I am finally getting used to this routine - sleeping until a semi-normal hour of the day, and the days at the convention centre seem to have kind of a rhythm to them now. I will be an expert at this just as it's time to come home...
It was a good day today - we are really getting into the meat/tofu (take your pick) of the assembly. The first plenary session this morning was focused on a new document the WCC has put together on mission - Together Towards Life: Mission and Evangelism in Changing Landscapes. I will be the first to admit that the concept of evangelism can make me a bit uncomfortable, but there are some interesting things in this document. It talks about how what we proclaim must match how we live out our lives ("practice what you preach," if you will) and that eco-justice should be a big part of mission.
The part that stood out the most for me is a paradigm shift in the way we think about mission. We often think of "missionaries" from the west/north going to the south, but this document talks about "mission from the margins." It says:
I attended a workshop this afternoon to learn about a dialogue process that has been taking place since the last assembly between European and Latin American churches. These two groups had some disagreements at the last assembly about globalization, so they took it upon themselves to begin a dialogue process to work through some of these issues. Quite neat to see how common ground can be found when we sit down and talk to one another, but amazing to think of the effort required just to agree on something like definitions.
At a second workshop this afternoon, we met in regional groups to discuss what churches might do to counter "the spirituality of consumerism." As you can well imagine, this is a difficult question in the North American context. As one member of our group (an American with roots in India) pointed out, shopping is a hobby in North America. We talked about how education and advocacy would be important, and how small steps could be encouraged - things like ethical investing, and using credit unions (my "socialist banker" husband will be so pleased!).
All in all, a full and thought-provoking day. It occurred to me at one point that I am quite amazed that in all of the organized chaos, and in all of the people, relationships that are actually able to develop. The first few days, it seemed like I was meeting someone new every five minutes and then not seeing them again. But now, with my Bible study group that I see every day, with the group with whom I spent the weekend in Seoul - it is amazing that in so big a group, it is possible to get to know people quite well. Cool. I had imagined that I was going to get a lot out of this experience, but I did not anticipate this.
It was a good day today - we are really getting into the meat/tofu (take your pick) of the assembly. The first plenary session this morning was focused on a new document the WCC has put together on mission - Together Towards Life: Mission and Evangelism in Changing Landscapes. I will be the first to admit that the concept of evangelism can make me a bit uncomfortable, but there are some interesting things in this document. It talks about how what we proclaim must match how we live out our lives ("practice what you preach," if you will) and that eco-justice should be a big part of mission.
The part that stood out the most for me is a paradigm shift in the way we think about mission. We often think of "missionaries" from the west/north going to the south, but this document talks about "mission from the margins." It says:
People on the margins have agency, and can often see what, from the centre, is out of view. People on the margins, living in vulnerable positions, often know what exclusionary forces are threatening their survival and can best discern the urgency of their struggles; people in positions of privilege have much to learn from the daily struggles of people living in marginal conditions.Cool, eh?
I attended a workshop this afternoon to learn about a dialogue process that has been taking place since the last assembly between European and Latin American churches. These two groups had some disagreements at the last assembly about globalization, so they took it upon themselves to begin a dialogue process to work through some of these issues. Quite neat to see how common ground can be found when we sit down and talk to one another, but amazing to think of the effort required just to agree on something like definitions.
At a second workshop this afternoon, we met in regional groups to discuss what churches might do to counter "the spirituality of consumerism." As you can well imagine, this is a difficult question in the North American context. As one member of our group (an American with roots in India) pointed out, shopping is a hobby in North America. We talked about how education and advocacy would be important, and how small steps could be encouraged - things like ethical investing, and using credit unions (my "socialist banker" husband will be so pleased!).
All in all, a full and thought-provoking day. It occurred to me at one point that I am quite amazed that in all of the organized chaos, and in all of the people, relationships that are actually able to develop. The first few days, it seemed like I was meeting someone new every five minutes and then not seeing them again. But now, with my Bible study group that I see every day, with the group with whom I spent the weekend in Seoul - it is amazing that in so big a group, it is possible to get to know people quite well. Cool. I had imagined that I was going to get a lot out of this experience, but I did not anticipate this.
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