Graham Duncan

Partnership in Mission: a Critical Historical Evaluation of the Relationship Between 'older' and Younger' Churches with Special Reference to the Church of Scotland Graham Duncan

Partnership in mission is a laudable concept in the furtherance of God's mission. It has a distinguished history despite the difficulties experienced in making it a functioning reality. It had the potential to enable sending and receiving churches to experience fellowship, humility and dignity in relationships. However, the issue of power in the 'older' sending churches has been an intrusive factor in preventing the theory from becoming a reality. In the case of the Church of Scotland, increasing problems presented the opportunity for partner relationships to become authentically interdependent. Unfortunately, vulnerability on the part of the Church of Scotland World Mission Councilnhas led to a return to the colonial/dominator approach to partnership. Opportunities for repentance, self sacrifice and the growth of fellowship have been spurned to the eventual coist of the church of Scotland. The analysis should help to understand the current challenges in world mission, and should be especially helpful to scholars and students of the history of mission and thoses interested in understanding the contemporary church situation.