What are Global Mission Advocates (GMAs)?
The Global Mission Advocates network was created by Resolution A016, titled, “Adopt Guiding Principles for World Mission,” during the 2022 General Convention of The Episcopal Church in Baltimore, Maryland.
The mission of the GMAs is “to share their experiences with the implementation, study, and promotion of the Guiding Principles” and to “provide guidance to the Standing Commission on World Mission on the practical application of the Guiding Principles and suggest amendments.”
What are the Guiding Principles on World Mission?
The Guiding Principles for World Mission are listed in Resolution A016 as:
- Think and imagine a world where love is the way.
- Commit to world mission that is incarnated in personal presence, meeting Christ in all whom we encounter, in our backyard or around the globe.
- Go the Way of Love: Cross boundaries, listen deeply, and live like Jesus.
- Walk the Way of Love with our companions in mission, in mutual discovery and deepening of God’s reconciling love, learning together, praying together, worshipping together, as we transform and bless each other.
- Excite, inspire, and engage others to discover the joy of God’s mission.
- Honor and embrace in mutual discovery the God-given gifts of all individuals, parishes, dioceses, their partners, and their communities.
- Nurture relationships to develop avenues for cross-cultural mission, local/global/pilgrimage, for all ages and abilities.
- Advocate for structural changes to support global mission issues, including promoting the dignity of all and honoring refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers everywhere.
- Honor our sacred differences while we unite as Beloved Community around God’s table.
- Support missionaries, from discernment, during their service, and upon their return.
- As we walk this Way of Love, address together the many issues of poverty, violence, oppression, and environmental degradation.
- Remember that to “go” can also mean “go” by building relationships, learning, listening, encouraging across space through virtual presence and communication from where you are.
- Encourage all dioceses to have a diocesan Global Mission Advocate.
For more information about the Guiding Principles for World Mission, we invite you to read Becoming a World Where Love Is the Way – Guiding Principles for World Mission – A Four-Week Study for Individuals and Groups Offered by the Standing Commission on World Mission.
What do GMAs do?
GMAs advocate and promote healthy global mission within their diocese. They also act as a liaison between The Episcopal Church and their diocese through the Office of Global Partnerships. Together, we produce and share resources, as well as foster dialogue and promote mission programs in accordance with the Guiding Principles.
GMAs meet monthly on the last Tuesday of the month during a private Zoom call where they share their experience, resources, and ideas on healthy global mission. Every other year, they also meet for a deeper, in-person reflection retreat.
Interested? How to become a GMA?
GMAs are appointed by their diocesan bishop to share and promote global mission practices and resources in their diocese with the help of the Office of Global Partnerships. There are currently 68 nominated GMAs from 64 dioceses throughout all provinces of The Episcopal Church.
If you are interested in becoming a GMA, please contact your bishop to request to be nominated. A nomination can be as simple as an email from your bishop to the Office of Global Partnerships. If you would like more information, please contact us by using The Episcopal Church’s contact form and selecting “Global Partnerships and Mission Personnel.”
GMA map as of April 2024
GMA Resources
For GMA resources, please visit our resources page.
