Holism in Practice
I have written before about the assumption which emerged out of the past generation's debate, in mission theology, between ecumenicals (stressing social action), and evangelicals (stressing evangelism): holism. The two are a seamless garment, not to be separated. We can go a step further: a sound vision of the church combines both with the reading of the Bible and the celebration of the sacraments as the primary expressions of God's redemptive action in His world.
We do we see this with particular clarity? I would suggest that the answer is in many of our fellow Anglican churches in the majority world. I am grateful for all the ties we have with NGO's and para- church groups doing heroic work. But we do well to supplement this with those companion relationships with sibling dioceses and parishes where this holism, essential to our very identity, is on display. Such churches are a distinct gift of God to us as part of the Anglican Communion in our time.
Let me add a more concrete footnote. Historically churches in Africa and Asia in the evangelical, Church Missionary Society tradition have shown this holism more vigorously. Several years ago at a global conference of fellow Anglicans, this indivisibility of witness to the Islamic world, conversion, prayer, and social help was a given. If you would like advice and contacts for just such friendships we can be of help.
