Mission 2020 - Post 2

Post Colonial and the Changing Role of the West - Kate Coleman

Herein we have an explanation of some of the potential effects of the shift of power, both Christian and secular, from the global North to South and West to East, which leaves us functioning in a post-colonial world and the change in attitude that it will necessitate in our relationships with others, changing from 'Patronage/Paternal to Collaboration/Partner'!

The key word for me, if we are to be successful in responding to these trends, is humility ...

At one stage in my missionary life I was leading a team of some 30 people from 17 different nationalities in a western school establishment in Senegal, West Africa!! Until one has been in a genuinely cross-cultural environment, and brought face-to-face with our prejudices, it is very difficult to accept how deeply engrained racist/superior attitudes can be. We often cover them over with humour but Brits seem to have major differences with every other culture ... French, German, Aussie, US, African, Asian not to mention the English with the Scots, WeIsh and Irish! (I wonder if this is especially true of those people who come from nations who have, at some point in their history, been global forces ... Greeks, British, US etc.)

As I reflected on this I was struck by what a privilege it has been to have been a part of an International WEC fellowship of 2000 odd people from 50 different nations, ministering amongst many different people groups around the world. We have sought to be intentional in expressing a genuine international flavour in our teams and ministries and, indeed, in our International Leadership. It is not easy to make these changes from being an "Historic British Mission", there have been real challenges to being International, and some failures, but we struggle on. It is only humility that allows us to continue to serve one another and see the genuine oneness and unity we desire. I have learnt so much from my friends from other cultures, but only when I was open to do so. Thus it is enriching to be a part of a group that deliberately seeks to be cross-cultural in it's ministry.

Another key is to consider what 'oneness' means ... the biblical idea of 'pleroma' gives not only the idea of oneness, unity or fellowship, but that it is a unity that has a focus ... we come together 'around something'. There might be many reasons why we come together ... a football team, a shared culture, a shared vision or objective ... some of which may be praiseworthy ... but they are all less than the best if they are anything other than our shared faith in Christ - this should transcend vision, denomination, culture, race, theology, doctrine or practice.

When I look at how fellowship and unity are broken it is always when the secondary becomes the primary ... when my race trumps our shared faith in Christ, when my vision trumps our shared faith in Christ ...

As I look across the UK and see the potential to recruit new workers from many diverse cultural backgrounds - and see them joining teams from other diverse backgrounds - I see the need for a lot of grace and humility. There will be many attitudes that need to be rooted out of me, and being in a growing International fellowship, and seeing more diverse nationalities in our teams here in the UK, is one sure way to see them exposed - assuming I am willing to exercise humility and learn!

Press on ... !!