Good News to the Oppressed

Good News to the Oppressed: Friends' Witness in the 21st Century

Many Friends are rightly uncomfortable with the concept of “mission,” especially in light of the historic missionary movement’s association with colonialism and racism and the damaging effects which are still felt today. Yet what if the true meaning of ‘mission” is to find out what God is doing and join in? And what if this is also the essential purpose of the faithful community? Friends are at our best when we are animated by a “missional” identity, that is, a desire to participate in God’s work in transforming the world. And, as we know, God’s work is most clearly revealed amid contexts of suffering and oppression. Quaker mission in the 21^st century must therefore be focused on the voices and experiences of those who are most vulnerable and marginalized. What does this look like in actual Friends practice today?