The concept of Mission always has been, and remains, the outworking of our faith. It embraces the total concept of living as a Christian - sharing God within our own family circle, in the locality in which He has placed us (centred largely but not exclusively on our local church), possibly some other form of direct ministry in our own country, or time spent in Christian service in another country.
The Mission and Society Committee of the Federation exists to help strengthen and support the work of the local church and, in partnership with others, the wider church family at home and overseas under the banner of the Council for World Mission. Individual Christians or fellowships wanting to move forward in mission and outreach should contact the Chair of the Committee, or, where appropriate, their Area Mission Enabler or Church Support Worker.
The Mission and Society Committee
The Federation's participation in Mission at home and overseas is organised by this Committee which consists of representatives from each Area Association and from CF Youth, a Chair elected by the Committee, the Chair of supporting Boards, the Chair of Council, the President and the General Secretary of the Federation. Individuals with specific experience of gifts useful to the Committee are co-opted from time to time. The work of the Committee includes items related to the Inter-Church Board.
Council for World Mission
The Council for World Mission is a worldwide co-operative of 31 independent Christian denominations which share a common commitment to God’s mission. This Council exists as a forum for mutual support through the exchange of news, ideas and people, and as a pool for sharing financial resources.
It was established in its present form in 1977 growing out of the London Missionary Society (founded in 1795), the Commonwealth (Colonial) Missionary Society (1832) and the (English) Presbyterian Board of Mission (1847). Most member denominations have backgrounds in the Reformed tradition. Many famous names are linked with CWM’s past, including David Livingstone, Robert Moffat and John Williams. Missionaries from the LMS have an important place in the social and political history of Southern Africa, the Caribbean, Pacific and Asia.
The Council was created as an experiment in a new kind of missionary organisation which moved away from the provision and control of resources just from Europe and acknowledges the equality and maturity of the churches in other regions. The structure of the Council is a democratic one in which everyone is able to contribute and receive as equals.
The Council believes the local church has the primary responsibility for carrying forward God’s mission locally. As a global body, the Council exists to help in the sharing of resources by the CWM community in support of that mission.
The Congregational Federation has played its full part in the Council both in the European Region and world wide. It has received substantial funding to support its mission programme, most recently in developing the work of Mission Enablers, local training and in the support of individual church initiatives. One of the challenges facing the Federation currently is to become increasingly involved in the sending and receiving of personnel within the CWM denominations on both short and long-term exchanges. It is in this way that the concept of a global Christian partnership becomes a meaningful reality.