Letters from Overseas

September 2008

• c/o WARC
  150 route de Femey
  PO Box 2100
  1211 Geneva 2 Switzerland

Dear United Church of Canada Friends:

Greetings once again from the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) in Geneva, Switzerland, where as an overseas personnel associate I am working as Executive Secretary for Communications.

Have you seen it? I'm talking about the map on page III of the Mission and Service Fund 2008/2009 special edition of Mandate: The United Church of Canada's Mission Magazine.

It's a map of the world showing the 39 countries in which our church supports ministry, training and development, or relief projects. Twenty-three overseas personnel serve in 12 of those countries. This is very impressive indeed! And it's all because of your support for the Mission and Service Fund.

Close to the middle of the map you will see a tiny white blotch (number 16). That's Switzerland, surrounded by France, Germany, Austria, Lichtenstein, and Italy. That is where the WARC secretariat is located.

It might seem a little unusual to have an overseas personnel associate in this part of the world, but you have to remember that Geneva is a thriving ecumenical centre that is home to WARC, the World Council of Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, Action by Churches Together, the World Student Christian Federation, and others.

WARC's small staff of 10 people serves a membership of 75 million Reformed Protestants in 214 churches in 107 countries, most of which are from relatively poor countries in the South. As the Mandate article "Linking Economics and Faith: Accra Confession calls churches to speak out" (page 9) makes clear, WARC has been deeply involved in helping churches "covenant in obedience to God's will as an act of faithfulness in mutual solidarity and in accountable relationships."

That kind of focus is why such a supportive partnership exists between The United Church of Canada and WARC. That kind of focus is why I have been serving in Geneva as an overseas personnel associate for the past three years.

In an earlier letter I wrote at length about the ways in which WARC and The United Church of Canada have been able to collaborate. Our combined efforts on justice, mission, and sound, life-enhancing theology remain strong. As my time here winds down, I have been reflecting also on just what a joy it has been to stay connected personally to the church while serving abroad.

Frankly, it's been like having the best of both worlds: an opportunity to serve in a vital ecumenical setting with committed colleagues from around the globe and yet a chance to stay close to my roots in the church I have served for about 20 years. The United Church of Canada connection has sustained me throughout my tenure.

A number of United Church of Canada members have visited me in Geneva, including members of committees I staffed when I worked for Hamilton Conference, a member of the General Council Executive, a member of another Conference staff team, and General Council staff, including several from the Justice, Global and Ecumenical Relations Unit (JGER). These visits have been incredibly supportive and grounding.

I have also benefited greatly from letters and cards from congregations and individuals. These are often quite moving, particularly when they come from places where I had preached or conducted workshops in the past. They have been good reminders that we are not alone and that our ministry is in fact one ministry undertaken in a variety of settings and in different ways.

I also have looked forward to the monthly newsletter from the JGER Unit and the copies of Mandate and The United Church Observer that are usually enclosed. I always stop whatever I am doing for a few minutes to find out what is happening in our church.

It has been my privilege to serve with WARC, particularly as it has continued its focus on justice in the economy and the earth while moving toward a greater union of Reformed churches around the world in the World Communion of Reformed Churches, which will be a reality by 2010.

It has been a double blessing to remain with The United Church of Canada as an overseas personnel associate for the past three years.

It is my hope and prayer that the relationship between WARC and The United Church of Canada remains a strong and generous one over the coming years.

Thank you for continuing to support the Mission and Service Fund to help make such relationships a reality.

Sincerely,
John P. Asling

John Asling is a United Church of Canada Overseas Personnel Associate serving with the World Alliance of Reformed Churches in Geneva, Switzerland. The work of this ecumenical partner and the work of overseas personnel are made possible through your gifts to the Mission and Service Fund of The United Church of Canada.