PART ONE: PREFACE BY THE BISHOP continued

1.8 A Theology of Mission

Before moving to the Deanery Mission Plans and details of what is being done and what can be done, it is important to be reminded that mission is God's work and needs to be rooted in theology and the mighty acts of God in bringing salvation to the world. Different strands of the church have traditionally emphasised different events, but a holistic view of mission needs to incorporate them all.[14]

The word mission means sent. God sent his son Jesus Christ into the world, and Jesus sends us. Jesus said, ‘As the Father has sent me, even so I send you’.15 He who was sent by the Father sends us through the power of the Holy Spirit to continue his redeeming and reconciling work. It is helpful to reflect on God’s great love which has been revealed to us.

The Trinity–God's nature is revealed to us as one God, yet three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit who are bound together in a dynamic relationship of love. The Rublev icon of the Holy Trinity depicts three angels sitting on three sides of a table. The front of the table is open to show that we are invited into this loving and mystical relationship. The equality of the three persons is today often seen as a sign that the church should be a community of equals (even though some may have different parts to play) in an open and mutually supportive community.

The Incarnation—His birth at Bethlehem and his ministry to the poor, sick and marginalized challenges us to have a special love for those whom society often rejects.

The Cross—the death of Jesus demonstrates the depth of God's love and the means of our forgiveness and reconciliation.

The Atonement—our unity with God through the saving and redeeming ministry of Jesus.

The Resurrection—the great sign of God's saving grace, and his power to transform people and situations and to oppose the forces of evil.

The Ascension—the ascension of the Risen Christ enables him to be present everywhere as Christ the King. The Church is called to extend Christ's reign through word and deed.

Pentecost—the gift of the Holy Spirit empowers the church to go out in the strength of God. The Spirit brings healing to the sick, leads us into all truth and ‘blows wherever it wills’.

The Parousia—the belief that Christ will come in glory when God's reign will be brought to fulfilment and he will be all in all. Then the mission of the church will be complete.

Our mission is not to preserve an institution, but to seek to further God's mission in the world. He would not have called us, unless he also sent us and empowered us to ‘make disciples of all nations’.16 How we do that in Wales today, and in particular in the Diocese of Monmouth, is the challenge that faces us.

Footnotes

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