Resolutions at General Convention

On Monday, July 6, I leave for General Convention in Anaheim.  I am one of four clergy deputies elected from the state of Arizona.  I will be serving on the legislative committee on Evangelism.  I am excited about the opportunity to serve, and also apprehensive about the incredible workload that people tell me this involves - long hours and very little sleep!  I'll be updating my blog from convention periodically to let you know what the experience is like.

As part of my interest in Evangelism, I am proposing two resolutions to convention:  we'll see if they pass, or get a hearing.  Nick Kniseley (another clergy deputy from Arizona) has been very helpful in getting co-sponsors for these.  My two co-sponsors are Ann Fontaine+ of Wyoming (a liberal) and Neal Michell+ of Dallas (a conservative).  Because we cover the board in terms of theology, there is a chance of attracting a wide range of support - we hope!

Here are my two resolutions, both basically intended to further the cause of evangelism in the Episcopal Church:

RESOLUTION D026:  THE 5 MARKS OF MISSION AS STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FOR THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

 

Resolved, the House of ___________ concurring, that the 76^th General Convention name the five Anglican Marks of Mission as the five top strategic priorities for The Episcopal Church, and that the House of Deputies direct Program, Budget and Finance to center the budget around these strategic priorities, and be it further

 

Resolved, that these strategic priorities, as developed by the Anglican Consultative Council, are: 

1.     to proclaim the Good News of the Reign of God;

2.     to teach, baptize and nurture new believers;

3.     to respond to human need by loving service;

4.     to seek to transform unjust structures of society;

5.     and to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth; and be it further

 

Resolved, that the first mark of mission, proclaiming the Good News of the Reign of God, is really a summary of what all mission is about, and therefore instead of being just one of five distinct activities, that this is the key statement about everything we do in mission.

 

EXPLANATION

The Five Anglican Marks of Mission were developed by the Anglican Consultative Council between 1984 and 1990.  They have won wide acceptance among Anglicans, and have given parishes and dioceses around the world a practical and memorable “checklist” for mission activities.  The Anglican Consultative Council has recognized the proclamation of God’s Reign as the key mark of mission, which underlies all other mission of the church, because it is based on Jesus’ summary of his own mission (Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:14-15, Luke 4:18, Luke 7:22; cf. John 3:14-17).  For more information see “The Five Marks of Mission,” published by the Anglican Consultative Council, Anglican Communion Office website (attached).

 

The Five Marks stress the doing of mission.  Faithful action is the measure of our response to Christ (cf. Matthew 25:31-46; James 2:14-26).  However, the challenge facing us is not just to do mission but to be a people of mission.  The purpose of this resolution is to allow every dimension of church life to be shaped and directed by our identity as a sign, foretaste and instrument of God’s reign in Christ. 

 

We recognize that all mission is done in a particular setting – the context.  So, although there is a fundamental unity to the good news, it is shaped by the great diversity of places, times and cultures in which we live, proclaim and embody it.  We recognize that there are many ways to adapt the five marks of mission to local and cultural contexts, and we encourage this adaptation as an essentially Anglican way of following Christ. 

RESOLUTION D024:  CREATING A STRATEGY FOR PROCLAIMING THE GOOD NEWS OF THE REIGN OF GOD AS A PRIMARY MARK OF MISSION FOR THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH 

 

Resolved, the House of ____________ concurring, that since proclaiming the Good News of the Reign of God is an essential mission of The Episcopal Church, that the 76^th General Convention direct that the next triennium be a period of strategic planning to determine how to implement this priority and to make resources available to encourage this work at the diocesan and local levels; and be it further

 

Resolved, that the strategic plan include a strategy for growing the church, increasing congregational vitality, planting new churches, and redeveloping dying congregations, as essential components of this mission; and be it further

 

Resolved, that this strategic plan pay particular attention to the challenges of proclaiming the Good News in a multicultural context, to young people, to underserved and marginalized populations, and to people with no church background; and be it further

 

Resolved, that the work of creating this strategic plan should be a joint effort undertaken by the following groups, in consultation with the Standing Commission on Domestic Mission and Evangelism: the Executive Council Strategic Planning Committee; the Center for Evangelism and Congregational Life of the Episcopal Church Center; and the Congregations in Mission Standing Committee of Executive Council; and be it further

 

Resolved, that the work of creating this strategic plan be completed, presented to Executive Council, and made available to deputies to the 77^th General Convention by January 1, 2012.

 

EXPLANATION

To take best advantage of the missional opportunities before the church, we need to plan carefully and execute wisely by setting goals, locating resources and monitoring progress.  There are several groups now working on the priority of proclaiming the good news of God’s reign.  This resolution directs them to work together to enhance the work of all, and names the strategic priorities that will be key to accomplishing this mission.