by Randall Fairey
This month I am re-visiting the presentation from Dean Peter Elliott, Chair of the 2019 Visioning and Planning Group, at the last COGS Meeting in May. Dean Elliott was convincing in his argument that in order to plan for the next three General Synods, the Anglican Church of Canada must define what it means by "mission." To further underline the importance of mission in the life of our church, General Synod asked our Primate, Archbishop Fred Hiltz, to write to each Diocese and Ecclesiastical Province. At our recent Diocesan Council meeting we were challenged to make mission of primary importance. Specifically he asked each diocesan and provincial council to read their canons and constitutions and review how mission is articulated, resourced and carried out in our local jurisdictions. To do so requires a look at Mission Statements, goals and objectives, short and long-term planning and budget considerations. One particular challenge is for each diocese to look at their boundaries and consider if they are optimal for mission to be carried out. All this is to take place in an atmosphere of prayerful discernment.
I briefly surveyed our documents in Kootenay and found little in regard to mission. This is not a criticism as much as recognition that the majority of Canadian Dioceses and Provinces spend little time incorporating the concepts around mission into their governance. The Anglican Church of Canada Handbook begins with a good Mission Statement which Kootenay adopts by virtue of our membership in General Synod. Some parishes have well-written mission statements but once written, they tend to be absorbed into the subconscious of ongoing parish life, and are not purposely revisited. Many have struggled to write mission statements and have simply given up, or look at them as esoteric and unnecessary.
Mission also has many different meanings. Some think of missions in the historical context of outreach missionary posts. Others think of specific ministries such as work in inner cities. National Church has a Standing Committee on Partners in Mission and Ecojustice, and isolated or overseas work by Anglican missionaries is celebrated and resourced.
Dean Elliott is proposing a nationwide Lenten Study Program in 2009 to focus the Canadian Church on Mission. Using grassroots feedback from this program he intends to provide rich material to his 2019 Planning Team. The concern is that this program has to be adopted by COGS in November, and whether there will be sufficient time for parishes to optimize its use. His vision is that this will be focused on discerning the missio Dei for the Anglican Church of Canada. Knowing what God is calling us to be and to do in the 21st century is critical to the life of the Church. Furthermore, money follows mission. If our national financial stewardship is to grow and be successful, Anglicans across Canada must support where their money is being directed.
I would suggest you to go to Wikipedia and look up "missio Dei." In a simple one pager it emphasizes that missio Dei is from God, not the Church; it is an attribute of God's presence in the world. The concept emphasizes that "there is church because there is mission, not vice versa. The Church must not think its role is identical to the missio Dei; the Church is participating in the mission of God." This is the call from COGS, and we will know more in November: Will we as the Anglican Church of Canada define our directions in participating in the mission of God and in so doing, successfully plan the next decade?
My home parish of St. Andrew's in Okanagan Mission has a newsletter, which is entitled "Mission Matters." It is a good catch title for our parish in view of our name and location. The serious note behind it is true for not only the parish, but the Diocese of Kootenay, and our National Church. Indeed, mission matters very much!
