Note from the Mission Personnel Director: The Rev. David Copley

Back to Basics

In late February/early March, I travelled to Sudan and Tanzania. While I was there I met with missionaries, baptized babies, and had conversations with bishops. When I returned, I attended a mission conference in Connecticut and spoke about the work of our missionaries and how we can all engage in God’s mission.

In Sudan, I met with missionaries sent by the Episcopal Church: Robin Denney, Bob and Karen North, and Larry Duffee, all of whom are supported by their local parishes and dioceses as well as the Mission Personnel Office. I also met three missionaries sent directly through the Diocese of Salisbury, England: Trevor and Tina Stubbs and Rebecca Coleman.

In Tanzania, I met again with missionaries of the Episcopal Church: Magi Griffin, Sandy and Martin McCann, Ranjit and Johanna Mathews, Peter Prewandowski, and Will Brooks, all of whom are supported by their parishes, dioceses, and the Mission Personnel Office. I also met with a delegation from the Diocese of Virginia, a diocese that regularly supports short- and medium-term missionaries to Tanzania.

The mission conference of the Diocese of Connecticut was a glorious celebration of mission with stories told of parish- and diocesan-supported short-and long-term mission service.

The global mission engagement of the Episcopal Church is alive and well and thriving through the active and dynamic ministries of parishes and dioceses and the Episcopal Church Mission Personnel Office. As I travel around the world I see a vast range of mission models that are expressed through parish-to-parish, parish-to-diocese, and diocese-to-diocese relationships. More and more mission-sending agencies are working in collaboration with the Church Center and host dioceses around the Anglican Communion to participate in God's mission. There are strong and healthy signs of growth in global mission with the church working on a multitude of levels and in creative and innovative ways.

Over the past few years there have been many people who have been prematurely tolling the death bells for global mission in the church, but global mission is not dead. It is thriving in ways in which we would not have envisioned 20 years ago.

As a result of budget cuts and increased costs, we may not have as many long-term missionaries appointed by the Episcopal Church, but this should not be seen as the measure of the health of global mission. Mission and ministry are changing, not shrinking.

Individuals are participating in mission experiences in small rural villages in Kenya. Parishes are building relationships with communities in Haiti. Dioceses are working together in significant development projects. Missionaries are being sponsored by individual parishes and dioceses. Groups are developing strong relationships with partner parishes, dioceses, and provinces. Global mission of the Episcopal Church is probably deeper, more profound, and broader than it has ever been.

Our challenge as we move forward is to continue to grow in our understanding of how to nurture healthy relationships. We need to continue to move away from paternalistic and dependent relationships and move toward interdependent relationships.

Additionally, as we embrace the richness of diversity within the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion, we need to work together to share, connect, relate, coordinate, and learn from our own challenges and successes and those of our neighbors. Networking and sharing is the next challenge for mission as we see a decentralization of structures within the Episcopal Church.

In the coming year, through the ministry of Elizabeth Boe, our new Global Networking Officer, we hope to begin to map out the global mission activity in which we are all engaged so that we can better coordinate with one another and share our mutual experiences and understandings.

The Everyone Everywhere 2011 mission conference in October will give us an opportunity for networking and learning as we listen to keynote speakers and participate in workshops. The Global Episcopal Mission Network (GEMN), in collaboration with the Episcopal Church, is running a conference in May for those interested in medium-term mission opportunities. We are also working closely with the Church of England and looking at ways to strengthen our relationships with those engaging in global mission in the Church of England. Meanwhile the Global Partnership office has launched a Facebook page and blog to enable ongoing conversations throughout the mission community.

My prayer for Global Mission of the Episcopal Church is that we improve our networking with one another and that we continue to learn, study, and pray about how we can be more sensitive participants in God’s mission around the world.

Blessings,

David

A Reflection from Christen Mills, Our Missionary in Japan

This summer when I got on a plane headed for Nagoya, Japan, I had no idea what to expect. Of course I had a basic understanding of what my job responsibilities would be, and I had seen pictures of the building where I would live, but for someone who doesn’t like change, it felt very much like I was going into this year blind. What I found once the plane landed was a beautiful community that welcomed me with open arms. I am so grateful that I have been able to call Nagoya home for the past 8 months. I have many jobs in Nagoya, but my role here is always to support and take part in the activities of the Nagoya Youth Center, a community center with a focus on education that is associated with the Nippon Sei Ko Kai Anglican Church in Japan. Every week I play with 2- and 3- year- olds in a Christian nursery school, teach a few different English classes, volunteer at a homeless day service center, and teach English to Filipino children. I also act as a leader during weekend activities for children and summer day-camps that the center runs. The center plays such an important role in the community. Not only is it a safe place where children can come and learn, it also serves as a model of Christian community in a country where Christianity is a minority religion.

On March 11th a huge earthquake and tsunami devastated northeastern Japan. We were able to feel the earthquake in Nagoya, but there was no damage here. For a few days after, everyone in Nagoya was anxious as the news about the damage and radiation problems continued to unfold and people were still waiting to hear back from friends and loved ones. Things now seem to have settled down and the church in Nagoya is beginning to respond to the disaster. The Anglican Diocese of Chubu has sent people and supplies up to Sendai to find out how the church in Nagoya can best help. Meanwhile, life continues on as it has for the past 8 months in Nagoya. The church here continues to hold everyone who was affected by the disaster in prayer and will continue to support the people in northern Japan as we find out what the biggest needs are.

One of my favorite things about Japan is the people. The community at the Nagoya Youth Center has been welcoming and supportive to me throughout the past 8 months and I know that they will be ready and willing to help in any way that they can. Please continue to hold Japan in your prayers as the nuclear problems still have not been resolved. It’s going to be a long road to recovery for Japan. Please also hold the children in your prayers. While it’s hard for all everyone to grasp the magnitude of the recent tragedy, it’s going to be particularly difficult for the children.

I can’t believe that I’ve been in Nagoya for 8 months! My flight home will come before I know it. I can’t wait to see what adventures the next four months hold. I’m sure that the March earthquake will affect my ministry here in Nagoya, but it might take a while to notice how. One thing is certain, however; the people I’ve met in Japan have become a part of my life and will continue to be a part of my life long after I return home.

To read more about Christen’s ministry, please visit her blog.

**YASC missionary Steven Hart, from the Diocese of Kentucky, was serving at the Asian Rural Institute (ARI) in Japan when the March 11th earthquake hit. Because ARI is in close proximity (approximately 56 miles) to the Fukushima nuclear power plant, Steven and his co-workers were evacuated. Steven is now back in the United States but hopes to return to ARI. Please keep him and everyone at ARI in your prayers. To read more about Steven’s ministry, please visit his blog.