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Mission
Contexts and Relationships Program Area
The
Mission Contexts and Relationships Program Area (MCR) is concerned
with the contexts in which mission takes place today. These contexts
may be local, global, geographical, cultural, ethnic, international,
denominational, ecumenical, or any combination of these possibilities.
Analyzing and evaluating these contexts requires attention to large
trends and small details. Developing and sustaining the relationships
needed for creative mission requires sensitivity and patience. Current
priorities of MCR include the following: >>
Building and maintaining databases on all the countries and cultures
in which the church is engaged and those where new mission is unfolding. >>
Conducting regional mission consultations on a global basis involving
United Methodist conferences, autonomous Methodist churches, and other
mission partners. >>
Building strong relations between the Board and the annual conferences
in the United States. >>
Providing linkages between the Board and the committees that oversee
three churchwide ethnic ministry priorities—the National Hispanic
Plan, the Native American Comprehensive Plan, and the Korean National
Plan—and resourcing other ethnic ministries. >>
Facilitating the Persons in Mission program through which the Board
provides salary support to partner churches for specific positions
filled by indigenous personnel for periods of three years. >>
Developing
leadership for mission. >>
Supporting ecumenical cooperation. In
2001, the first of a quadrennial series of six regional consultations
took place in Tonga. Representatives of Methodism in the South Pacific
explored mission opportunities and challenges as Christianity entered
its third millennium. Plans were made for a European consultation,
including Russia, that was scheduled for January 2002. Mission strategies
emerging from the dialogues will be compiled at the conclusion of
the series. Complementing
the Persons in Mission program, which supports people serving in their
own countries, is the International Persons in Mission plan. For example,
this allows people from autonomous churches in Latin America and the
Caribbean to serve immigrant congregations within the United States.
The Board has worked with the Florida, New England, and Greater New
Jersey annual conferences in developing congregations within Portuguese-speaking
Brazilian communities. Five new churches, with a total of 600 congregants,
are strengthened by International Persons in Mission from the Methodist
Church of Brazil. The
nurture of new congregations and leadership development are strong
components of the Korean National Plan and the Korean Mission Pastors’
Initiative. Particular attention in 2000–2001 was directed to
the enhancement of mission and ministries of the next generation of
the Korean American community. Leadership development is also a prominent
part of the relationships with Hispanic American, Native American,
and African American constituencies. In 2001, MCR worked with the
Women’s Division in providing opportunities for a dozen racial/ethnic
persons to receive training in church-related community economic development.
The Crusade Scholars program and other educational grants to individuals
enhance skills and abilities beneficial to mission. MCR
provides program support and funding for the Alaska Missionary Conference
and the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference. It assists the Rio
Grande Conference and the autonomous Methodist Church of Puerto Rico
in seeking higher levels of self-support without compromising their
ministries. In the quadrennium to date, nine Rio Grande congregations
volunteered to work with the Board in an effort to attain self-sufficiency
within three years. The
program area facilitates a Bilateral Mission Advisory Committee that
coordinates ministry and mission along the U.S.-Mexico border, working
with the United Methodist conferences north of the Rio Grande and
the Methodist Church of Mexico to the south. MCR joined with the Methodist
Church of Puerto Rico in attempts to halt permanently the U.S. Navy’s
practice bombing of the island of Vieques. Evaluation
of mission contexts and the building of strong missional relationships
entail particular attention to issues of justice, empowerment, and
healing. MCR has responsibility for the Restorative Justice Ministries
program of The United Methodist Church, which is particularly concerned
with repairing breaches and promoting just outcomes in the criminal-justice
system. The empowerment of women, children, and young people is another
major concern within the area of human relationships. Ecumenical relations significantly extend the mission commitments of United Methodists. Such interactions are not limited to social services but also include mission evangelism, education, justice and peace, interreligious dialogue, and social and economic development. |
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Worship at Bethany United Methodist Church, Wayne,
New Jersey