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Article 51 Mission

The churches shall endeavor to fulfill their missionary task. When churches cooperate in mission work, they shall, as much as possible, observe the division into classes and regional synods.

Notes

Classis and Mission Work (Classis Pacific West, 2012)
At every classis meeting, each church in turn shall:

1. Give a verbal report on its mission activities overseas and in its local community.
2. Provide an opportunity for classis delegates to discuss the report.
3. Receive encouragement and feedback from other churches.
4. Offer prayer for mission endeavors, led by the chairman or appointed delegates.

1. Local Church Responsibility

• Each local church has the duty to proclaim the gospel.
• Missionaries are called and supervised by their consistories.
• Churches may cooperate in mission but remain accountable to local governance.

2. Support from the Broader Church (Classis Ontario West, 2015)

• If necessary, a calling church may invite other churches within its classis or regional synod to:
  • Support mission work financially.
  • Provide oversight and collaboration.
  • Coordinate missionary efforts for greater effectiveness.

Proposed Joint Church Order 2012: The Church’s Mission Calling

The (PJCO) defines mission work as:

• Preaching the Word of God to the unconverted at home and abroad.
• Establishing churches through evangelism.
• Calling, supporting, and supervising missionaries as ministers of the Word.
• Administering the sacraments to those converted.
• Instituting church offices according to the Church Order.
• Encouraging church members to assist in mission work.

The Church’s Evangelism Calling (PJCO, Articles 44 & 45 – Defeated at RSE, Nov 11, 2015)

Each church shall:

• Make known the gospel to those in its local area.
• Rely on the Holy Spirit in evangelistic efforts.
• Encourage people to follow Christ and join the church through profession of faith.

Key Takeaways

✅ Mission work is a core responsibility of every Reformed church.
✅ Local churches lead missionary efforts, with broader church support as needed.
✅ Prayer, oversight, and cooperation ensure faithful and effective mission work.
✅ Evangelism is both local and global, requiring reliance on God’s Word and Spirit.

Key Considerations for Mission Work

• Mission is a task of the church, not just a group of like-minded believers.
• There is often a gap between energy and expenses for foreign mission vs. domestic mission.
• Should churches work toward:
  • Mission coordinators?
  • A synodical missions committee?
  • More collaboration & wisdom?
  • Developing expertise?
  • Strategic planning for missions?
    References & Further Reading
• AJDV April 11/25 @ 11:45 a.m. CRMA speech
• Clarion
  • 72:13, p. 510
  • 73:3, pp. 93-94
    Historical Context
• COW, 2015
  • Proposed adopting PJCO, Articles 44 & 45
  • Defeated at RSE, Nov 11, 2015

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