bekonkol's blog

Since the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNCCC) came into force in 1995, the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UNCCC has met annually to assess progress in dealing with global climate change. From November 28 until December 9 in Durban, South Africa, the Conference of the Parties will meet again, for the 17th time, thus the title “COP17”.

Every two years, longer-term Global Mission personnel of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) engage in “Home Assignment”, which includes two months of visits alongside congregations, universities, and a variety of other organizations throughout the United States. Among other things, Home Assignment is meant to produce a dynamic dialogue surrounding what God appears to be doing around the world, and a result, animate a heightened awareness that mission takes place everywhere and involves everyone.

During the past year South Africa’s ruling political party proposed a “media tribunal”, which among other things, would hear complaints against the press and possess authority to impose legal penalties upon journalists.

One of the many blessings of living in a foreign land is the opportunity to encounter new sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touches, and ideas. Without question, over the past years I have been incredibly fortunate in this regard. An additional blessing – one that is too often overlooked, includes the various occasions when previously held notions are challenged and forced to be reconsidered.

In June of 2010, Troy Jackson wrote an article titled: "Time to Declare a Mission Trip Moratorium". Among other things, Jackson – who serves as senior pastor of University Christian Church (Cincinnati, Ohio), examined North American international mission trip ventures, and how time, talents, and financial resources were better served in alternative capacities. In summary, he wrote:

One of the central debates facing Christianity from its onset surrounded the essential requirements for acceptance into the community of believers. More specifically, some wondered whether or not particular ethnic heritage or cultural traditions were mandatory, whereas others considered various beliefs and behaviors surrounding food and other existing customs. As the small number of Jesus’ original disciples expanded both numerically and geographically, complicated deliberations continually surfaced: What is central? What is indispensable?

One of the primary reasons women and men around the world ignore organized Christian religion is due to a perceived disconnect between who Jesus was and what churches of the 21st century have become. In other words, there are many who are incredibly fascinated with the way of Jesus, yet the same individuals refuse to participate within churches due to observed levels of hypocrisy, closed-mindedness, and self-righteousness among Jesus’ (supposed) followers.