Missionaries from America and their partners in mission brought unique perspectives to the current process of reconciliation at the conference of the Global Episcopal Mission (GEM) Network, which met June 16-18 at the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest (ETSS) in Austin, Texas.

"The quality of presence we must have in the current turmoil must be that of companions" who listen, ask questions, and listen some more. "We need to honor the missional concerns of those on all sides of the controversy," said the Very Rev. Titus Presler, dean of ETSS, during his keynote address. Many people "have been caught by surprise" by the feelings in other parts of the Communion, Presler added. "Many Episcopalians are global in their professional lives but parochial in their Christian lives ... They often know little about Christians, let alone Anglicans" throughout the world.

Presler urged the conference attendees to continue to "initiate and nourish" companion diocese relationships that have done much to bring Anglicans around the world together in the past 30 years. Twenty dioceses across the United States were represented among the 50 people who gathered at the seminary for the GEM conference.

Article by Bob Kinney

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