Statement from SAMS/Crosslinks liaison group

28 Nov 2001

In recent months, a Liaison group representing the South America Mission Society [SAMS] and Crosslinks has given detailed consideration to a closer working relationship between the Societies. The Liaison group consulted widely with mission partners, with supporters of the Societies, and with church leaders throughout the world alongside whom we have worked. It submitted its conclusions to the decision-making bodies of the two Societies.

The practical results of these discussions can be summarized as follows:

SAMS and Crosslinks look forward to closer co-operation through task-orientated shared projects for the next three years but do not envisage merging at the present time. We also look forward to closer working with other agencies in responding to new challenges in world mission.

Working Together

SAMS and Crosslinks have a long history of warm and friendly relations. This is natural between two evangelical mission Societies which both prize the Scriptures as God's word, and are part of the fellowship of the Anglican Communion.

We feel eager to take up the many opportunities that exist to work together, sharing our knowledge and experience, and supporting the developing mission of young churches with which we are partnered.

We are determined to get on with working together and a preliminary list of suggested joint activities is being presented to the staff of the two Societies. We remain open as to what might result.

Shared ideas about mission

In the course of its work, the Liaison group explored the ideas about biblical mission which both Societies hold. These ideas about mission underlie what the Societies hope to achieve by working closely together in future.

1. Mission is rooted in the character and purposes of God

We believe that mission is essentially God's mission. God himself took the initiative to win back a spoiled and rebellious world. The Father sent Jesus his Son into the world to pay the price of sin. The Holy Spirit has been sent to bring Jesus' work to bear on the world, and so to fulfil the Father's purpose.

God's missionary activity has created a community of people who have received God's mercy through faith. This community, the Church, shares God's work of reconciling sinful people to himself: Jesus sends us out into every part of the world to be an agent, sign and embodiment of God's coming kingdom.

We can never forget that the mission we are engaged in belongs to God, not us. Mission is as limitless as God's purpose of redemption for his fallen world.

2. Mission is an imperative for all Christians

We believe that God sends all his people out on his mission. No region of the world is specially privileged to send or to receive those engaged in mission: every local church has a responsibility to fulfil this call both in its own area and 'to the ends of the earth'.

In our experience, God has used voluntary mission agencies to promote mission worldwide, especially when the institutional church lacked that vision. These agencies have provided a personalised focus for mission in the south and increasingly now also in the north. We believe that within the body of Christ, such specialist functions contribute to the healthy life and witness of the church.

3. What counts as mission

Fundamental to all mission is the proclamation of what God has done in Christ, to give people everywhere the opportunity to respond to his grace for themselves.

In addition, God sends Christians to bring about reconciliation in every area of life and experience. This makes the field of possible 'mission' very wide indeed: it includes concern for the environment, concern for social and political justice, concern for physical health and for material and intellectual development. Members of our Societies have from time to time found themselves called to work in all of these areas.

Nevertheless most of our work has been in such ministries as evangelism, church-planting, discipling, Bible training, and application of Scriptural teaching in the Church and in the community. As Societies, we believe it is God's call to us to keep these ministries at the head of our priorities.

4. Attitudes to partners

We believe that God will send out mission workers from local churches everywhere: including, increasingly, from the churches of the South. We want to work in fellowship with all whom God sends in mission, and to encourage and strengthen them from our experience and resources.

There is no place for paternalistic or condescending attitudes, nor for pride of culture. Human cultures display both the goodness of God, and the evil of human sin; all mission workers carry with them the excellence and limitations of their own background. Our own methods and ideas require constant correction by the Gospel; and we encourage all Christians to submit to the same discipline.

Our Societies' best work has been done as we have identified closely with the peoples and cultures amongst whom we have worked (often spending many years in one place, learning languages, and building up strong personal relationships). We have traditions of offering ourselves in service to the leadership and members of the emerging churches. We believe that this un-self-seeking way of conducting mission follows the principles and example of the New Testament and is the model we will follow in all our work together.

(From a Contemporary Missiological Statement prepared for the SAMS/Crosslinks Liaison Group.)

28 November 2001