In June 1910 the Scottish city of Edinburgh hosted one of the most defining gatherings in the history of Christianity in the 20th century. The 1910 World Missionary Conference was a significant event in the missionary movement, and was instrumental for ecumenical developments of the last century.

“The notion that God is the initiator, director and sustainer of mission underpins all of our work at UnitingWorld,” said National Director, Rev. Dr Kerry Enright.

“Theologically speaking, the triune God is a God of mission. God is a community of inter-relationships, and as such sends the Son and the Spirit into the world to further God’s purposes.”

David Bosch said in his 1995 book “Transforming Mission” that “Mission is, primarily and ultimately, the work of the triune God, Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier, for the sake of the world, a ministry in which the church is privileged to participate.”

Dr Enright said the Church is thus free to look for creative partnerships with any it judges as giving expression to the Kingdom of God.

“The Church therefore takes a more humble stance seeking to point to and participate in what God is doing in the world, not imagining it is the centre of God’s interest, nor the only means God uses.”

Global dimension of mission

UnitingWorld Associate Director Church Solidarity (Pacific) Mr Bruce Mullan attended a stakeholder gathering of the international Methodist community in London, UK to mark 100 years since the historic Edinburgh gathering. From the discussions at this meeting he offers some insights into specific trends in mission.

“We are moving to an era where the balance of the global and local engagement of the church is undergoing restoration internationally,” Mr Mullan said.

“Indeed, in the Uniting Church mission is not only local, just as it is not only global – mission is incomplete without both local and global dimensions.

“UnitingWorld facilitates meaningful international relationships to assist the Uniting Church in Australia in living out this global identity.

“That identity asks us to take responsibility for the effect our lifestyles have on the rest of the world.

“We must listen to the voice of those with whom we are both friends and partners and their call to us is to live lives that are environmentally responsible, economically equitable and culturally respectful.”

Genuine Partnership

Mr Mullan said the UK meeting called for partnerships of equality between churches that were once seen as ‘sending churches’ and those who were at one time understood as ‘receiving churches.’

“Partnerships with churches in other countries are a rich learning experience for all people involved. Each partner has something to bring to the table.

“The local people in the communities we work with have a rich experience of community life, and we, as Christians in Australia, have an opportunity to experience this and change as we share the riches and joys of relationship and learning.”

Another learning Mr Mullan believes we can gain from our partner churches is in the area of interfaith engagement. “

The Church of North India is just one example of people of different faiths working together. In many cases Buddhist and Hindu people work together harmoniously in the both in the Church offices and in the field.”

The Local Church Connected Internationally

Dr Enright said that church-based international organisations, like UnitingWorld, are increasingly taking seriously the task of connecting local churches to Church partners.

“This is based on the biblical mandate but also the opportunity afforded to us through globalisation.

“UnitingWorld is part of this global movement of facilitating meaningful relationships between Uniting Church communities in Australia and international Church Partners in Africa, Asia and the Pacific.

“These relationships are helpful in the expression of mission locally as communities in Australia grapple with understanding extreme poverty, achieving trade justice and adapting to the effects of climate change.

“But they also give expression to the global dimension of the Church and the work of UnitingWorld can facilitate Uniting Church congregations to live out this mission.”