Episcopal News Service March 14, 2007
Cape Town Archbishop summarizes TEAM's work, sends participants out to do God's mission
By Mary Frances Schjonberg
[ENS] As it concluded its eight-day conference on March 14, the Towards Effective Anglican Mission (TEAM) conference issued 10 recommendations meant to help to guide dioceses and parishes as they strive to live out their mission in the world.
''Our intention was not that this be yet another gathering that recounts the many challenges facing our world,'' Cape Town Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane, Primate of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, told the final plenary session. ''Rather, the intention was that in accordance with our mission as the body of Christ, we develop actionable plans and strategies that can be utilized to instill new hope and vision in our communities and in the world at large.''
The recommendations, eight centered on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) -- a main focus of the conference -- plus two additional ones, were developed out of the conference's many discussions, debates and dialogues, Ndungane explained.
''This is a momentous period in the life of our church,'' he said. ''Here we have people of God gathered together in the context of prayer and theology, sharing diverse experiences and views on specific social issues, renewing the church's commitment and capabilities to respond to God's call to service in the 21st century.''
Ndungane said that the conference provided ''an opportunity to rally around issues of poverty and to position ourselves as a significant partner in the global development agenda.''
''It offers us an opportunity to harness the energy, commitment and potential of faith communities to make a constructive contribution towards the realization of sustainable livelihoods for everyone,'' he added.
Ndungane told the participants that ''mission is building God's kingdom so that His will may be done on earth as it is in heaven.''
Full story and photo:
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_83596_ENG_HTM.htm
-- The Rev. Mary Frances Schjonberg is national correspondent for the Episcopal News Service.
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