An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church

Mission

From the Latin “to send.” Christian mission is the sending forth to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. The authority for Christian mission is based in Christ and known through the power of the Holy Spirit. Christian mission is understood to be a response to Jesus' command for his disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28:19) and to St. Paul's question, how are people to proclaim Jesus “unless they are sent?” (Rom 10:15). The Catechism notes that the mission of the church is “to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.” The church pursues its mission “as it prays and worships, proclaims the gospel, and promotes justice, peace, and love.” This mission is carried out through all members of the church (BCP, p. 855). In 1835 the General Convention of the Episcopal Church recognized that all members of the church are called to be missionaries, although this identity has not yet been fulfilled in practice.

Glossary definitions provided courtesy of Church Publishing Incorporated, New York, NY,(All Rights reserved) from “An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, A User Friendly Reference for Episcopalians,” Don S. Armentrout and Robert Boak Slocum, editors.