World Mission Network Convocation Summary

From Joanna Shreve & Jerry Drino:

We had some great conversation at the World Mission Network Convocation this past Saturday at Church of the Good Shepherd in Salinas. Canon Jesus Reyes shared about his experiences as a missionary in Mexico and Brazil and how those experiences have helped form his approach to missionary work and to evangelism and congregational development. To sum up his message (which does not begin to do it justice!), he encouraged us to be open to imagining -- to remove preconceived ideas and stereotypes and, instead, be receptive to new and different understandings and experiences.

The Rev. Amy Denny-Zuniga and her husband, Vincent, shared about their three year experience as missionaries in El Salvador. It was hearing their stories that we found ourselves talking about "pilgrimages" rather than mission trips. Americans often find that visiting and living in third world countries can be such a shock because of the extreme poverty and hunger usually so prevalent. As we try to integrate ourselves into these communities, what is it that we bring and what is it that we can learn about ourselves and what is it that we can bring back to our home communities? Pilgrimages are transformational experiences and we need to pay attention to "re-entry" into our home communities for those who go on mission trips.

The Rev. Jerry Drino presented some thoughts and questions about the shift in our understanding of the meaning of mission for today. There has been a distortion in the past with the belief that mission was taking something to some people who did not have what we have. This is the "Imperial Attitude of Mission." From the teachings of Jesus it is clear that mission is God's Mission. Our vocation, if we chose it, is to arrive at the place where God's Mission is most likely to be experienced. Jesus gave a clear indication of where this might be when he said, "I was hungry and you feed me, naked and you clothed me, thirsty and young gave me to drink, in prison and you visited me..." Jerry talked about the Hawaiian concept of enlightenment called A'o aku a'o mai" which comes as a reciprocal experience of interaction between people, something that is discovered together and between each other. What is in the midst of such relationships is the Kingdom of God, Jesus' term for God's Mission.

The Rev. Jerry Drino closed out the day with a conversation around what some of our next steps might be as a network of people dedicated to promoting mission outreach. We hope to be on the schedule of the visiting bishops from our companion dioceses in September and we want to invite those who go on our summer mission trips to share their experiences with us, and hopefully support them in their "re-entry" back into our communities.

This March 2009 Convocation was prayerful, joyful and inspiring. We look forward to inviting you all to future convocations.