MISSIO 2026: Rooted in Christ & Dancing God's Dream

From his 30 years of research into world Christianity and global religious demography, Dr. Todd Johnson will share major findings relevant to Christian mission.  Todd is distinguished professor of mission and global Christianity and co-director of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He has published encyclopedias, atlases, databases, monographs, and scholarly articles on counting religionists around the world. He has made detailed country-by-country estimates for ethno-linguistic peoples, religious diversity, Pentecostals, Sunnis and Shia’s, and other traditions within the world’s major religions.

In this session, we’ll all be challenged to ask ourselves: “What is God’s mission?  And why am I involved?”  Five GEMN leaders will share concepts and motivations for us to wrestle with.  Vice president Nancy Searby’s mission experience has focused on Tanzania.  Executive director Titus Presler’s experience is in India, Zimbabwe and Pakistan.  President Paul Rajan’s experience is in India and the South Pacific.  Alan Scarfe has experience in Eastern Europe, Eswatini and South Sudan.  Troy Elder has experience in Guinea and parts of Asia and Latin America.  Check here for more detailed biographical information.

The Rev. Dr. Paula Nesbitt serves on the Steering Group of the Anglican Communion’s Anglican Peace and Justice Network and on the International Anglican Women’s Network, and as a research consultant for varied Anglican and Episcopal projects. Her books include Indaba! A Way of Listening, Engaging, and Understanding across the Anglican Communion and Feminization of the Clergy in America: Occupational and Organizational Perspectives.

The Rev. Dr. Helen Van Koevering chairs the International Anglican Women’s Network and is representing IAWN at the Anglican Consultative Council meeting.  She spent 26 years as a missionary in the Diocese of Niassa, Mozambique, where she served as a community development officer, women’s desk officer, diocesan secretary, parish priest and director of ministry. Helen is rector of St. Raphael’s Church in Lexington, Kentucky.  She GEMN’s Mission Formation Program Team. She is the author of Dancing Their Dreams: A Theological Reflection on the Lives of Anglican Women on the Lakeshore of the Diocese of Niassa, Mozambique. 

What’s happening in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion that we should be paying attention to as we join God in mission?  Shedding light for us will be Alan Yarborough, who serves as director of government relations and global partnerships for the Episcopal Church, leading the church’s advocacy efforts with the U.S. government and strengthening relationships with partners around the Anglican Communion. Alan spent nine years in Washington, DC, with the Office of Government Relations, including extensive advocacy on foreign policy matters. He worked in the Diocese of Haiti for three years through the Young Adult Service Corps. He has a master’s degree from the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University.