Risking Just Being Present
by Annie Wu King
Even
though it was almost 40 years ago, I clearly remember sitting
in the large lecture room at Stony Point Missionary Orientation
Center (as it was called then) listening to an Asian theologian
tell the room full of eager missionaries, "Do not come to
us unless you are willing to stand beside us and with us for
the long term." He did not ask us to bring new equipment,
nor to bring the gospel to them; he asked that we go as partners
to the Christians there. Afterward, I remember some of the participants
questioning this statement; wasn't our job to take the Word and
our expertise overseas? How could we just be present with them?
About five years later, I was a mission coworker, serving as
a teacher in Indonesia when fighting erupted during the attempted
coup d'Ètat of 1965. When asked if I wanted to return
to the United States, I told the president of the university
that I wished to remain at the school, but was afraid that having
an American on his faculty would put him and the other Indonesian
teachers in danger. His response was "We want you to stay
as a witness to the ecumenicity of God's people." He did
not say that I was an outstanding teacher or that he needed Presbyterian
Church funds. He was willing to risk his life as a testament
to what it means to be in partnership. His witness was more of
a gift to me than any I could have brought to him.
Models of Mutuality
In this changing world, we are called to receive as well as give,
to feel the pain of both our global partners and our partners
in the United States, and to grow from their many experiences.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has adopted a new statement
of partnership: "Presbyterians Do Mission in Partnership."
Presbyterian Women has often been at the forefront of change,
even when change seemed risky. Presbyterian Women has also been
influential in mission in the PC(USA). What would happen if we
expanded our view of mission?
Most of the mission support from PW in the past could be defined
in mission terms as compassion-the immediate and perceived needs
of others are met by providing goods, services and training through
our generous offerings. This type of mission is still needed
and valid, and is prompted by Micah's admonition ". . .
to love kindness" (Micah 6:8).
But we are also called to be in partnership with God and our
neighbors, ". . . to do justice" (Micah 6:8).
In this model mission is seen as a relationship based on love.
We need a relational process whereby individuals move toward
conditions of humanness and wholeness, where there is dignity
for all as well as justice, which is the ethical core of the
biblical message. In this type of mission we partner with others
to work for quality of change; we share resources, leadership
and control.
We are also called to stand in partnership with those who are
poor, oppressed and marginalized, both domestically and globally.
We then have to face many questions: Who is the giver and who
is the receiver? What does it mean to be in partnership with
those who are marginalized? How do we minister to each other
so that we all can fully realize our mutual spiritual inheritance
and become accountable to each other for the injustices and sins
of this world? Transformation in mission only occurs when we
recognize that to be God's people we need each other and, in
the words of Micah,
". . . to walk humbly with [our] God" (Micah 6:8).
In short, we need to allow ourselves to be changed, instead of
focusing our efforts on changing others.
All three models of mission are needed. The difference between
them is our intentions and the depth of our commitment to the
relationship. The questions for us today are, "What type
of mission am I now involved in and what kind do I want to do?
Can I risk being present with others?"
Annie Wu King worked as a mission coworker for more than 10
years and has been involved with Presbyterian Women at the local,
presbytery and synod levels. She is a former member of the national
staff of Women's Ministries, National Ministries Division, PC(USA).
Who Cares About Her?
  
The
second phase of the national awareness campaign for PW is ready
for distribution! A set of three posters, each depicting one
of the special offerings collected each year, is now ready to
order. These poster sets are a great way to educate others about
the mission work of PW, as well as serving as a reminder that
Presbyterian Women are a caring part of the Presbyterian church's
community of faith. Order the free posters by calling PDS at
800/524-2512, English #PWR-02-600, Spanish #PWR-02-601, or Korean
#PWR-02-602.
Subscribe today. Call 800/524-2612.
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