Liz Cutler GatesBy Liz Cutler Gates

I would love to have been a mouse under the table in 2008 when representatives of Grace Brethren movements around the world met in Bad Hom¬burg, Germany. They had gathered to discover how they could best move forward together.

They had already defined their common values at previous meetings. By then known as Charis, the multinational network of Grace Brethren church planters and developers, they determined they were jointly focused on the pursuit of biblical truth, biblical relationships, and biblical mission.

Now in Germany and working in three languages – English, Spanish, and French – they hammered out a document that they presented to Grace Brethren groups worldwide. They asked that it be used as a guiding star during the decade ahead. In particular, they sug¬gested that 2010-2020 be designated as the decade of multiplication in which every church would be mobilized to reproduce itself through planting one or more new churches.

The Commitment to Common Mission (CCM) was subsequently adopted by the Fellow¬ship of Grace Brethren Churches in North America and by each of its national ministries.

The document affirms that the church is God’s plan for this age and calls for each group of congregations to commit to mobilize their members and resources to plant new churches.  It encourages the development of culturally sensitive strategies to train leaders according to their gifting. It empowers those leaders to train others by creating tools that proclaim the gospel, teach the fundamentals of the Christian faith, and encourage a life of wisdom. Finally, it calls upon the church to bless believers, strengthen congregations, and reach the lost by demonstrating works which reflect true faith.

Later that year, in October, the BMH board of directors endorsed the recommendations of Charis. In doing so, they made a commitment to provide visibility for the Commitment to Common Mission and help sustain the movement. As a result, BMH has supported Charis through the development of a web site that allows the participants world-wide to interact. It has also meant promoting the activities of the Enduring Visionary Leadership Communities in North America that focus on church planting, leadership development, and integrated ministries.
 
Since 2008, FGBC World has focused single issues on each of those areas. This year, you’ll find stories about each Charis point in every edition. It’s our hope it will inspire you to consider your own involvement in church planting, leadership development, or integrated ministries, and to pray for those particular ministries in the U.S. and Canada.

Now I don’t have to be wishing I’d been eavesdropping at an historic meeting. Instead, I’m privileged to bring you the stories of how the CCM is being lived out in Grace Brethren communities in North America. So grab a cup of coffee or soft drink, pull up a chair, and read how God is working in the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches through the Commitment to Common Mission.