Episcopal Church Still Sends Missionaries Overseas
Episcopal News Service. March 2, 1978 [78054]
New York, N.Y. -- Does the Episcopal Church still send missionaries overseas?
That question was answered with a resounding "Yes" in a report filed with the Executive Council by the Rev. David B. Birney, staff officer for overseas personnel and scholarships at the Episcopal Church Center.
Birney reported that the Church made eight missionary appointments in 1977, has made one already in 1978 and anticipates that 8-11 more appointments will be made before the year is out. All of these join 60 appointees who remain active throughout the Anglican Communion.
In his report, Birney explained that requests for overseas personnel are made by bishops throughout the Anglican Communion within the context of needs that have been defined by Partners in Mission consultations.
"As increasing numbers of nationals are trained for positions of leadership and responsibility, however, requests for missionaries tend to decrease," he noted. "Yet, missionaries with particular skills are still being sought as much for their expertise as for their presence. They symbolize to those among whom they serve the oneness of Christ's body throughout the world and give credibility to His call to partnership in mission with Him and with one another."
He stated that the Church must discover ways in which missionaries from overseas can enrich the life of the Episcopal Church and praised the Diocese of Virginia for establishing such an opportunity with exiled Ugandan Bishop Yona Okoth.
He noted too, that many requests can't be filled either because the right person can't be found or the financial support -- which is guaranteed by the Executive Council to all appointees -- cannot be developed.
Birney and the National and World Mission staff are working to develop domestic support -- both spiritual and financial -- for the missionaries. Parishes and dioceses often contribute willingly to sending one of their own overseas. This enthusiasm helps to forge the links that are making the Anglican Communion's concepts of partnership flourish. Parishes and dioceses are encouraged to celebrate these ministries with commissioning services based on the Proposed Book of Common Prayer.
Support and cooperation in recruiting, training, placement and evaluation are given by the Clergy Deployment Office, a United Thank Offering grant, the Episcopal Church Missionary Community, the Evangelical Education Society, the newly-formed Episcopal South American Missionary Society and -- most recently -- the Order of the Holy Cross.
All this has meant that, over the last year, the Church has been able to make appointments in fields ranging from administrative training through a seminary deanship and in areas as far apart as Central America and Melanesia and -- as Birney stated in his report -- there is still more to come. The Church is definitely involved in sending missionaries overseas.