MISSION CONGRESS REPORT - …

1 The fundamental role of the Listening Committee was to consolidate the message that comes from the CONGRESS and to draft the MISSION Charter THE METHODIST CHURCH OF SOUTHERN AFRICA. which was meant to be one of the outcomes of the CONGRESS . MISSION CONGRESS 2004. CONTENTS. NOTE: Kindly note that this document should be read in conjunction with the MISSION Charter in order to provide information about the decisions taken at the MISSION CONGRESS . The next document in the pipeline deals with Strategic Planning 1. INTRODUCTION. and will be more of a Guideline document which will provide time frames for specific objectives. This will be sent out in Feb/ March. The final document which 2. MISSION CONGRESS CHARTER. contains all the information about the MISSION CONGRESS will be sent out hopefully in May 2005. Please do not hesitate to contact the MISSION Unit for more information. 3. MISSION CONGRESS KEY OBJECTIVES. 4. THE FOUR PILLARS.

2 Spirituality Evangelism and Church Growth Justice and Service Development and economic Empowerment 5. COMMITTEES. Steering Committee Listening Committee 12 1. 1. Introduction 5. COMMITTEES. After a lengthy debate on the Vernon Rose Impact Assessment which THE STEERING COMMITEE. was tabled by the MISSION Unit at Conference 2003 in Pretoria, the idea of a MISSION CONGRESS was mooted. The Impact Assessment was The following members were elected, commissioned by the MISSION Unit in an attempt to establish the 1. Presiding Bishop (chair), effectiveness of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa in MISSION . 2. MISSION Unit Director, The REPORT applauded the MCSA for its powerful Vision and MISSION 3. Bishop Bill Meaker, statements, A Christ Healed Africa for the Healing of Nations , and 4. Mr Ivan Saamdaam, God calls the Methodist people to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ 5. Ms Sue Pretorius, for Healing and transformation - as well as a sound MISSION Strategy 6.

3 Ms Val Pauquet comprising four MISSION Imperatives, namely: 7. The General Secretary of Conference and the Director of EMMU were co- co- opted. Spirituality Justice Service and Reconciliation THE LISTENING COMMITTEE. Evangelism and Church growth Development and Economic Empowerment The steering committee also appointed people to serve in the Listening Committee for the CONGRESS . The following names were appointed;. The REPORT concluded that while the MCSA had a MISSION framework in place, there was no appropriate Implementation Plan. It was as a result of Rev Vido Nyobole (chair). the Impact Assessment that our Conference resolved that a MISSION Presiding bishop CONGRESS should be convened in 2004. Bishop Gavin Taylor MISSION Unit Director General Secretary of Conference The fundamental purpose of the MISSION CONGRESS was laid down clearly Rev Sephapho Sephapho by our Conference as follows; Prof Simphiwe Mini The purpose of the MISSION should be to identify obstacles to MISSION -and provide Prof Steve Hendricks appropriate solutions (Year Book, 2004 : 37.)

4 Ms Sue Pretorius Ms Paddy Brauteseth Ms Zodwa Memela-Kutu In an attempt to give effect to this resolution, the MISSION Unit consulted with the Mr Ivan Samdaam Bishops and all the Unit leaders to determine the process to be followed that Rev Lauren Matthew would ensure that we all sang from the same hymn sheet. The first meeting Xolani Tutu involving all our districts was held in Mthatha where it was unanimously agreed that a Steering Committee should be elected to take the process forward. 2 11. MONITORING. Conference All our Districts were asked through their synods, to identify obstacles and solutions Bishops to MISSION and to submit them to the MISSION Unit. These submissions were then tabled before the Bishop's meeting and divided into topics that would constitute the agenda for the MISSION CONGRESS . Out of this process sixteen topics were extracted which formed the main agenda for the CONGRESS . In addition, a list of To be deter mined by the Conference resolutions which had been referred to the MISSION CONGRESS for appropriate responses, was also incorporated.

5 These topics were then collated Strategic Planning under each relevant MISSION Imperatives, and Co-ordinators and Facilitators were DEVELOPM ENT AND ECONOM IC EMPOWERMENT. appointed for each of the four Imperatives. document TIME LINE. THE MISSION CHARTER. The MISSION Charter was drafted by the Listening Committee and was presented before the CONGRESS during the closing ceremonies and according to plan - Bishops & MISSION Unit &. officially signed by the Presiding Bishop. Copies of the MISSION Charter were distributed in Mthatha and further copies were sent to all the delegates and Facilitators via the Office of the Presiding Bishop. RESPONSIBILITY. Ministers EMMU. THE NEXT STEP. Many people were concerned that the process should not collapse after so much work had been done. The MISSION Unit Steering Committee was asked to Intentionally encourage To encourage be quests and Biblical Material for programmes & projects To develop Theological strengthen Ecumenical take the process forward in order to keep the fire burning.

6 This booklet comes to people to invest their to ensure sustainable Develop Advocacy you as part of our strategy to maintain the momentum. The responses from the use of MCSA Land our members and time, energy and finances with the CONGRESS will be taken to Conference in 2005 for ratification. to the Church. ACTIONS. relations Church Sustainable Livelihood To identify Land for sacrificial giving commitment to To promote OBJECTIVE. 10 3. Presiding Bishop, CE/. Bishops & Synods THE ROLE OF DISTRICTS. MONITORING. Conference Conference It is incumbent upon all our districts to keep the flame burning by communicating the outcomes of the CONGRESS so that Societies and Circuits should be in tune with the outcomes and the on-going process of the MISSION CONGRESS . A suggestion was made that districts should organize their own MISSION Congresses in order to To be deter mined by the ignite the fire in their areas. It is hoped that Districts will implement this decision which will significantly impact their MISSION work.

7 The doors are open to all our Strategic document districts should they need support. I want to take this opportunity once more to express my sincerest gratitude to the Presiding Bishop, to all our Bishops, Steering Committee, the Listening Committee, TIME LINE. the Bishop of the Clarkebury District, the Logistics Committee, the Co-ordinators, the Facilitators, the staff of the MISSION Unit, and to all the volunteers for putting their full weight behind this important event in the life of the MCSA, and for JUSTICE & SERVICE. making it a wonderful success. I also want to thank all the members of our Church Presiding Bishop, Bishops Bishops & District MISSION who prayed fervently for the CONGRESS . I trust that every Methodist throughout our Connexion will strive to become a Bishops & Circuit RESPONSIBILITY. missioner, and thus be an agent of transformation. Let us respond with a resounding yes! to our Presiding Bishop who asks whether history will judge the Secretaries & Ministers Stewards MISSION CONGRESS as a watershed moment in which the Church was restored and the flame re-ignited in the hearts of the people called Methodist.

8 God bless you and to set target s as well encouraged to establish cross racial relationships measurements for each implement appropriate actions for the context and projects that build Multi-disciplinary HIV &. role of the church on Develop programmes stationing of ministers Revive the prophetic existing structures for critical social issues Alleviation Group to or strengthen similar Move towards truly through non-racial integrated circuits as performance Gcobani G. M. Vika AIDS & Pov erty Each District Director : MISSION Unit. ACTIONS. district. Date : 25 January 2005. Box 75476. To become a Church in solidarity with the poor response to HIV & Aids forms of discrimination To develop a vigorous GARDENVIEW. sexism, and all other To combat racism, 2047. TEL : 011- 615 0729/ 32/ 45. OBJECTIVE. 4 9. Connexional Yout h Co- Synods & MISSION Unit CHARTER OF THE MISSION CONGRESS OF THE MCSA. ADOPTED IN MTHATHA IN NOVEMBER 2004. Supts & Bishops &.

9 Presiding Bishop Where there is no vision the people perish. MONITORING. Where there is no passion the vision dies. Conference God has given us the vision of ordinator "A Christ healed Africa for the healing of nations". We have been challenged to share more deeply God's passion for healing and transformation. As members of the Methodist family, we came to Mthatha to face this challenge. We found direction as the Holy Spirit inspired us to continue To be det ermined by the the pilgrimage which has led us through Obedience 81 and the Journey to the New Land to the present day. Strategic Planning We recognize the vital importance of the local church and rejoice in the many circuits and societies where life-giving MISSION is taking place. In trust and obedience we commit ourselves anew to the four imperatives for MISSION in our time document A deepened Spirituality as individuals and a Christian Community. TIME LINE. EVANGEL I SM AND CHURCH GROWTH.

10 Justice and Service in Church and Society. Evangelism and Church growth which build up the people of God. Empowerment and Development which give dignity and new purpose to those who have been deprived. We resolve to take intentional and sustained action to implement these imperatives in such areas as: Bishop & District MISSION The Healing Ministry. person appointed by Deepening our understanding of African and other Spiritualities. the District Executive EMMU & MISSION Unit Co-ordinated programmes for Christian Education, Secretary or other information and communication. Building meaningful relationships that transcend racism, RESPONSIBILITY. sexism and all other forms of discrimination. Local Ministry A vigorous response to the crisis of HIV and AIDS. Informing our prophetic ministry by research into socio-economic issues. Identifying land for sustainable livelihood. Sacrificial giving. Becoming a church in solidarity with the poor.