The Island of Iona is a small, quiet, and very beautiful place. It is reached from the Scottish mainland by taking an hour-long ferry ride to the Island of Mull, then followed by another hour of driving to the far end of the Isle of Mull on a one-lane two-way road to a place called Fionnphort to another ten-minute "Shelter Island"-type ferry to Iona. A brief walk from the ferry slip and you are at the Abbey (just beyond the St. Columba hotel where we are lodging).
Back in the 6th century an Irish Monk got into a dispute over a manuscript that eventually led to a bloody conflict between Christians. To make amends for the loss of life, he offered to go to Scotland to convert the pagan people there to Christianity. He had founded monasteries earlier, so he used that method as a strategy for carrying out his mission in the new land he was sent to.
On Iona he started a monastery where copying manuscripts became a major enterprise for the monks who came to live there. At the same time he taught the monks so they could become evangelists for the gospel, turning the monastery into a center for Christian learning and preparation for missionary work. Many people became Christians as a result of his work.
I have often commented on how important it is for pastors to be trained for the work of evangelization. On my "business card" I have the title "Pastor/Mission Developer" to describe how I see my job. I would love to see our synod take seriously the need to re-train our clergy so we can provide the leadership so desperately needed for the work of the gospel in the largely pagan mission field of Metropolitan New York. Saint Columba could be a source of inspiration for such a strategy for mission if we could find the courage to follow his example for ministry.
Very interesting posts. Isn't that what the synod should be doing since we are part of the E - LCA?
ReplyDeleteGlad you are having a good time.