10-year Effort Culminates in New Global Mission Partnership
Episcopal News Service. May 25, 2000 [2000-095]
Margaret S. Larom, Director of Mission Interpretation for the Office of Anglican and Global Relations
(ENS) Representatives of 51 mission organizations in the Episcopal Church in the United States have officially launched the Episcopal Partnership in Global Mission (EPGM), culminating 10 years of work in building relationships and solidarity for the world mission enterprise.
The leaders of sending, funding, education and prayer organizations met at Ridgecrest, North Carolina, April 24-26 and inaugurated the new partnership with a service of remembrance, thanksgiving, and praise. At the offertory during the Eucharist, they carried out the annual signing of the covenants approved in 1990 when the mission leadership first came together as the Episcopal Council for Global Mission (ECGM). Many present had been founding members of the original fellowship, and emotions were high as they reaffirmed their commitment not only to the covenants but also to their joint efforts in international Anglican mission.
The evolution from "council" to "partnership" represents six years of effort to draw diverse mission efforts into a recognized relationship with General Convention and Executive Council. The 1994 General Convention called for a comprehensive theology, strategy, and structure for the church's international mission work. A working group that included members of the Standing Commission on World Mission and the ECGM offered the 1997 General Convention a partnership model. This was approved in a slightly modified form, and a new working group, consisting of representatives of the Standing Commission, ECGM, and the Executive Council, created a plan that was approved by all concerned during various meetings last year.
The member organizations represent divergent theologies, methods, and spheres of influence, but they all believe in presenting a united witness to the importance of global mission in the life of the church. They meet annually, work by consensus, and entrust the choice of steering committee members to the Holy Spirit by choosing volunteers' names out of a hat.
They always have an international Anglican partner present: This year, EPGM's guest was the Rev. Boanerges Rosa Romero, director of the Center for Theological Education for the Central American Anglican Province, based in El Salvador.
Over the next year, the group will focus on formulating mutually agreed-upon standards so that all missionaries sent by member organizations may officially be recognized as missionaries of the Episcopal Church. Insurance and liability issues will be tackled as part of the process. Other immediate goals are to encourage the receiving of missionaries from the wider Communion, and to promote mission education by various means throughout the church.
For more information, visit the EPGM web site: www.ecusa.anglican.org/epgm.html