Accompaniment: walking together with Christ and each other
Beloved in Christ in the Rocky Mountain Synod,
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| Jim Gonia and Fidele Rakotomalala |
One of the values shaping my ministry during the last 24
years can best be described by the word, accompaniment. Some of you may know accompaniment
as an ELCA Global Mission “buzz word” for how we seek to engage our global
companions. Accompaniment means that we participate in God’s mission by walking
together in a relationship of mutual respect, openness, and vulnerability – with
Christ himself leading the way. For me, accompaniment isn’t just a concept, it’s
a way of life. Accompaniment describes the profound truth that one part of the
Body of Christ is never complete without the other parts, so when we engage
in ministry or mission, we must always ask what it means to do so together with
other parts of the Body. (Read more on accompaniment on the ELCA website.)
When Kim and I were called to serve as missionaries of the new
ELCA in 1988 we left for Madagascar not knowing the term, “accompaniment,” but motivated
nonetheless by a vision for serving side by side with our colleagues in the
Malagasy Lutheran Church. In my first assignment I was blessed to realize this
vision when I was named a synodical co-director for evangelism in southeastern
Madagascar. My colleague was a newly ordained pastor, the Rev. Fidele Rakotomalala.
Together, Fidele and I traveled far and wide throughout an extremely rural
region providing training workshops and helping local congregations establish
evangelism teams to mobilize members for sharing their faith with neighboring
communities. It turns out that accompaniment was part and parcel of this
experience, not only in terms of how Fidele and I used our respective gifts as
a team, but in our commitment to network with local pastors, evangelists, and
lay leaders for the sake of this shared ministry. Accompaniment was also
embedded in the training and conversations we had about evangelism; a true
sharing of faith is only possible when you are in an authentic relationship
with people, when you are as eager to hear their story as you are to share your
own.
Part of my experience of accompaniment in Madagascar was
shaped by what we called “tournée,” a French word meaning “tour.” When Fidele
and I made “tournée,” traveling from one village to the next, one of the ways
that the local community participated in our visit was to offer their
hospitality. This hospitality involved much more than lodging and meals – it included
conversation and sharing that served as the basis for creating and deepening
relationship.
In December of 2010, Fidele and I met again after many years. We
shared memories of our work together, including our many tournées. He mentioned
the mark I’d made on congregations and people. I was surprised – after all, I
was in that position for less than four years. “It’s simple,” said Fidele. “You
sat on the floor and ate with us. You walked with us on long journeys and slept
in our homes. You didn’t set yourself apart – you were one of us.”
As I enter this new call, I do so with an unwavering commitment
to accompaniment. I am convinced that accompaniment describes the way God
engages us in Christ. Accompaniment names the way Jesus invites us to live as
his disciples in the world. Accompaniment calls us into mission with awareness
that the Spirit is present in the lives and stories of our neighbors long
before we meet. As I anticipate making “tournée” around the Rocky Mountain
Synod, I would like to do so in a spirit of accompaniment. I would welcome the
opportunity to stay in homes and share table fellowship with members of
congregations who would be willing to host me. What a great opportunity it
could be for us to build relationship and share each others’ stories.
I’m the first to admit that living from a place of
accompaniment isn’t always easy. Yet it’s my confident expectation that as we
commit ourselves to journeying, talking, and dining together, God’s faithful
presence in Christ and the Holy Spirit’s renewing energy will be revealed to us
in still unimaginable ways.
Yours in Faith,
Jim Gonia, Bishop Elect
Comments
I thought of my stand-by the 23rd Psalm, and re-read it. I was going to parts of this biblical land. I thought of the bible readings each Sunday service -- often one was from the old testament and one from the new. I thought of a phrase I could use if I felt fearful. I walk with Jesus. I am a child of the new testament. God in all forms walks with us all. I walk with Jesus.
I spoke this phrase to myself on the plane, going thru customs, and when walking by myself on my free day. There were few tourists, my group was usually three plus a guide and driver; sometimes only a guide went with me. We spoke of politics and religion at times; my Lutheran WWJD helped me "accompany" this guide of another faith in mutual respect for one another. I was introduced to Muslim men of the faith distributing books; we listened to each other. To let them know me, I said out loud for the first time: "I walk with Jesus".
I read the Accompaniment website. I agree with your use of this term as the synod bishop. I think it is a useful concept for us all, small groups, congregations, synod, and beyond. Welcome!
Walking with Jesus,
Jane
And now, working for another Lutheran organization who has accompaniment at the core of its mission, Lutheran World Relief, I am thankful for your words.
Blessings to you and the synod on this new journey together!