Conference discusses evangelism in a globalized world
Episcopal News Service. June 26, 2009 [062609-02]
Lynette Wilson
Talk of evangelism, advocacy and congregational development among Asian communities in the United States in light of open-ended immigration and rapid globalization dominated the discussion of the annual Episcopal Asiamerica Ministry (EAM) Consultation conference.
“The church must interact with the revolutionary changes in our times even as we remain faithful to the gospel of liberation and love, “said the Rev. Winfred Vergara, program officer for Asiamerica Ministry based at the Episcopal Church Center.
About 150 delegates attended the EAM conference held at the DaySpring Episcopal Conference Center in Parrish, Florida, June 18-22. The consultation focused its discussions and workshops on the theme “Evangelism and Mission in the Age of Globalization, Part Two.” (The theme was a follow up to consultation's 2008 conference in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.)
Keynote speaker the Rev. Canon Soh Chye Ann, an independent consultant on mission and former Asia director of the Church Missionary Society, framed the conference's theme into three biblical-historical analyses:
1. The global crises that is affecting economic, social and political life globally.
2. The global hope in God who holds all things together.
3. The global paradigm of mission as exemplified in the example of the Church of Antioch in the Book of Acts.
The consultation is one of the most diverse communities in the Episcopal Church, including Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Japanese, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Vietnamese, Lao, Cambodian, Hmong and Thai.
The consultation elected new officers:
- The Rev. Jim Kodera, president, is a professor at Wellesley College in Boston and a member of the Diocese of Massachusetts.
- Mimi Wu, vice president, is coordinator of the Province VIII Asian Ministry Network and a member of the Diocese of Hawaii.
- Rev. Tinh Huynh, secretary, is leader of the Southeast Asia Convocation and rector of St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, a Vietnamese-Anglo Church in Falls Church, Virginia.
- Ms. Inez Saley, treasurer, is member of the Metropolitan Filipino Ministry and member of St. Luke’s Parish in the Diocese of New Jersey.
In other news, consultation members shared updates.
- Southeast Asia Convocation organized Hmong American Anglican Resource Center in Minnesota.
- The Korean Convocation is planning to initiate a Korean Mission Center in Los Angeles.
- The South Asian Convocation is organizing an Institute for Asian Indian Concerns.
- Filipinos are planning their first conference on Filipino evangelism and church planting.
- The EAM women’s group is expanding its anti-human trafficking advocacy in coalition with the Diocese of Southwest Florida.
EAM 2010 is tentatively scheduled for June 24-28 in Sacramento, California.