A Letter from Bishop Chris

Dear friends,

The late Bishop Lesslie Newbigin, one of the great Anglican missional thinkers of the 20th century, reminded us that the Church does not simply have a mission—it is mission.

In The Gospel in a Pluralist Society he wrote: “The Church is not meant to call men and women out of the world into a safe religious enclave, but to call them out in order to send them back as agents of God’s kingship.” This vision reminds us that the Church is not an escape from the world but that we are a people sent into the world. Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you” (John 20:21). Truly, we are the sent ones.

That means every local congregation is more than a gathering for worship on Sundays; it is a base for mission in its own neighborhood. Each member is called to bear witness to Christ in daily life—in homes, schools, workplaces, and friendships.

At the same time, our witness is not limited to the local. As part of the worldwide Body of Christ, we are joined in God’s global mission, praying, funding, and working for the Gospel to be known “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

I’m so pleased that the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic is a missional diocese. This was evident through our representation at the recent New Wineskins for Global Missions conference in Ridgecrest North Carolina. Of the 1500 participants gathered from around the world, DOMA sent over 100 people including many of the speakers, worship leaders and musicians, and intercessory and healing prayer teams. WOW! As your bishop I couldn’t be prouder of our diocese. (See reflections from some of our DOMA participants below.)

As we respond in faith to this missional calling from our Lord, let’s remember that God has not left us to our own strength. The same Holy Spirit who empowered the apostles at Pentecost empowers us today. Each act of love, each word of witness, each prayer for the nations is part of God’s own mission. We are not alone—we are participants in the great story of God’s redeeming love for the world.

I pray that our life together is continually marked by this missionary calling: not retreating into a religious enclave, but being sent out as ambassadors of Christ’s Kingdom, both here and around the world.

Blessings,
The Rev. Chris Warner
Bishop