Invitational Church

Akwaaba signs similar to this one with a woman pouring drink for a visitor are everywhere in Ghana

My friend Reinhard told me that in a recent survey in Germany, the majority of people said the word ‘mission’ is something negative.  It implies a subject “doing something” to another person as object.  It is contaminated by colonial connotations.  Interestingly, the word ‘mission’ is still used by governments to describe the activities of their embassies.  But still, in church circles, mission is treated not only as characteristic of the church, but sometimes as essential to the church.  The word ‘mission’ is loaded leaving some people hot and some people cold.   Some love it, some hate it.   In church circles, we firmly believe in God’s redemptive mission to the world that He created and we believe we can participate in God’s mission through faith and by the help of the Spirit.  The current ELCA slogan “God’s Work, Our Hands” is about our participation in God’s mission.

When we as individuals get involved in mission work, we need to be careful that our focus is not our “doing something” for or to other people. Global Mission of the ELCA introduced the concept of accompaniment to help nurture a model of mission based on mutuality and not the typical imbalance of power seen in donor- beneficiary relationships.

My friend Reinhard said the survey in Germany is causing the church to reconsider the emphasis on the “Missional Church” and instead  they are talking more about the “Invitational Church. ”   This idea has been subject of conversation in recent years, and even if it isn’t perfect, it has merit.    We are challenged to ask what is our invitation as opposed to what is our mission?  Or, really, what is our connection to God’s invitation rather than our connection to God’s mission?

What do you think of the change in emphasis?   Is your church an inviting church?  Are you an inviting Christian?   Jesus certainly invited us when he says, “Come, follow me.”

Blessed second Sunday in Advent.

Lutherans in Canada, United States to Engage in Global Service Together

I am sharing an article that came from the ELCA News service.  I added a few links I hope will be helpful .

ELCA NEWS SERVICE,  CHICAGO (ELCA)   March 5, 2010

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) will engage in mission and ministry overseas together as part of a new agreement between both denominations.

The Global Mission program unit of the ELCA embraces the “accompaniment” methodology, which calls for the ELCA to build mutually supportive relationships with Lutheran churches overseas.  Under the new agreement, the ELCIC will embrace the accompaniment model for its global service and has developed a new program called “ELCIC Global Mission.”

The Rev. Carla Blakley, a pastor in the ELCIC, began her work as ELCIC assistant to the bishop for global mission in January.  Blakley said she recently visited with ELCA Global Mission staff in Chicago.  “I’m thrilled” about the new partnership, said Blakley.  “In a situation where churches are dividing over issues, we are forging a strong partnership for work in the world.  It is God’s work in God’s world that can be done together.  I was so graciously received in Chicago, and there’s such a nice atmosphere of ‘let’s work together.’  It’s a win-win situation,” she said.

“It is very unique for two churches to share deeply in global mission,” according to the Rev. Rafael Malpica Padilla, executive director for ELCA Global Mission. “We are looking forward to developing the organic implementation of this agreement and the programmatic collaboration between both churches.”

The 65 synods of the ELCA have “companion relationships” with more than 120 international Lutheran churches.  ELCA congregations and individual members visit and host their companions.  Together Lutherans explore the complexities of building cross-cultural relationships and engage in mutually dependent mission and ministries.  Each of the five synods of the ELCIC also shares companion relationships with Lutheran churches overseas.  As part of the agreement, the ELCA and ELCIC will work together to “facilitate” these companion relationships and form new church-to-church relationships.

Global service will be another key element in the agreement.  The ELCIC is no longer recruiting mission personnel directly.  ELCIC members interested in global service can now work with ELCA Global Mission staff. The ELCA has about 250 mission personnel in 50 countries serving in a variety of positions, such as teaching at educational institutions, working at medical institutions and in church administration.  ELCIC members who qualify for global service may be placed by ELCA Global Mission staff to volunteer or serve in compensated positions.

The ELCIC will also participate in ELCA global events and program committee meetings.

“The ELCA and ELCIC are still working on defining the relationship within the framework of the agreement,” said Malpica Padilla. “ELCA Global Mission is taking more responsibility for the administration of the ELCIC Global Mission engagement in the areas of supervision for new mission personnel, companion synods relationships and volunteers from Canada serving through ELCA Global Mission programs.”

The ELCA and ELCIC are members of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), a global communion of 140 churches in the Lutheran tradition, representing 68.5 million Christians.    For more Information about the ELCIC partnership with ELCA Global Mission go to  ELCA’s Web site.