NO. 0916
Adopted
(OPERATIONAL BUSINESS ITEM)
RESOLUTION: BE A GLOBAL MISSION CHURCH
WHEREAS, throughout the past two centuries, for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ, global presence and witness have been the core of God's mission through the church; and
WHEREAS, since 1996 Global Ministries has been a unique common witness of the Division of Overseas Ministries, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and of Wider Church Ministries, United Church of Christ; and
WHEREAS, Global Ministries continues to walk with 270 global partners in some 68 countries discerning together priorities of critical presence and action with the sole purpose of timely and appropriately meeting God's people and creation at the point of deepest need: spiritually, physically, emotionally and/or economically; and
WHEREAS, in keeping that critical presence priority, over 150 persons in mission are currently serving as missionaries, volunteers, interns and associates in 50 countries, and missionaries sent by our global partners are welcomed to serve in the United States and Canada in fulfillment of our commitment to mutuality in mission; and
WHEREAS, a congregation engaged in ministry globally is a vital and faithful church, one that is dynamic and growing in strong local and global relationships, bringing abundant blessings, creating understanding and building communities of justice and service; and
WHEREAS, Global Ministries seeks to facilitate the engagement of congregations and other expressions of the church more intentionally in global mission; and
WHEREAS, God's call to mission is already embodied and celebrated in all expressions of the church in relationships, service, mission presence, justice witness, worship and advocacy; and
WHEREAS, partnership means receiving the gifts and learning from the experiences of others in our world, building greater effectiveness through collective efforts and mutually recognizing and encouraging each other in ministry; and
WHEREAS, God's mission imperative for the Church is to be evangelical, to share the Good News (Gk. "evangel") of Jesus Christ, witnessing, loving, and serving from our doorsteps "to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8) so "that they may all be one" (John 17:21); and
WHEREAS, in 2001 the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) identified four priorities for the church (the formation of 1,000 new congregations; the transformation of 1,000 current congregations; the calling and forming of new leaders and the continuing re-forming of current leaders; becoming an anti-racist/pro-reconciling church), none of which address mission beyond the national boundaries of the United States and Canada; and
WHEREAS, we are Disciples of Christ, a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world, who participate in God's mission for the world, working with partners to heal the brokenness of creation and bring justice and peace to the whole human family;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana July 29-August 2, 2009 claims the church's core identity as a global mission church in all of its expressions, and calls on the church to live out this commitment in all current and future mission priorities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly calls upon congregations and regions to implement the Global Mission Church process as detailed in the Be a Global Mission Church program materials from Global Ministries; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that congregations as well as regions seeking the designation "Global Mission Congregation" or "Global Mission Region" be encouraged to study, explore, and live out that commitment by:
praying regularly for partners, missionaries and the world,
educating its members from preschool to adult about global issues,
seeking justice for the "least of these" in the international community,
receiving the gifts of the worldwide Church,
giving to the work of global mission through Disciples Mission Fund and "over and above" gifts,
sending its members into the world to share the Good News,
growing in sharing the story of God's mission with others; and
FINALLY, BE IT RESOLVED that the General Assembly calls for a commitment to hear the cries of people around the world; to find the energy and enthusiasm to reach out and respond with grace; to proclaim the joys as well as denounce the suffering of God's people; to seek wisdom and guidance in building global connections in the life of all settings of the church; to be immersed in the church's work for the healing of the nations.
Division of Overseas Ministries
[A resolution of the Common Global Ministries Board, through the Division of Overseas Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to the General Assembly in 2009.]
The General Board recommends that the General Assembly
ADOPT Business Item No. 0916. (Debate time: 24 minutes)