The Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACoM) has convened a pivotal symposium aimed at collectively discussing and setting the new direction for its mission in the coming years. The Most Reverend Leonard Dawea, Archbishop of Melanesia, delivered a powerful keynote address, emphasizing the symposium as a “gift of space made possible to talk mission together as a church”.
The symposium, which emerged from a resolution at the 2023 General Synod, addresses the previous challenge of discussing mission “in isolation and really together as a church”. Its core purpose is to allow for “more open discussion on mission” and to determine whether a comprehensive “mission review” is needed. The outcomes of this gathering are expected to be summarized in a communique that will “set the bearing for the new direction of our mission”.
“Looking back and looking ahead” serves as the pivotal guiding theme for the symposium. Archbishop Dawea highlighted this theme as a means to “celebrating our golden past, serving our present, and envisioning our future”.
Historical Foundations Guiding ACoM’s Mission: Archbishop Dawea underscored that all missions by Christian churches and agencies, including ACoM’s own, originate from the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:19-20. He paid utmost respect to the pioneer missionaries whose vision and faith established a legacy of mission, service, scholarship, and spiritual strength. The Church’s mission approaches have been historically guided by Bishop Selwyn’s relational philosophies, which include:
True religion: Making disciples.
Sound learning: Having proper and holy instructions.
Useful industry: Being present and available to the needy through mission programs. These philosophies have guided ACoM through its 126-year Pre-autonomous era and 50 years of its autonomous mission journey. ACoM also adheres to the Five Marks of Mission adopted from the Anglican Communion, which include:
Spreading the good news of Jesus Christ; Being Christ-like in thought, word, and action; Worshipping God in spirit and truth; Demonstrating God’s love by responding to human needs in loving service; Caring for the environment or creation.
Evolving Priorities and Future Direction: The symposium is tasked with assessing if current mission programs are “conducive for our context”, especially given that many programs “are not being rolled out effectively either due to lack of financial resources or trained human resource personnel’s”. There is concern that the mission currently concentrates “more on training than actual mission proper,” risking the church becoming “trapped in its own mission approach”.
Key evolving priorities include:
Re-engagement in Healthcare and Education: While ACoM historically surrendered many schools and healthcare facilities, there’s a resolution from the 2017 General Synod to “engage fully again on health care” and renewed efforts in mission through education.
Addressing Membership Decline: A critical focus is understanding why Anglican members are “slipping to the other churches” and questioning if ACoM’s missions still possess “spiritual impetus and the relevancy to our members”.
Tackling Contemporary Social Issues: The Church aims to address “increasing ongoing and emerging social issues” affecting women, youth, children, and those with disabilities, such as high levels of littering (in contrast to the fifth mark of mission), increasing drug use and trafficking, negative impacts of logging and mining, youth issues like fraud and cyberbullying, and persistent domestic violence and abuse.
Integrated Partnership in Mission: ACoM recognizes the need to “engage in mission partnership with other stakeholders”. Examples include collaborations with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services on mental health, Honiara City Council on littering, and the Ministry of Women, Youth and Children on respective issues. The Church also aims to lobby governments on national and domestic issues affecting the people.
Looking ahead, ACoM’s mission priorities will focus on “educating minds, shaping character, and building communities”. The vision is for a future where mission “transforms lives, saves society, and the young leaders rise to illuminate our world”.
Archbishop Dawea called for active participation from all attendees, acknowledging them as “missionaries and disciples of Jesus Christ”. He concluded by stating, “We are on course on a special and a crucial journey of our mission as we stand at the end of an era and to begin another”.