Press Releases22 Apr 05

Archbishop Eames' address at the international mission conference of CMS Ireland

St. Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh
Friday 22nd April 2005

The celebration of Holy Communion in this ancient Cathedral marks the conclusion of a remarkable event. Over the past two days the Conference mpower has brought together a large group of special people. They have comprised visitors and partners from across the Anglican world together with representatives of parishes, dioceses and CMS Ireland to dialogue on ?empowering the Church in mission.? We have watched and listened, prayed and planned, waited on each other, made new friendships and strengthened old ones: now we meet to celebrate at the Lord?s Table and to reflect on what happens next.

I want to pay tribute to CMSI for organising this special event. In particular I want to affirm the work of Canon Cecil Wilson and his colleagues, who have devoted so much energy and work in planning the Conference. The attendance last night at the evening of Celebration was an indication of the interest and support they have generated and deserved. I hope they are greatly encouraged by the success of this Conference.

So, what are we celebrating this evening?

In our lifetime what the Church refers to as Mission has changed dramatically. Long gone are the days when the main job of Mission involved dedicated clergy and teachers leaving these shores to ?bring the Gospel of Christ? to Africa, India, South America and the rest of what was called ?the dark continents?. How well those pioneers served their Lord, how well they spread the Gospel and how well God used their dedicated gifts. But they were ?people of their time?. They answered a call, responded to a need and fulfilled a duty. Today the call remains the same ? but the needs and the duties have changed beyond recognition. Today it is a sharing, a co-operating, a two-way process and an act of faith in each other which calls us to Mission. It is above all else a partnership. Here in the West we have been compelled to realise certain aspects of the Church?s call to Mission which, to be honest, have not always been comfortable to accept. But accept them we must. To go further we must not just accept them ? but welcome them. The call is no longer to take a Gospel we alone feel able to proclaim ? but to recognise the inspiration, the growth, the life and enthusiasm of the Church which was once waiting for our evangelism. It is also the call to recognise that the Church has come of age in Africa and India, in South America and throughout Asia. But again I go further ? the call is to realise that we here have so much to learn and to receive from our brothers and sisters across the world. We need help from you, we need to learn from you and we need you to inspire us.

In the past few years I have been greatly privileged to play some part in helping the Anglican Communion to grapple with division and diversity. That situation continues to be serious. But I have long viewed difficulties in Church life as opportunities. The fact that problems have arisen is itself an indication that growth is taking place ? that change is underway. Anglicanism may be at a cross-roads ? and we do not yet see a clear way forward to solving our problems in relating to each other. But of this I am sure from my experiences of late ? a Church which loses its vision of what God is calling it to be and to do, a Church which loses its way, is a Church destined for the wilderness. The vision of the past few days points us to the real priority before which all else must be given second place. That vision is mission, that vision is partnership, that vision is to share in the wonderful work God has called us to address : to preach Christ crucified to a post modern world with simplicity, integrity and confidence. A world which is crying out for a soul of love and compassion has little patience with the niceties of internal divisions. Mission as we have heard it this week in Armagh calls us to the real priorities of the life of the Church.

There are two aspects of what has happened this week that I feel we must take away from this Conference.

First, there is the importance of telling the story ? and learning from each other?s experiences.

We have listened to remarkable stories. We have heard of sacrifice, service and courage. We have heard of the immense difficulties to the expansion of Church work. But we have also heard of the wonderful inspiration individual vision and courage can produce. Here in the western world of plenty we have been reminded of the poverty of the global south. I am reminded of a visit to Uganda some years ago when my wife and I spent time in the refugee camps. I felt then the need to say ?you are not alone.? But I also remember the words of one of the Ugandan bishops : ?in the west you have God and things. Here we only have God.?

Telling the story of what God has done, of what God continues to do compels us to listen. This is what it means to say ?you are not alone?. Those stories remind us all that God is alive and is at work in the lives of ordinary people. Those stories have the ring of truth ? they also have the power to inspire others as they listen. The telling of a story is far more powerful than many an exposition of theory.

Second, this week has reminded us that the world needs to hear the message again and again which a Church in partnership can tell.

There are wars, there are human disasters, there are great differences between the plenty of some and the poverty of others : there is HIV/AIDS and there are homeless. But there are also millions who need to hear that Christ died for this world. Partnership in that work is essential. Sharing in that work is essential. But again I am reminded of that old word Vision. The vision or picture of what is possible if we have the faith to attempt, to do and to succeed.

God is not calling us to relish success. God is not calling us to proclaim power. God is calling us all to new faithfulness. To do all we can with what we have been given and in the opportunities before us.

There is one final thought I want to share with you.

In the end this world will not be changed by the powerful alone. It will be changed by what Holy Scripture calls ?the poor?. It is they who through their voice, their witness and in how others respond to them that God will change this world.

So, go out from Armagh 2005 refreshed and with a fresh vision of God?s call. Be mpowered to do His will. Together let us go forth in His name with confidence, faithfulness and love.