• July 16, 2024
  • Pcea media
  • 1

Is Time Ripe For The Diaspora Mission Presbytery? (By Rev. John Gatu)

I have recently taken three weeks visit to the state of Massachusetts, USA. Though coming during my formal leave month, this was basically a ‘working’ vacation. The visit gave me an opportunity to meet the following ministers who are serving in that state:

  1. Rev. Dr. Eric Muchina – PCEA Neema Lowell
  2. Rev. Daniel Kibue – All Nations Presbyterian Worcester
  3. Joseph Wakaba – PCEA Neema Worcester and PCEA Neema Springfield
  4. Rev. John Nyaga – PCEA Imani Lowell

TEE Ministry in the USA

During this visit, I was able to conduct the 3rd TEE graduation at PCEA Neema Lowell and 1st TEE graduation at All Nations Presbyterian Church Worcester. In addition, new TEE classes were launched at PCEA Neema Lowell, All Nations Presbyterian Worcester PCEA Imani Lowell as well as in both PCEA Neema Worcester and PCEA Neema Springfield.

Prior to this visit, there were already ongoing TEE classes at Great Commission Presbyterian Church – under Rev. Weru Mwathi and Umoja Presbyterian Church Tacoma – under Rev. Joseph Kisanga.

PCEA Church members in the USA

There are hundreds of thousands of PCEA Members spread across different states in the USA. Most of these members have a very strong attachment to their mother church, PCEA. Over the years they worshiped in other churches. In the recent past, Ministers abroad have started churches that mimic the structure and the way of worship of the PCEA church. Our members flock to these churches. I realized that even in their announcements and prayers, they regard PCEA as their church.

To enhance their identity with PCEA, these churches in America are launching all the ministries and programs that are in the PCEA church such as Woman’s Guild, PCMF, Children Ministry, Youth ministry, TEE among others.

My opinion on the Diaspora Presbytery

The ‘PCEA’ churches in the USA are extremely diverse. Some are independently registered; some are affiliated to PCUSA and some claim affiliation directly with PCEA. The common denominator in most of these churches is their identification with PCEA. Many of them have the PCEA logo displayed in the sanctuaries.  This has made the members of PCEA feel at home in these churches.

In the current scenario however, formation of a presbytery that brings together all these churches and their ministers, may require more time, so as to navigate through this complex ecclesiological landscape.

Possible Approach to Ministry in Diaspora

PCEA church has a duty to offer pastoral care to its members who are in diaspora. The shape of that care needs to be carefully explored. The focus of this pastoral care should be PCEA Members themselves unlike in the past when the conversation has been about ministers (whose status in respect to PCEA is very diverse). For any progress, PCEA ministry in diaspora should focus on PCEA members who have a hunger for pastoral care by their church. Diaspora ministry provides us with a great opportunity to do Mission beyond our ‘Jerusalem’.

In my opinion therefore, diaspora presbytery may be a dream that will be realized eventually, but should not be the starting point. The ministers and ‘PCEA’ churches in the US can provide us with a springboard towards this ministry.

There can be different approaches to this outreach but I propose the following scenarios:

  • Identifying willing ministers in the USA and formally adopting them for secondment as missionaries in the USA. These ministers can be attached to presbyteries at home where they can be reporting.
  • Adopting willing ‘PCEA’ churches to be in formal relationship with PCEA. The relationship can be assimilation, partnership, collaboration etc.
  • Formally planting PCEA churches and posting Ministers. Local legal laws will definitely affect this process.
  • Partnership with established churches in the US that are in fellowship with PCEA, to offer pastoral care to PCEA members on behalf of the PCEA Church.

Conclusion

All in all, the Diaspora provide a very fertile ground for our church to do Mission and offer Ministry. The point of entry however should not be the ‘churches’ but church members themselves. This will provide us with constructive engagement with the ministers for the sake of our members in diaspora.

Conversations about the overseas mission should only be motivated by love for God’s people, and a desire to offer pastoral care to the church that is spread out in the diaspora. Strengthening the diaspora ministry of PCEA can have extremely important mutual benefits.