Change and light: the nature of Mission
I was reading the news on Bonnie Anderson’s trip to Forth Worth. Her support for those who are experiencing difficult times within their diocese is a sign of hope. I’m happy her efforts have strengthened those who understand mission as openness to change the world and themselves.
The strong reactions to her visit by the Diocesan establishment seems to evidence how the theological conflict is overshadowing those who see maintenance of power as the final truth.
As a foreign partner I need to say that I don’t like to reinforce conflict. I respect profoundly the autonomy of each instance within the communion – this is a standard of our tradition. In this way I have no right to make any judgment on the statement made by the diocesan bishop. He has his right to have his own understanding of the right path for his diocese.
What I want to say is that I can’t conceive of Mission without movement. The Way of Jesus is a way of constant movement. Movement from a Jewish background toward a broad perspective. As the Canaanite woman said to him at the event of her possessed daughter, the dogs wait for the crumbs that fall from the table, and Jesus blessed her.
The great richness of a hermeneutic approach to God’s will is to have eyes and ears open to all human needs.
Every baptized person is obligated to be the light of the world. And when there is light, all that is hidden is revealed. Poverty, war, misuse of the environment, exclusion and discrimination due to gender, sexual orientation, and racism are sad marks of our times. Against these marks the Church needs to act courageously and adopt a positive agenda.
My many thanks to Bonnie in her effort to share thoughts and words in a way to lend more confidence and awareness to our ministry as members of Body of Christ. Her actions are expected of her not only because she is a Church leader but also because she is a baptized person.
The strong reactions to her visit by the Diocesan establishment seems to evidence how the theological conflict is overshadowing those who see maintenance of power as the final truth.
As a foreign partner I need to say that I don’t like to reinforce conflict. I respect profoundly the autonomy of each instance within the communion – this is a standard of our tradition. In this way I have no right to make any judgment on the statement made by the diocesan bishop. He has his right to have his own understanding of the right path for his diocese.
What I want to say is that I can’t conceive of Mission without movement. The Way of Jesus is a way of constant movement. Movement from a Jewish background toward a broad perspective. As the Canaanite woman said to him at the event of her possessed daughter, the dogs wait for the crumbs that fall from the table, and Jesus blessed her.
The great richness of a hermeneutic approach to God’s will is to have eyes and ears open to all human needs.
Every baptized person is obligated to be the light of the world. And when there is light, all that is hidden is revealed. Poverty, war, misuse of the environment, exclusion and discrimination due to gender, sexual orientation, and racism are sad marks of our times. Against these marks the Church needs to act courageously and adopt a positive agenda.
My many thanks to Bonnie in her effort to share thoughts and words in a way to lend more confidence and awareness to our ministry as members of Body of Christ. Her actions are expected of her not only because she is a Church leader but also because she is a baptized person.
Comentários