The largest group of new missionaries to attend a single training event in 40 years participated in the second annual orientation on the campus of the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas, for two weeks in mid-January.
Upon completion of their training, the men and women will serve in Africa, Asia, Latin America or the Middle East at the invitation of local Anglican bishops.
Continuing a "youth movement" seen during last year's first orientation session at ETSS, about one-third of the group will serve in the Young Adult Service Corps, a one-year stint for mission partners ages 18 to 30.
One of them, Austin Rios, a 2003 graduate of the Seminary of the Southwest, returned to the orientation to prepare to serve in the Diocese of Southeastern Mexico.
The Rev. Heather Parr, a senior seminarian from the Diocese of Oregon, will work in theological education and mission development in the Diocese of Venezuela.
No recall
Despite the controversy in parts of the Anglican Communion over the consecration of an openly gay bishop, no Anglican province or diocese has yet to ask the church's Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society to recall missionaries, said the Rev. Jane Butterfield, director of missionary personnel.
Unaffected by theological broadsides being hurled across oceans after last summer's General Convention, the important work of missionaries in strengthening relations and supporting local mission initiatives of their host churches continues day to day throughout the world, Butterfield said.
"Disagreements over sexuality take a back seat to the more pressing realities of civil war, poverty, malaria and HIV/AIDS, and the need to develop educational and economic structures to sustain and deepen rapid church growth in all of the provinces where our mission companions work," she said.
During the two-week program, the missionaries-in-training explored mission theology, cultural dynamics, interfaith relations and living a missionary identity.
The international staff included teachers from India, Pakistan, Latin America and Zimbabwe, current and former missionaries, seminary faculty members and leaders from the Episcopal Church Center in New York.
Mildred Mbwando, a catechist from the Diocese of Manicaland in Zimbabwe, began one year of studies at the Seminary of the Southwest after she led Bible studies for the missionary-in-training. Mbwando will contribute to the educational program of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Austin throughout 2004, and the church will help support her studies.
More than 90 missionaries currently serve in 29 countries throughout the world. Examples of their ministry can be seen at www.episcopalchurch.org/agr/mission by clicking on Missionary Roster or From the Mailbag links.
For more on the missionary training program, visit www.etss.edu/Mission04Home.shtml.
