THEOLOGY OF MISSION
PRESBYTERY OF CHICAGO

Last July our Moderator, Marj Carpenter captured the imagination of the
207th General Assembly with her phrase "Mission Matters." She has been, ever
since, a refreshing and very important voice reminding the entire Presbyterian
family that while we are arguing with one another about the boundaries of the
Reformed Tradition, who will be ordained, and where ail the money went, vital
mission has been going on ~ all over the world: the mission of Jesus Christ,
carried out by Presbyterian mission workers, representing the Presbyterian
people and supported by their dollars.

In fact Moderator Carpenter’s personal mission has been to remind al] of
us that when we reduce our support for Presbyterian mission, the effect of
that reduction is felt not just in an office in Louisville, but in a clinic in
Pakistan, a church in Guatemala, a theological seminary in Bangkok, or - a
settlement house on the West Side, a congregation in the suburbs, a youth
program in the inner city.

Mission is what we are about. What we are for as a church. The mission
of Jesus Christ is what we share regardless of our theological or ideological
posture.

As we have looked at the responsibility of providing for the mission of
Jesus Christ through the programs of the Presbytery of Chicago some of us have
been concerned that at the moment of greatest need and greatest opportunity we
seem to have less and Jess resources. We’re concerned because while
Presbyterians have more - and give more than ever, they seem reluctant to be

in mission together as a church - as a Presbyterian family. Some of us aren’t

sure what it means to be a Presbyterian Church, if we do not share some common
definitions of our mission and some concrete, practical commitment to it.

And so we suggested, and the Presbytery agreed, that our first priority
was to talk to one another about the theology of mission - before we talk
about the doliars.

Our suggestion was that we listen, as a Presbytery, over an extended
period of time, to people who are involved in mission and people who care
reflect theologically on mission: that we talk to one another about what we
are hearing, and that we listen, very carefully to one another. Our
assumption is that each of us cares very deeply about mission and that we have
things to say to one another that we need to hear.

And so that is what we are beginning tonight.

In groups of 3 or 4 please talk to one another about two questions -

1. What theological/biblical value should inform the Presbytery’s thinking
of mission?

At the 206th General Assembly the phrase "theology matters” gained some
notoriety. This is an exercise in theology matters; in doing theology
together as a people.

What theological/biblical value should inform the Presbytery’s thinking
of mission -

-is in God’s love

-is it justice of God's reign

-is it the cal] to go into all nations and baptize

and

2. What mission commitments should guide the Presbytery’s future ministry?

This is strategy - after we have talked about the Why? of mission, we
turn to where -

-new Church Developments

-Church redevelopments

-Start a school

-Build a clinic

-Begin a street ministry dream/vision

We hope you will write about these questions and your answers will help
us plan the next five Presbytery meetings.

Something important is going on in the world ... something described
eloquently by the prophet

“Jo not remember the former days,

Behold I am doing a new thing.

Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?”

It’s a question of mission theology and mission strategy.

Have fun - talk about minutes.