wfn.org | Episcopal Partnership in Global Mission

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For more information contact:
James Solheim
jsolheim@dfms.org
212/922-5385
http://www.ecusa.anglican.org/ens

2000-095

10-year effort culminates in new global mission partnership

by Margaret S. Larom

     (ENS) Representatives of 51 mission organizations in 
the Episcopal Church in the United States have officially 
launched the Episcopal Partnership in Global Mission 
(EPGM), culminating 10 years of work in building 
relationships and solidarity for the world mission 
enterprise.  

     The leaders of sending, funding, education and prayer 
organizations met at Ridgecrest, North Carolina, April 24-
26 and inaugurated the new partnership with a service of 
remembrance, thanksgiving, and praise. At the offertory 
during the Eucharist, they carried out the annual signing 
of the covenants approved in 1990 when the mission 
leadership first came together as the Episcopal Council for 
Global Mission (ECGM). Many present had been founding 
members of the original fellowship, and emotions were high 
as they reaffirmed their commitment not only to the 
covenants but also to their joint efforts in international 
Anglican mission.

     The evolution from "council" to "partnership" 
represents six years of effort to draw diverse mission 
efforts into a recognized relationship with General 
Convention and Executive Council. The 1994 General 
Convention called for a comprehensive theology, strategy, 
and structure for the church's international mission work. 
A working group that included members of the Standing 
Commission on World Mission and the ECGM offered the 1997 
General Convention a partnership model. This was approved 
in a slightly modified form, and a new working group, 
consisting of representatives of the Standing Commission, 
ECGM, and the Executive Council, created a plan that was 
approved by all concerned during various meetings last 
year.

     The member organizations represent divergent 
theologies, methods, and spheres of influence, but they all 
believe in presenting a united witness to the importance of 
global mission in the life of the church. They meet 
annually, work by consensus, and entrust the choice of 
steering committee members to the Holy Spirit by choosing 
volunteers' names out of a hat. 

     They always have an international Anglican partner 
present: This year, EPGM's guest was the Rev. Boanerges 
Rosa Romero, director of the Center for Theological 
Education for the Central American Anglican Province, based 
in El Salvador.

     Over the next year, the group will focus on 
formulating mutually agreed-upon standards so that all 
missionaries sent by member organizations may officially be 
recognized as missionaries of the Episcopal Church. 
Insurance and liability issues will be tackled as part of 
the process.  Other immediate goals are to encourage the 
receiving of missionaries from the wider Communion, and to 
promote mission education by various means throughout the 
church.

     For more information, visit the EPGM web site: 
www.ecusa.anglican.org/epgm.html.

--Margaret S. Larom is director of mission interpretation 
for the Office of Anglican and Global Relations at the 
Episcopal Church Center in New York.