In June delegates from 31 member bodies and ecumenical guests met as CWM’s 2009 Assembly in Mamallapuram, just south of Chennai, India, where they were generously hosted by the Church of South India and CWM’s South Asia Region.
INDIA – A MICROCOSM OF THE WORLD
As they enjoyed lavish hospitality, they were keenly aware of the contrast between their comfortable surroundings and the realities of life for most of the billion people who live on the Indian sub-continent.
This sense of contradiction was reinforced when they visited community schemes supported by the Church of South India.
CWM is called to partnership in Christ to mutually challenge, encourage, and equip churches to share in God’s mission. These projects, which included work with rural Dalit communities, children affected by HIV and AIDS, slum dwellers in Chennai, agricultural development, women’s microcredit schemes, and people from the alienated transgender community, drew from them an awareness of potential new mission frontiers within their own countries and contexts.
The daily worship reflected many facets of Indian Christian spirituality. Studying the Bible in the light of the issues arising from their visits, offered them fresh and critical thinking. Together with the stories of mission they shared from their own regional contexts, such as the South Asia region's work to stamp out human trafficking, reminded them again and again that life is potentially rich, yet fragile and ambiguous.
The deep contradictions faced on their shared journey of mission were constantly before them. They recognised India to be a microcosm of the world and prayed that, propelled by God’s Spirit, they might be strengthened to identify and engage with the complexities of life in their home communities.
The Bible study, worship and the mission stories provided the context from which they launched the theme for the Assembly and for CWM for the next three years – “Live the Good News”.
In his address, general secretary Rev Dr Des van der Water reminded the delegates that “nothing is real until it is local”. The challenge to make the good news a characteristic of our lifestyle was also explored by retiring Moderator, Rev Dr Roderick Hewitt.
The challenge now stands for us all to seek ways to be a partnership where churches can share resources and act together so that all members can become local expressions of the good news we have come to know through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.