending the people away or to expect “extra-terrestrial bread.” It was a revelation to discover that God had already graciously given them the gifts to participate in God’s mission of transformation, reconciliation and empowerment. .
Participants agreed that the challenge today for the missional church in Southern Africa (and the USA) is “not just to fill the cracks in the walls but to strengthen the foundations” through a committed churchwide program of Christian education for missionaries of all ages. The set of four LUCSA resource books “Living Together In Christ” needs to be distributed to every congregation throughout the church, translated where necessary and accompanied with ongoing training and support. The participants made a strong and urgent appeal for a book five for Youth ministry/mission and a book six for Adult/Lay leaders’ missionary training.
It was agreed that this is a program which Companion Synods and congregations can support and also participate in as mutual learning and teaching companion communities in God’s mission.
Thank you again for your prayers, sponsorship support and participation in God’s mission locally and globally.
Yours faithfully,
Philip Knutson
ELCA Global Mission – Regional Program Assistant Southern Africa. Cape Town, October 1, 2009
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