October 19-22, 2006

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Orientations and Priorities

Moved by the experience of the First Asian Mission Congress, we the participants have identified the following important areas of concern which we consider as priorities for our missionary task in Asia, and we commit ourselves to implement them:

The Story of Jesus in Our life

We will make the story of Jesus come alive through our personal encounter with the Risen Lord through:

• a deeper study and living of the Word of God in such a way that the power of Jesus’ story transforms our life
• cultivating a habit of recognizing the story of Jesus in one’s own personal life, in all our experiences, particularly, in our struggles and pains, joys and sorrows
• making the celebrations of the community especially the Eucharist as powerful moments of encounter in which the story of Jesus comes alive through the symbols used in the liturgy (the breaking of the Bread, etc.)
• fostering the attitudes and values of humility and openness before the mystery of God at work in the peoples of Asia especially in those who suffer, such as the poor , the marginalized , migrant workers, the sick, women and children
• promoting the participation of the laity especially the youth who are the future of the Church in Asia
• proclaiming Jesus especially through witness as the distinguishing mark of our missionary identity
• living and promoting a spirituality of the dialogue of life with the peoples of Asia
• learning to recognize the presence of the story of Jesus in the stories of trauma, exclusion, sufferings and poverty as well as in their other varied experiences of life
• learning the art of eagerly awaiting the opportune moment to share Jesus’ story as God’s gift for the fullness of life
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The Story of Jesus in Peoples of Other Faiths

We will:

• recognize our ignorance and prejudice (individual and collective) by taking concrete steps to acquaint ourselves with other religious traditions
• develop in our educational and formation institutes, especially in our seminaries, such positive attitudes of understanding and respect towards other religions
• Form families to grow in openness and a humble attitude to the mystery of God at work in other religions
• Make similar efforts to remove misunderstanding and prejudice from the people of other faiths in regard to the Christian faith and practices
• offer more effective pastoral care for those in mixed marriages and other interreligious situations

The Story of Jesus in the Cultures of Asia

We will:

• integrate positive cultural values of Asia as mentioned in Ecclesia in Asia into

our Christian living – at personal and collective levels –all the more so when

such values are being eroded by consumerism, materialism and other forces

with the support of the media and the market

• promote a culture of service, compassion, disciplined life, meditation, silence, simplicity, reconciliation and harmony
• take concrete steps to integrate local festivals and cultural forms of expression such as dance and music, art and architecture
• introduce with proper catechesis inculturation at all levels of our life so that we can effectively present the Asian face of Jesus to our sisters and brothers in Asia

Follow-up

We appeal to each Episcopal conference to organize national/regional Mission Congresses in such way as to effectively promote a renewed sense of mission of TELLING THE STORY OF JESUS in an Asian way to the peoples of Asia. We hope that the above measure, among others, will revitalize our missionary dynamism with a sense urgency and with a spirit of enthusiasm and joy.

For He is indeed risen and alive in Asia!