United Methodist Missionary Association

UMMA Update, March 2011 (pdf version), No. 76

In this issue

A Word from the Editor
A Word from the Chair
UMMA "Steers" New Course
Passings Noted
"Rethink Mission" Reflection (Part II)
Comments and Thanks from Our Readers
Reunions Anticipated
Staff and Stuff (Latin America job opening)

1. A Word from the Editor and Communications Chair ()

UMMA UpDate is available via e-mail from an "announcement-only" Google group, or for online reading or download from our website. Please write us with questions or input (reunions, death notices, matters you would like dealt with in future issues) at our e-mail address (). You may also check out recent updates regarding our Steering Committee and task forces there.

As a group of old and young missionaries trying to keep up with God's call and the world we live in, we are trying new things. Geeks among us can begin to utilize the Google group which anyone may join to offer feedback to specific UMMA-related material. It is located at . Likewise you are invited to try out our blog, still developing, at umma-global.blogspot.com. Both sites are "moderated" - so it may take a little time for your comments to appear.

Our efforts to offer online dues payment now include PayPal™, accessible from the UMMA membership form. We will see what other innovations assist our communications - and which prove to be less helpful. Your editor - Jim Dwyer

2. A Word from the Chair

As a survivor of the Haiti earthquake, I worry that Haiti may be eclipsed by subsequent seismic and social-political events, e.g., in Japan and the Middle East. Still, these events are reminders of our interconnections and dependencies and can lead us back to the basis of our faith.

Daily we are reminded that ours is a world in which both natural and human-driven events reverberate from one corner of the globe to another. We are flooded with sights and sounds of an earthquake shaking and tsunami washing over human handicraft in Japan as whole communities are lost into the sea halfway round the globe. More insidiously, fractured nuclear reactors in near meltdown mode send noxious gases and radiation wafting to the West Coast of the U.S., thousands of miles away. Unintended consequences from the combined forces of nature and from human decisions and actions arise for generations to come.

Elsewhere, reverberations came from the despairing, defiant act of self-immolation by one no-longer ordinary man in Tunisia. His self-sacrificing act unleashed a torrent of pent-up demand for a genuine voice in the future, and a hope for better lives throughout the Middle East - Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya, among others.

At the same time, words of scripture reverberate across centuries, recalling, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging." Scripture reminds us: we are dependent creatures who find meaning and purpose in the divine interconnection that has brought us into being, sustains us through every time and place and inter-links us to all humanity who are rooted in God, the Source of life, hope and wholeness. We give thanks that through Jesus, we have discovered God working in the world, calling and empowering us to be instruments of hope and transformation in the midst of chaos and disorder.

We give thanks for our own missionary community and mission volunteers who have responded to the needs of those suffering loss of life, material security and possibly hope in Japan, Haiti and around the world. We give thanks also for others who continue to risk their lives to rescue total strangers and to stanch the flows of radioactivity to save future generations. We give thanks for daily acts of generosity and sharing unseen that are helping to restore lives and future hope. We are a world community. Technologies of our creation remind us of the poor, the oppressed and dispossessed around the world, who have now become our neighbors and are no longer so easily ignored. The question posed by the rich young ruler to Jesus comes to mind: "And who is my neighbor?" How we answer matters.

Let us not become overwhelmed by the enormity of the needs. Rather, may God teach us to share more fully the fruits of creation that we may help bring healing, hope and wholeness to the brokenness of the world. Grace and peace, Jim Gulley, UMMA Chair ()

3. UMMA "Steers" a New Course!

In recent months regional members of the UMMA Steering Committee have been invited to participate in a regular Skype conversation to be informed of and help inform the ongoing work of the Administrative Council in their efforts to stay in conversation with and to collaborate with GBGM staff on behalf of missionaries and the mission of the UMC.

To bridge the time zones requires some members across the globe to "burn midnight oil" and to overdose on caffeine to keep up with our conversations. Katherine Parker (in Cambodia) compiled a list of the time zones we bridge when the Steering Committee undertakes a Skype conversation. It shows we span a 17-hour spread (measured from Greenwich).

My point? To make clear the wide reach of our regular contacts and the effort needed to keep ourselves aware of the "Sitz im Leben" of others as we collaborate. Time zone is only one factor, of course; the availability of a functioning and affordable internet connection and a computer able to run Skype are two more we cannot ignore as we try to be in touch around the globe. Feel free to contact any of your regional reps to bring your own input. Among them a plethora of languages is available for communication!

4. Passings Noted - Our Thoughts and Prayers Go Out to Families and Loved Ones

Dr. Judith Newton, former missionary to Japan, educator and song-writer, died at her home in Scotts Valley, California, shortly before her 72nd birthday. Cathy Whitlatch passed along the obituary. There we read, "[Judy] was commissioned a missionary in 1976 and was assigned to Sendai, Japan where she taught full-time at Tohoku Gakuin University for 10 years. She also worked in New York at mission headquarters, as missionary-in-residence, with special assignments in Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Monterey, Mexico." She filled several other assignments in Japan. A friend reported, "The recent tragedy in Japan would have broken her heart." A memorial service will take place on May 21, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. at United Methodist Church of Santa Cruz, 250 California Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. Read the full text by Jane Horstman of the Communications Office of the California Nevada Conference here.

5. Rethink Mission: Reflection and Action - Edinburgh 1910-2010

(The following is Part II of two of the final report from the forum on Mission Engagement Past, Present and Future, Nashville, October 2010. You can find the entire report as part of the previous issue of UMMA UpDate online.)

RETHINK MISSION SMALL GROUP REPORT - Part II

Session II: Responding To Call
Understanding Call; Sending and Receiving in God's Mission
The understanding of call is different and comes in many ways; however there is much consensus that discernment and mentoring accompanied with prayer and meditating on the word of God define an appropriately lengthy process. Responding to call is an individual's evolving experience which the UMC and the local church can help refine and embed through annual conference and other discernment events and by training local churches in discernment. [Such pre-assignment church-based discernment, along with interim and post-assignment mission personnel and volunteer visits could help change local church culture from 'maintenance' or 'attractional' to 'missional.' While there was mild discomfort with the 'stakeholder' language, almost every UMC entity was named; those mentioned most were local churches (including UMW, UMM, pastors and youth groups), and - next-most-mentioned - active, retired and volunteer missionaries, educational institutions, especially UMC seminaries and colleges, GBGM and Women's Division, and conferences and their committees.

Some groups report discomfort with sending and receiving language, yet, all groups highlight need for mutual communication and responsibility, partnerships in a two-way process during which the sent just as often receive and receivers also send. For a few, the personal experience of being sent is an on-going evaluation of call and fit with expectations that elicits further discernment.

Indicators of Faithfulness
Consensus is lacking on this. Five corporate indicators of faithfulness are mentioned by two or three groups: listening as a first step; continuing education, collaboration, communication and transparency among partners and between clergy and laity; adequacy of resources, encouragement and prayer; fruitfulness but not necessarily measured by goals attained - need patience. For a few others, call and faithfulness indicators are personal: call from God is verified, or it is an individual journey of faith with individual accountability.

Strategies and Actions to Bring Passionate Partners in Mission Together
There is much agreement on four strategies: communication, education, collaboration and empowerment. Communication to inform members of mission opportunities, training, and the power of mission to change people's lives, through mission saturation events at many UMC entities (local churches, conferences, colleges), using new media, and GBGM helping place mission magazines at seminaries and having a once every three-year brunch seminar presence. Another communication theme is better UMC interagency communication, to avoid duplication and to pursue collaboration. After communication is education which focuses on understanding and developing respect for others (religions, ethnicities and cultures), understanding systemic justice issues, mission discernment events at UMC entities, and mission trips employing the "action-reflection" model. Next is mission education and learning experiences in mission study and work trip collaboration among UMC local churches and through ecumenical efforts where there are common values; linking of active, retired and volunteer missionaries with other UMC entities that support, recruit and educate for mission. Empowerment is a minor theme in bringing partners together: essentially, empowerment results in more - and more passionate - partners.

Session III: Prioritizing Our Mission

Our Primary Aims in Mission
Our primary aims, noted by every group, are shared with the broader UMC: making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world and bringing about the reign of God. A few stated the aim as sharing the good news, love, word and deed of Jesus. Specifics included releasing the captives, alleviating suffering, and working for peace and justice. Evidence of UMC pursuit of these aims repeats the aims and specifics, and then adds education and training or equipping local churches for mission, and keeping our theology and action together.

Recommendation to Various UMC Stakeholders that would Prioritize Mission(s)
Education encompasses the primary strategies, and most of the recommendations involve the local church, directly or indirectly. Elevate the awareness in local churches of UMC missionaries, mission initiatives, programs and opportunities, including covenant relationship; include missions and service in Sunday School and VBS. Increase training and continuing education of local laity; use professional and volunteer missionaries as speakers and educators. Use the "action-reflection" model in educating volunteer missionaries. Deepen the mission experience and activity of pastors: participate in VIM study and learning experiences (or other missions) regularly; do more preaching on mission(s), more support and praying for missions, more promotion of missions and missionaries. Seminaries could better prepare pastors to be mission-minded by requiring a cross-cultural immersion, lengthy enough to listen, understand the context, build relationships, engage in mercy and justice ministries and witness indigenous empowerment.

The next set of recommendations focuses on communication. Most important are increasing the channels and mechanisms of communication to raise awareness, to recruit, to educate and train, and to raise funds.

GBGM and GBOD receive affirmation and suggestions: carry on but do more: help develop curricula for local church, Sunday Schools and VBS; help connect retired and volunteer missionaries to local churches, colleges and seminaries, and mission magazines to colleges and seminaries. Annual Conferences also have a role in mission awareness, recruitment / discernment, and resources and promotion; could be implemented through a Conference Secretary of Global Ministries with automatic reporting times.

Observations
The summation of the groups affirms and emphasizes best practices in mission. Many, if not most, of the ideas suggested from the groups, are already a part of mission in various arenas of our church. However, it is not enough! It is apparent that we must relentlessly pursue and step up our actions - education of clergy, meaningful itineration of mission personnel, positioning of the few available longer-term mission slots dedicated to prophetic witness in ministries of peace and justice, and increase theological mission reflection in local churches among the laity and clergy. Some unresolved issues relate to mission theology when working on a daily basis with people of other religions. Individuals who are in daily contact with peoples and communities of other religions seem to have a broader understanding of the "inclusiveness" of people in God's Reign and they are seeking theological mission reflection to undergird this. One mission presenter stated, "Mission in the next 100 years must include other faiths" while another presenter more boldly reminded us, that for him it is "Not Without My Neighbor". An interesting paradox is that when working alongside peoples of other religions, whether in a mission capacity or in one's own environment in the US, there is less promotion of our denomination as we relate and witness to the core of the Gospel without denominational branding. It appears that denominational mission philosophy and mission theology needs rethinking.

One feature of the Rethink Mission Conference was opportunity for participants to share their publications at a book-signing organized by Scarritt Bennett Center. Eleven authors presented their works including mission history, memoirs, mission education, and justice issues in mission life. The book-signing event exhibited active energy in mission documentation and scholarship and a reminder of prophetic witness. Many issues identified in the group reports are found in these mission books.

Finally, it was apparent that the community of those passionate about mission, learned together from the wide variety of mission interests present. Discussion never abated. It flowed out of the plenary sessions into the small groups, leading to discussions around the mealtimes as old friendships were renewed, new friendships forged and emerging mission understandings shared. One poignant memory was the challenge of a VIM leader, after discussion relating to work in Palestine, to petition the Bishops of the United Methodist Church to reconsider their use of Educational Opportunities (EO) in leading trips to the Holy Land. There have been changes in the EO guidelines, but in reality the Palestinian voice and perspective is still not heard during these visits. The petition was drafted and signed by 85% of those present at that session and sent to the Executive Secretary of the Council of Bishops to distribute to active and retired bishops of the UMC. It was also sent to the president of Educational Opportunities.

Passionate prophetic mission voices and action are needed now more than ever. They may not emerge from church institutional mission processes. It will require extra efforts from all those passionately committed to working toward God's Reign and may need to be done within and outside the present norms of denominationalism. We must go forward passionately and persistently, promoting and provoking prophetic witness.

There was an understanding that issues identified in the working groups would be forwarded to various sites and agencies in our church for action. However, in discussions after the working groups, it became clear that change will only occur, if each one present continues to initiate and increase efforts in our established and ever-expanding circles of relationships to influence prophetic mission in voice and action.

Small Group Analysis Summary Reports: Kay Clifton ()
Introduction and Observations: Norma Kehrberg ()

6. Comments and Thanks from Our Readers

Very informative, inspiring and positive newsletter. Thank you for your good work. - Thomas Kemper

7. Reunions Anticipated

Korea Missionary Reunion July 22 - 24, 2011, Lake Junaluska
Servants of Sierra Leone biennial reunion Sioux Falls, SD, summer 2012
India Missionary Reunion October 7-9, 2011, St. Louis, MO.

8. Staff and Stuff

The job opening for a second mission executive for Central and South America has been posted. Send interested persons to GBGM's "Human Resources" webpage. Deadline for applications for "Executive Secretary Latin America" is March 31.

Melissa Hinnen, since 2009 director of communications for UMCOR, will assume the position of Global Ministries' public information officer on April 4, 2011. Melissa will serve as press secretary and chief writer for Global Ministries, be accountable to the General Secretary and work closely with Dr. Larry Hygh, director of communications, and his staff. She succeeds the Rev. Elliot Wright. She is an active member and lay "minister of care" of New York City's United Methodist Church of the Village and a part-time seminary student.

We welcome your comments: