The Politics of Mission Cocreating the Kindom of God by Amy Stapleton

Being faithful means taking action. As Christians, our primary citizenship is in God’s creation and the human community. Secondarily, we are citizens of a particular country or region of the world. When I think of the kindom1 of God and the many ways we are called to act out our faith, I believe it is paramount to hold our citizenship in mind. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,”2 and as I continue to learn about my place in the kindom of God, I am beginning to realize that if we do not speak out about all injustices—even those that do not impact us in our particular social location—we effectively harm the body of Christ.

Many other Christians have embraced this thinking as well, and find that their faith calls them to respond to issues of justice. Rather than waiting for political structures to meet health, educational or other service needs, Christians are taking action in mission projects, and participating in the faithful work of cocreation in the kindom of God.

Mission asks us to think about what should be created, as well as how it should be created. Read more in the full text of this article about the multifaceted approaches to mission and the ways that many mission projects focus on cocreation.

Call (800) 524-2612 or subscribe to Horizons or order the May/June 2008 issue (HZN-08-220; $4 plus shipping).

Amy Stapleton is the national field organizer for the Methodist Federation for Social Action and an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church. Having spent time in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Israel, Palestine and India, she currently lives in Washington DC.

Notes
1 The use of “kindom,” rather than “kingdom,” is to convey a more inclusive vision of community.
2 Letter from Birmingham jail, April 16, 1963.

Illustration by Annie Franklin/MicahChallenge.org

Other Articles Online This Issue

Devotional
A New Day and a New World
Presbyterian Politics in Action
What Does the Church Say?
Celebrating 100 Years of Social Awareness
Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans
Interview with Cindy Ryu (English)
The Politics of Mission
Blessings without Boundaries
Dispatch from Forbearance Presbyterian Church
Mosaic
Nurturing Faith
Faithful Parenting
Strengthening the PC(USA)


Mission asks us to think about what should be created, as well as how it should be created. Read more in the full text of this article about the multifaceted approaches to mission and the ways that many mission projects focus on cocreation. Call (800) 524-2612 or subscribe to Horizons or order the May/June 2008 issue (HZN-08-220; $4 plus shipping).	The Politics of Mission Cocreating the Kindom of God by Amy Stapleton Being faithful means taking action. As Christians, our primary citizenship is in God’s creation and the human community. Secondarily, we are citizens of a particular country or region of the world. When I think of the kindom1 of God and the many ways we are called to act out our faith, I believe it is paramount to hold our citizenship in mind. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,”2 and as I continue to learn about my place in the kindom of God, I am beginning to realize that if we do not speak out about all injustices—even those that do not impact us in our particular social location—we effectively harm the body of Christ. Many other Christians have embraced this thinking as well, and find that their faith calls them to respond to issues of justice. Rather than waiting for political structures to meet health, educational or other service needs, Christians are taking action in mission projects, and participating in the faithful work of cocreation in the kindom of God. Mission asks us to think about what should be created, as well as how it should be created. Read more in the full text of this article about the multifaceted approaches to mission and the ways that many mission projects focus on cocreation. Call (800) 524-2612 or subscribe to Horizons or order the May/June 2008 issue (HZN-08-220; $4 plus shipping). Amy Stapleton is the national field organizer for the Methodist Federation for Social Action and an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church. Having spent time in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Israel, Palestine and India, she currently lives in Washington DC. Notes 1 The use of “kindom,” rather than “kingdom,” is to convey a more inclusive vision of community. 2 Letter from Birmingham jail, April 16, 1963. Illustration by Annie Franklin/MicahChallenge.org Other Articles Online This Issue Devotional A New Day and a New World Presbyterian Politics in Action What Does the Church Say? Celebrating 100 Years of Social Awareness Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans Interview with Cindy Ryu (English) The Politics of Mission Blessings without Boundaries Dispatch from Forbearance Presbyterian Church Mosaic Nurturing Faith Faithful Parenting Strengthening the PC(USA)	Current Issue MAY/JUNE 2008 About This Issue Contents FREE Resource How to Use In Our Next Issue Items underlined can be seen in this Web site, all others appear in the May/June 2008 (HZN-08-220) issue of Horizons magazine. to Horizons, call (800) 524-2612 or this issue ($4 plus shipping/handling)

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