ELCA Board Studies 'Accompaniment'

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Board of the Division for Global Mission of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America discussed future planning at its meeting here Oct. 23-25. The jumping-off point for conversation was a paper entitled, "Accompaniment of God's Mission: A New Paradigm for Global Mission in the 21st Century."
The Rev. Bonnie L. Jensen, executive director and author of the paper, said 'Accompaniment' presents "the emerging paradigm for global mission as we move toward the next century." The paper explains that "accompaniment" will take the place of "partnership," a term "used freely and comfortably by European and North American churches and mission agencies."
Accompaniment is a new term that has emerged out of Latin America ... which means "walking together," the paper says. "Accompaniment describes various aspects of relationships in mission. We accompany God's mission in a certain place, among certain peoples."
Jensen stressed "a need to educate members of the ELCA more fully in the vision and reality of global mission." Focus groups indicate that "ELCA members often describe global mission as it was half a century ago," she said.
"It is astounding to think that in the 1950s our church supported about 25 'mission fields.' Today the ELCA relates directly to about 70 international Lutheran churches," Jensen said.
"This reality begs for even more radical changes in our attitudes and ways of being in international mission today. New ecumenical opportunities and the emergence of ecumenical/post-denominational churches, especially in Asia, push us into even greater creative thinking and listening for the prompting of the Holy Spirit," Jensen said.
Jensen explained that ELCA members do not often see missionaries in their congregations as they once did -- a function of short home leaves and the expense of air travel. This calls for "adjustment of our mentality and our approach to communication with ELCA members," she said.
Jensen reported on progress toward a Global Educators Network. "The division continues to develop the concept of a network of supporters who can enlarge our response to educational needs around the world," she said.
The network would be made up of people committed to education, both educators and recruiters, Jensen said. Help is needed in recruiting young adults, retired folks, those interested in early retirement or taking a sabbatical, she said.
Involving young adults in teaching abroad ties the network to the ELCA's Initiatives for a New Century. The Rev. Daniel W. Olson will take a new assignment as director of the Global Educators Network. He has served for 15 years as director for English-speaking West Africa and Southern Africa.
The network would assist in raising support for education efforts, much like the present global volunteer program, Jensen said. "More and more the requests we hear from churches are for educators with at least a two-year commitment," she said.
Currently the ELCA sends English teachers to Japan, China and Slovakia. Jensen is interested in "teacher training networks though which teachers can come to the United States from places like Tanzania." And there are needs, such as those in Namibia, for computer training and library staff, she said.
The board heard from international representatives Dr. Mariette Razivelo of the faculty of Ivory Seminary, the Malagasy Lutheran Church, and the Rev. Roy K. Thakurdyal, president of the Lutheran Church in Guyana.
"Thirty years of crime, corruption and poverty took its toll on the nation of Guyana," Thakurdyal said. He described ongoing problems of brain drain, "professionals and skilled people found it easier to find a place in greener pastures." Guyana became a non-entity, the second-poorest state in the Caribbean, unwanted," he said.
In 1992, with Guyana's first free and fair elections, things began to change, Thakurdyal said. In this context the Lutheran Church in Guyana carries out its mission and ministry. "The population drain continues, but we are a growing church," he said.
Despite "closing churches and nonexistent social ministries," we are surviving, Thakurdyal said. "Our vision comes from what is being heard in the church, a deep yearning to be faithful, hungering for a more authentic way of being the church," he said. We want to be a church free of hindrances, equipped for mission, standing with dignity among other churches of the world, he said.

For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or
NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html