NEWS SNIPPETS
Celebrating Mission Connections The twentieth century saw a massive shift in how the church understood mission. From the early part of the century, when organisations like the British and Foreign Bible Society sent missionaries to the world beyond Europe, the shift in mission came as the church of Europe and America was on the decline and the church in Africa, South America and Asia on the increase. By the end of the century, mission was seen to be local, and what was once the frontier of mission in the Asia-Pacific region became partnerships between the Uniting Church and the churches in those regions. Partnerships involve mutual learning about Jesus in different cultural contexts and sharing in projects together. The South Australian Synod has had partnerships with a number of churches in the Asia-Pacific region. We relate to this region in missional activity because the Basis of Union confessed its belief that ‘Christians in Australia are called to bear witness to a unity of faith and life in Christ which transcends cultural and economic, national and racial boundaries, and to this end the Uniting Church commits itself to seek special relationships with Churches in Asia and the Pacific.’ (Paragraph 2) In 2020, our key partnerships are with the Iksan Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK) and with the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (North and Middle Luzon Jurisdictions). We continue to have relationships with the Gereja Kristen Indonesia (GKI) which is an Evangelical Christian Church in the land of Papua, the Church of Christ in Thailand and the United Church in Papua New Guinea. South Australia has sent over 150 missionaries to overseas countries to share in partnerships, through education, medical help, theological colleges, agriculture and development projects and ministry work. These people are responsible for the strong partnerships we have today and several churches continue to send short-term mission groups for specific work.
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To celebrate these missionaries, a Celebrating Mission Connections event is planned for the afternoon of Sunday 11 October – God and COVID-19 restrictions willing! Past and present missionaries are invited to gather with interested people, to hear and share stories as well as to celebrate 30 years of the PROK partnership. Afternoon tea will be available. For more information, contact Rev Sue Ellis on 0427 162 009.
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