WCC News: WCC Commission on World Mission and Evangelism moderator offers perspectives on the work ahead

 

In a video interview, World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission on World Mission and Evangelism moderator Rev. Michael Blair, who is also general secretary of the United Church of Canada, takes time to offer his perspectives on the work ahead for the commission, as well as his personal formation and approach to his role as moderator.  WCC 22 August 2024 Blair begins by offering his own description of how the commission, since it was first talked about as far back as 1910, has brought together theologians, missiologists, practitioners, mission agencies, and church leadership. Over the years, there have been a number of mission conferences that have focused on various themes. He describes his role of working with the commission to ensure that the body is engaging, and keeping clear in terms of its vision and in the contribution of the ecumenical movement. “I consider myself a product of the mission enterprise,” he says. “I grew up in Jamaica influenced by missionaries.” Through that process, he adds that he has been shaped in terms of his understanding of the gospel as the call of God’s people. “But also I’m aware—as I am of African descent—that the mission enterprise and mission involvement with the colonialism has meant that my experience and the experience of people of African descent have been greatly impacted,” he says. “A number of years ago I had the privilege of working in an agency that was working with street-involved adults in a community that was incredibly influenced by poverty, and that in some ways shifted and reshaped my understanding of mission.” He also describes how his work in building relationships between the United Church of Canada and the larger global community has become critically important in influencing his role as moderator. “There was a recognition at the end of the last commission that there was more significant work that needs to be done around ‘mission from the margin’—and understanding that,” he said. He concludes the video interview discussing how the commission will bring together transformative discipleship, decolonization, and “mission from the margins” to find a way forward in these challenging times. “It’s not about status quo but a continued deepening of the work,” he says. WCC Commission on World Mission and Evangelism WCC photo gallery from the CWME meeting Convening in Kenya, WCC Commission on World Mission and Evangelism maps out work (News Release, 18 July 2024) WCC Commission on World Mission and Evangelism begins work rooted in hope and transformation (WCC news release, 7 July 2024) WCC general secretary to Commission on World Mission and Evangelism: “you are shapers of the next phase of Christian mission” (WCC news release, 6 July 2024) #WCC interview: Rev. Michael Blair, WCC Commission on World Mission and Evangelism See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland