wfn.org | [ENS] World Mission Sunday: money matters mulled (Daybook)

["Matthew Davies" <mdavies@mail.epicom.org>]

Daybook, from Episcopal News Service

January 31, 2005 - Monday Mission

World Mission Sunday: money matters mulled

[ENS] Honoring a commitment made by General Convention in 1997
(Resolution
A205) to augment the church's awareness of and participation in world
mission, World Mission Sunday will be observed throughout the Episcopal
Church on February 6 under the theme "Treasuring the Communion."

The Episcopal Church's World Mission Interpretation and Networks office
is
once again offering resources to help congregations celebrate World
Mission
Sunday. Materials have been mailed to congregations and world mission
networks, and are available online at:
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/agr/wmsunday. A Spanish translation of
the
covering letter and poster, Día de Misión Mundial, is available
online at:
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/1649_54656_ENG_HTM.htm.

This year's theme will take a look at the role and importance of money
in
global mission. In the 2005 program letter, Margaret Larom, recently
appointed director of Anglican and Global Relations (AGR), said that "at
the
national level, one quarter of our church's annual budget is devoted to
nurturing global mission and Anglican relationships -- a total of $6.6
million."

Approximately 16 percent of AGR's budget supports missionaries who go
out
from the USA, another 31 percent supports the clergy, laity and bishops
of
the Episcopal Church's 12 overseas dioceses and jurisdictions, and the
rest
goes to provide base budget support for Anglican provinces, covenants,
and
agencies such as the Anglican Communion Office.

"This is serious money," Larom said, "...but it's only a fraction of
what
Episcopalians contribute to God's work in the world," citing
approximately
$3 million that is collected for the United Thank Offering per annum,
and
the generosity of Episcopalians' response to emergencies through
Episcopal
Relief and Development.

"Still, this is only a small part of the story," Larom added. "Almost
all of
our dioceses have companion relationships with dioceses (or even whole
provinces) elsewhere in the Anglican Communion. Commitments of cash are
usually significant, but more important is the traveling back and forth
to
get to know each other, the sharing of time to build a vision, the
working
side by side to realize dreams of a better world."

For six years, AGR has produced posters and other resources for World
Mission Sunday. The website, www.episcopalchurch.org/agr/wmsunday,
includes
not only the resources for "Treasuring the Communion" but also all
materials
prepared for previous themes. They can be used at any time - the themes
are
timeless, and the resources are not dated. Large full-color posters can
be
obtained from Episcopal Parish Services, 1.800.903.5544; the rest of the
material can be downloaded from the website and duplicated at will.
Bulletin
shells and inserts, homiletical notes for sermon preparation, and other
helpful items are also available.

For further information please contact: Tracy Andres, 212.716.6226;
email:
tandres@episcopalchurch.org

Looking ahead:

Every year on Good Friday, pilgrims from all over the world gather to
walk
along the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem. Some carry a cross, to understand
better the nature of the burden that Jesus bore. Others accompany them,
as
witnesses, as penitents, as believers.

Since 1922, Episcopalians in the US have supported the ministries of the
Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East through the Good
Friday
Offering.

Further information about the Good Friday offering can be found online
at:
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/1649_1669_ENG_HTM.htm.