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Relationships, support, and communication
In my perception the key concerns of regional liaison are relationships,
support, and communication. The missional practices most important
are observing, listening, supporting, and learning. We are people
who will have our feet-on-the-ground in the region. We will have
our ears and eyes open to the realities of the context in order
to participate in the elaboration of regional strategies. Our
function is to help bridge the distance between the national offices
in Louisville and the people on the field. Not having responsibility
for decision-making, funds disbursement, or supervision frees
us to be a stronger presence with our partners and a stronger
support for our mission workers.
According to the job description, the responsibilities that WMD
is sharing with regional liaisons are:
- Serve as a facilitator of PC(USA) support for partner programs,
relationships, and activities and as an implementer of regional
strategies.
- Serve as support for Mission Personnel with WMD in communications,
information sharing, mentoring/guiding, encouraging, missiological
reflection.
- Serve as a resource for connection and information between
partner and PC(USA) entities in conjunction with WMD.
Seven key ecumenical centers of excellence
What about my work as theological education consultant for Latin
America? It continues to be my focus. I have discovered that scattered
throughout Latin America there are seven key ecumenical centers
of excellence which offer doctoral, master's, and bachelor's degrees
in theology. They are training professors for theological institutions
on the continent. It is a thrill to be partners with them in God's
mission. In my work with David Maxwell, coordinator of global
education and leadership development, we are in the process of
elaborating a regional strategy for our participation in theological
education in Latin America.
In addition to visits to a few of our 34 mission personnel in
South America, I will continue to visit these centers of excellence
and occasionally teach intensive courses or seminars. I am also
in conversations with them and with the Latin American Council
of Churches (CLAI) about partnership in a publications project.
Sharing grace: The practice of God's mission in
partnership
What about my work as missiological consultant for WMD? It also
continues. The most exciting news is that Geneva Press is publishing
my book Sharing Grace: The Practice of God's Mission in Partnership.
It will help congregations, mission committees, seminarians, pastors,
professors, presbytery partners, mission staff, and mission personnel
understand theologically why and how we practice mission in partnership.
The book contains and explains the new policy statement adopted
by the 2003 General Assembly, "Presbyterians Do Mission in
Partnership." Thank you for praying with me about this publication.
Continue your prayers as I complete the manuscript by September
1. Watch for the release of the book in the spring of 2004.
Another important and pertinent document was adopted by the recent
General Assembly in Denver: "Gathering for God's Future-Witness,
Discipleship, Community: A New Call to Worldwide Mission."
It presents four crucial challenges we face as we join God's mission
in the new century, a statement of our historical Presbyterian
commitments in worldwide mission, and an overview of the dynamics
in the world and church today. Watch for the publication of this
booklet by the end of July and order it for study.
Pray for me and the other new regional liaisons as we observe,
listen, and learn.
Sherron George
The 2003 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 258
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