Facing the Future

How do you top that? Now that we’ve celebrated fifty years of mission and ministry, what’s next?

A recent issue of Presbyterians Today Magazine headlined the changing face of world mission. The accompanying photograph depicted two African women in tribal attire addressing a gathering from various denominations, including the Presbyterian Church (USA).

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words and certainly a picture of two women addressing a crowd of African church leaders in 2014 speaks volumes. Ethnic identity, gender roles, and cultural expectations which previously defined the parameters of world mission are changing as certainly they must. What is not on display in the picture are years of paternalism that enabled political colonialism and created an attitude of mission as “doing something for” the people. What you can see in the faces of the women is determination, confidence, and strength. There’s one other thing you can see. One of the women is holding a child. He or she (can’t tell) is looking upward at the woman speaking. Is she the child’s mother? Again, can’t tell but you can see in the youngster’s face the gaze of respect, hopefulness, love.

There are two other headlines on the page framing the women: "Global Mission Partners speak out" and "When canned-food drives are no longer enough." The entire publication emphasizes the changing character of World Mission in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Going into the Twenty First Century, mission has shifted from “doing for” to “accomplishing with.” In other words, Mission has been transformed into active Partnership.

What does this mean for a congregation of the Presbyterian Church located in Sun City, AZ? First and foremost it means that we are more connected than ever. We call our denomination a connectional church. That means structurally and philosophically we are partnered with Presbyterians around the world. In practical terms it means we are no longer constrained by patterns of ministry developed in the 18th, 19th, or even the 20th Century.

God is calling the whole church and our congregation to develop new patterns of ministry and mission that will lead all of us into the 21st Century. Fifty years in Sun City have prepared us for the next chapters in our history. God has given us a wonderful foundation upon which to launch the future. With new partners, with new vision, with new energy and excitement, God is leading us into the new year and into the future! Thanks be to God!

~Harrell