The Five Marks of Mission
There are many ways of approaching the question of how the “Anglican” aspect of a school’s character or ethos can be explored. The following is one framework that can be used.
While the Anglican Church is known for the variety of people, beliefs and traditions within it world-wide, in recent years it united to form “Five Marks of Mission.”
They are:
- To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom
- To teach, baptise and nurture new believers
- To respond to human need by loving service
- To seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation
- To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and re-new the life of the earth (Bonds of Affection-1984 ACC-6 p49, Mission in a Broken World-1990 ACC-8 p101)
Together they impact on our lives as a whole, as spiritual, social, physical, emotional and mindful beings.
Tell - 1st Mark of Mission
The “Good News of the Kingdom” is the unconditional love and forgiveness of God in Jesus Christ. “The Kingdom” describes what the world is like wherever people are faithful and live in ways that demonstrate the love and grace of God.
Teach - 2nd Mark of Mission
If we believe the news of God’s love and forgiveness is truly “good news,” of course we want others to know about it and accept it for themselves. Human beings have been conscious of a spiritual hunger within them for as long as we have records of human writings and paintings. St Augustine wrote, “You have made us for yourself, O God, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you.”
Tend - 3rd Mark of Mission
The last supper Jesus shared with his followers in John’s Gospel is marked by Jesus taking a towel and washing his disciples’ feet. They are told that in order to follow Jesus and lead others to do the same, they, too, must be the servant of others. The Christian model of leadership
is servant leadership.
Transform - 4th Mark of Mission
To seek to transform unjust structures of society to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation.
Treasure - 5th Mark of Mission
FIVE: To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and re-new the life of the earth.