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Meeting Considers Future Direction for Covenant World Mission
CHICAGO, IL (May 30, 2002) - Leaders from every region of the Evangelical
Covenant Church's worldwide ministries met in Minneapolis last week to
discuss future direction for the Department of World Mission following the
resignation of its executive minister Jim Gustafson.
The following summary of that meeting was drafted by regional coordinators,
church relations staff, international facilitators, the coordinator of
missionary services and Department of World Mission staff.
World Mission Meeting Summary
On May 22 and 23, the Regional Coordinators and other personnel of the
Department of World Mission (DWM) met in Minneapolis with President Glenn
Palmberg, Executive Vice President Donn Engebretson, Director of
Finance/Controller Elliott Johnson and World Mission Committee Chair
Catherine Gilliard to discuss the present and future direction of Covenant
World Mission.
Those present at the meeting desired to build together on Jim Gustafson's
bold leadership in the DWM's strategic goals for:
- Growing partnerships with national churches
- Planting contextualized churches
- Enabling holistic ministries
- Grassroots leadership development
- Creative new models of ministries
The process of affirming local church initiatives in mission and connecting
that vision with the efforts of the DWM has been key in all the strategic
directions. Everyone present was encouraged by the increased involvement of
the churches in support of the current direction of the DWM. This direction
has led to expanded mission. This confirms that God provides resources for
the accomplishment of his work.
Beginning in 1998, the desire of the Board of World Mission was to
recognize and understand the movement of God, prepare for it and move with
it. The DWM and its board courageously addressed static mission by
promoting dynamic new initiatives worldwide. The Board mandated that Jim
Gustafson and the DWM use World Mission bequest funds and other
unrestricted funds to empower new and worthy mission initiatives around the
world. (A representative list of projects and their rationale is available
upon request.) These actions required substantial expenditures of the World
Mission extra budgetary funds.
Elliott Johnson, director of finance/controller, presented a detailed
report on the recent history and current financial status of the department
and implications for future direction were discussed.
The report confirmed steady growth in the budget of the DWM and a
decreasing level of available World Mission bequest funds and unrestricted
funds. The group recognized the need to continue to seek, find and deploy
new resources for increased mission around the world particularly since
coordinated budget support for the DWM has historically not been sufficient
to sustain mission operations. A lengthy discussion of timely and
appropriate ways to address this reality ensued.
President Palmberg invited the mission personnel present to recommend
potential candidates for an interim executive minister. The Executive Board
will appoint an interim until the Annual Meeting elects the new executive
minister for World Mission.
The group agreed to meet again to continue the dialogue.
Regional Coordinators
Church Relations
International Facilitators
Coordinator of Missionary Services
Department of World Mission
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