Missio 2025, the annual Episcopal mission conference held in April in Honduras, was a call to action amid the current cutbacks in US international humanitarian assistance around the world, said GEMN leaders. The conference was an opportunity for mission activists to consult with one another about current developments.
Meeting on March 19, the network’s executive team emphasized that the work of Episcopal mission agencies engaged in education, healthcare and infrastructure development on a global basis is especially important in light of recent US government actions such as defunding and dismantling the US Agency for International Development.
Regardless of one’s political stance in favor or against the government’s actions, the group said, all can agree that Episcopal and other mission agencies are vitally important as channels of contributing to human flourishing around the world. “Mission with Jesus,” Missio’s overall theme, and the conference’s foci of evangelism, empowerment and climate action were pertinent to the current moment.
The leaders acknowledged that mission agencies cannot come close to filling the financial gap left by the current uncertainty about the future of USAID, which was funded at about $40 billion, and other government-funded initiatives. However, they encouraged Episcopalians to contribute generously to mission agencies. The executive team currently consists of president Paul Rajan, vice president Nancy Seaby, secretary Sister Sarah Margaret, treasurer Bill Kunkle and executive director Titus Presler.
At its March meeting the GEMN Board discussed the Feb. 12 Time Magazine article by Eric Ha, CEO of medical Teams International, entitled “Foreign Aid Is Retreating. The Church Must Not.” Wrote Ha:
Long before governments created and funded institutions like USAID, the World Bank and the United Nations, it was people of faith who took up the call to serve. Christians built the first hospitals, led abolitionist movements, and pioneered global humanitarian work. . . .
The Church must remember its first calling. Jesus’ teaching makes clear that feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, and loving those who are suffering is not a supplementary ministry of the Church – it is central to the Gospel. . . .
The Church must continue to call leaders to righteousness and compassion. From the prophets of the Old Testament to the early Church and beyond, God’s people have always been called to hold rulers and authorities accountable. . . .
Among the numerous mission agencies in the Episcopal Church that welcome financial contributions are:
Episcopal Relief & Development, El Hogar, American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, Five Talents, Dominican Development Group, Compass Rose Society, Light from Light, Global Birthing Home Foundation, American Friends of the Episcopal Churches of the Sudans, Haiti Nursing Foundation, Health Tanzania, Partners in Ministry in Liberia, Sudan Sunrise, South Florida Haiti Project, Warm Heart International, and
Bridges to Pakistan, Haiti Companions, Caravan, Education Equals Hope, Jerusalem Peacebuilders, Haiti Rehabilitation Foundation, Stand With Iraqi Christians, Province IX Development Group, Friends of the Episcopal Church in Cuba, Love Must Act, Global Refugee Mission of New England, and American Friends of the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf.
The many diocesan initiatives also need financial support as they develop companion diocese relationships with Anglicans in other parts of the world.
FAQs about Missio 2025
Frequently asked questions:
Why was the conference being held in Honduras?
GEMN tries to hold Missio outside the continental USA once every three years: 2013 in Colombia, 2016 in Puerto Rico, 2019 in Dominican Republic. The Covid pandemic disrupted that pattern, but now after six years we’re meeting abroad again. In 2023 Bishop Lloyd Allen invited GEMN to hold Missio in the Diocese of Honduras, and we’re taking him up on that invitation!
But what’s the point of meeting abroad?
All of us mission activists are international travelers, so we all have our particular experiences in our regions of interest. But it’s good and important for us all to be together in one international location to experience that place together and explore the call to mission with local companions. It’s an opportunity to deepen our missional learning together.
Were there Latin American perspectives?
Yes, Missio was planned jointly by GEMN and the Diocese of Honduras. Each of the three foci – Evangelism, Empowerment, Climate Action – had two Conversational Catalysts, the first of whom in each case was a Latin American. Conference attendees included many people from Latin America.
Was there be translation?
Yes, there was simultaneous interpretation between Spanish and English throughout the conference.
Did conferees see anything beyond the hotel?
Yes, field trips to missional sites in the San Pedro Sula area were carried out on Wednesday afternoon, and Wednesday evening the diocese hosted the conferees at Catedral del Buen Pastor for Eucharist and a Honduran cultural night.