Day One: Mark Crawford on Public Narrative

From the Rev. Mark Crawford, chair of the Diocese of Texas Deputation

The opening session focused on a "Mission Conversation through Public Narrative" led by Dr. Michael Ganz of the Kennedy School of Government. We were pleasantly surprised that mission will be the central theme of the 76th General Convention. We'll spend four sessions discussing the answers to three questions: What does commitment to mission mean for you? What mission commitment do others at your table share? and How will you translate your mission commitment into action? The form of public narrative allows everyone to share their personal story and the way it relates to the call of mission. The goal is to "enable others to achieve shared purpose in the face of uncertainty."

The theme of the 76th General Convention is "Ubuntu" derived from the African Bantu meaning, "I am because we are. We share in order to prompt others to hear the call to action". General Convention really is more than elections, adopting budgets and passing resolutions. We hope and pray that the leadership of our church will receive a new inspiration for mission and ministry. Martin Luther King, Jr. referred to his times as "the fierce urgency of now." We are faced with a similiar challenge in our world.

Our deputies today were encouraged with the emphasis on mission and the way in which we are called to respond to the call of Christ.