Directions2012 is essentially about mission.  The revitalization of governance structures, the focus on building healthy pastoral leadership, the re-affirmation of our Baptist identity, and the challenge to use our resources more strategically all must have at their heart one aim: to propel our movement forward in the mission of making disciples.

Within that framework, Taskforce One has the role of being a catalyst for empowerment of churches across our movement in mission.  This role includes understanding the current status of mission commitment among our churches, dialoguing with pastors and leaders to determine what’s working and where our biggest challenges are.  It also involves catalyzing creative thought and the sharing of mission resources, helping equip church leaders to keep Jesus’ mission agenda front and centre in our churches.

So far the taskforce’s efforts have focused in a couple of key areas.  The first of these is the preparation of a new online mission initiative.  www.missionone.com.au is being launched at Revive’08 as a clearinghouse for resources, stories, and ideas to be shared across our family of churches.  The dream is that it will become a primary port of call for pastors and church leaders as they champion the cause of mission in their own contexts.  Over time, more and varied resources and links will be added to the site, ever expanding it’s capacity as a resource for church leaders.

A key part of the website is the Mission Covenant.  Currently in working document form, the Mission Covenant is a tool leaders can use to ‘take the pulse’ of mission in their own churches.  It is designed also to help focus churches on what the most strategic next steps can be to move forward in the proclamation and demonstration of the gospel of Jesus in their contexts. 

Beginning late this year in Sydney, All About Mission pastor/leader forums will be conducted, and will be rolled out across the state in the first half of 2009.  These will be key opportunities for the dialogue and feedback described above to take place, as well as introducing church leaders to the missionone website and the covenant.  The questions that will frame the feedback section of these gatherings have been developed in conjunction with the wider Directions 2012 Research process.  We look forward to these forums as places where rich information will be unearthed that will assist in moving churches forward in mission, and also opportunities to encourage and challenge church leaders with respect to mission.

It is anticipated that as the All About Mission gatherings take place, the taskforce will use the information gleaned to help determine its strategic plan for the remainder of the Directions 2012 process.

The taskforce currently consists of 10 members, a number of whom also serve on the Evangelism and Church Growth Taskforce (ECDT).  Already significant voluntary time has been committed by various members, for which sincere thanks is due.  It is exciting to work with a bunch of enthusiastic and mission-focused leaders whose sole reason for serving on the taskforce is to encourage and resource our churches in the mission of Christ in the world.

We look forward to how God will continue to use this process as Taskforce One remains committed and engaged in the process of empowering congregations for effective mission right through to 2012.

Rev Steve Bartlett

Taskforce Chair