Agencies and Churches Review Partnership
Episcopal News Service. January 8, 1987 [87005]
Sue Williamson and Alan Nichols
BRISBANE, Australia (DPS, Jan. 8) -- The Partners in Mission (PIM) program was affirmed and made more flexible at the Anglican Mission Agencies Conference held here, Dec. 8-13, 1986.
Since the concept of Mutual Responsibility and Interdependence was espoused at the Toronto Congress of 1963, the Partners in Mission process has grown, clarifying mission as a priority, strengthening the unity of the newer churches within provinces, and building more mature relationships between the traditional "sending" and "receiving" churches. Of the 44 Partners in Mission Consultations which have taken place around the Anglican Communion since 1974, few have been held in the traditional "sending" churches.
Nevertheless, problems have emerged in the organization and follow-up of Consultations, with some churches using them to seek funds and others not taking them seriously or not accepting mutual accountability.
The Mission Agencies Conference here was attended by 57 people from 25 countries, representing Anglican mission agencies, church mission departments, development agencies, partner churches, and ecumenical bodies.
John Denton of Australia was conference chairman and the Rev. David Chaplin of London was secretary.
Held under the auspices of the Anglican Consultative Council, it was the first such meeting of mission agencies and partners since 1972, and the first international Anglican Consultative Council conference held in Australia.
The mission agencies have sought some ongoing structure to enable them to share knowledge, information and resources in their common task. Partner churches have asked for a greater equality and openness in relationships and more flexibility and coordination of mission agencies. "This has been a rich experience for all of us", the Partners said. "We were greatly encouraged by the willingness of agencies to listen to us and to respond to changing demands of the mission of the Church. Agencies also need to improve their relations with their churches." The Partners pledged to conduct more exchange among themselves.
Papers on evangelism, development and ecumenism highlighted those aspects of mission and stimulated resolutions which will be presented to ACC-7 in Singapore in May 1987, and through it to Lambeth 1988.
The Conference resolved to affirm the principle of Partners in Mission, but introduced flexibility to meet the needs of different churches, "bearing in mind that the underlying theological principle is openness of a Church to hear the Spirit's guidance in mission."
The Conference affirmed personal evangelism and added: "We cannot confess 'Jesus is Lord' without serious consequences for the ordering of the political and economic relationships of humankind and for the harmony in which we live as a part of the whole creation. Evangelism calls for a conversion which like sin itself is both personal and systemic, and promises the gift of grace for every area of life."
A popular report entitled "Touching One Another" is being written by Archdeacon Alan Nichols of Australia and will be available for parish use around Easter 1987.