The 2015 GEMN Global Mission Conference took place from May 6th to 8th in beautiful Atlanta, Georgia. See below for photos, materials and reviews of the conference.
Highlights from Plenary Speakers:
- Keynote Address and Plenary by The Rev. Canon Dr. Titus Presler
The Rev. Canon Dr. Titus Presler, pastor, scholar, former missionary to Zimbabwe and Principal-in-Exile of Edwardes College in Peshawar, Pakistan, shared his insights on Christian mission in a Muslim context in his plenary address, “Rubbish of the World: Cruciform Mission Amid Muslim Pressure”.
Dr. Presler’s address – Click on the expand button for fullscreen viewing – Use right and left arrows to turn pages
- Dr. Presler’s Keynote Address (PDF)
- http://www.internationalbulletin.org/issues/2015-02/2015-02-072-presler.html
- http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2014-08/persecuted-Pakistan
- Keynote Address and Plenary by Bishop Gayle Harris
The Rt. Rev. Gayle Harris is Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of Massachusetts, and a powerful advocate and model for global reconciliation, women’s ordination, and social justice throughout the Anglican Communion. In her plenary address, “Encountering God in the Manifesto of Justice”, she challenged us to look with new eyes on the realities of our Anglican brothers and sisters living in Palestine and throughout the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem.
- Keynote Address and Plenary by Bishop Santosh Marray
The Rt. Rev. Santosh Marray, Assistant Bishop to the Diocese of Alabama has the distinction of being the first West Indian of East Indian ancestry to be elected and consecrated bishop in the Anglican Communion, and to serve as bishop in the eastern and western hemispheres. In his plenary address, “Mission Imperatives: A Bridge to Peace and Reconciliation in Anglican Witness”, Bishop Marray described the unique gifts and role of Anglicans in global peacebuilding and reconciliation.
Conference Materials:
Workshop Materials:
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- Mobilizing Community from Within: Empowering People Through Asset-Based Community Development – Chad Brinkman
- Beyond the Boarding Pass: Overseas Mission at Home – Troy Elder
- Telling Your Story – Martha Sterne
- Finding God in ‘Foreign Places’ – Annie Fritschner
- Powerpoint Presentation by Annie Fritschner (PDF)
- Hearth Scarves website: www.theartfulpear.com and Lisa Clark is the creator of the Hearth Scarves.
- The Colorado Haiti Project: a 25-Year Mission Partnership / Global Mission as Community Development: Making the Shift – Bruce Swinehart
- Trafficked Youth: How to Stand in the Breach as a Community of Faith – Kathleen Dumitrescu
- Congregational Mission Trips: Preparing for Success and Getting Ready for Transformation – Patricia Bjorling
- Holy Land Institute for the Deaf – Brother Andrew de Carpentier
- Mission in a Muslim Society: A Perspective from Peshawar – Titus Presler
- The Airport Chaplain: Earthly Aid & Spiritual Care – Donna Mote
- Welcome Home: The Role of Faith Communities in Helping Refugees Rebuild Their Lives in the United States – Paedia Mixon
- Mission Trip Budgeting / Mission Trip Fundraising – Ted Gaiser
- On-Site Tours: “Threads” & Covenant Community – Richard Hall/Mary Brennan
- Paradigm Shift for Medical Missions to Haiti: Asset-Based Community Development – Clelia Garrity
- Serving the World On Your Doorstep – Camille Gaffron
Conference Quotes:
Quotes from Titus Presler’s plenary address:
“Difference is dangerous, yet difference defines mission.”
“Standing with the oppressed Christian minority is critical. The world is dying of difference.”
“If our “solidarity” stops at the border of danger, how authentic is it?”
“We major in money but minor in relationship. We need to major in relationship and minor in money.”
“As Anglicans, we need to possess a convinced Christian stance, but be open to God’s leading and enlargement. This equips us to be reconcilers over these boundaries.”
Quotes from Bishop Marray’s plenary address:
“Focus not on what we should be, but what we could be.”
“Media disrupts reconciliation.”
Quote from attendees:
“I wanted to say thanks for all your work on the GEMN gathering. It was my first, but will not be my last. I was particularly impressed with the three keynote speeches, and the quality of the workshops was undeniably high as well. As I flew home, I thought about the new understandings and information I now have regarding global mission. Our world is complicated and we often hear more about the differences and the conflicts than we do about what unites us. With global mission – working along with our sisters and brothers, we can approach our differences and minimize them. That all takes knowledge and understanding and GEMN is certainly a good support of that.”
“Thank you for organizing such a wonderful conference …That was my first time attending GEMN conference, and I did learn a lot from the fellow missionaries who have had rich experience in domestic and international program exchanges.”