Crosslinks
Encyclopedia
Crosslinks is an evangelical
Anglican missionary society, drawing its support mainly from parish
es in the Church of England
and Church of Ireland
. It was known as the Bible Churchmen's Missionary Society (BCMS) until 1992
. BCMS was intended as a continuation of CMS' original theological and missionary principles. The Society was quickly established under the forceful leadership of Daniel Bartlett, who dominated its first quarter-century. Another significant early supporter was Dean Wace. While the parting was less than amicable, Bartlett ruled that all BCMS missionaries should transfer to areas where the CMS had not previously operated, in an attempt to restore charitable
relations. Another priority was the establishment of a training college (1925) in line with BCMS' theology, which later became Trinity College, Bristol
.
The ecclesiastical historian Adrian Hastings has argued that this is one of the few English parallels to the Fundamentalism controversy in the US. He notes that BCMS differed from CMS by "only one word" - Bible. However, it is noteworthy that in contrast to US examples, BCMS remained committed to the Church of England
, the Church of Ireland
, despite their theological diversity.
The 27 October anniversary has become part of Crosslinks' traditions, and is commemorated by enthusiasts as Crosslinks Day.
people of Canada
. In 1923, work began in India
, followed by China
and Burma. In 1927, officials in Ethiopia
invited BCMS to begin work there, but it was not until 1929 that BCMS' first missionaries to Africa arrived in Morocco
. The same year saw a specific requests to begin work in Kenya
and Uganda
.
The worldwide turmoil around the Second World War led to the Society's withdrawal from a number of countries: Ethiopia (1937 war
), Burma (1942 invasion
), and China (1949-51 expulsion).. The late 1940s also saw Bartlett finally relinquish leadership to A.T.Houghton. The following decades saw an increasing focus on East Africa, particularly the Karamoja
area of Uganda
., and the Diocese of Karamoja retains a strong Crosslinks connection.
In the second half of the twentieth century, the tide of decolonization
led to the scaling down and rethinking of activities in Africa and India. BCMS/Crosslinks has participated in two trends common to most Western missionary societies:
The Crosslinks name emphasises the society's principle is that Mission is from everywhere to everywhere. The name also helps to make possible work in some of the 60 or so countries where Bible
, Church
and Missionary
are not acceptable.
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
Anglican missionary society, drawing its support mainly from parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
es in the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
and Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
. It was known as the Bible Churchmen's Missionary Society (BCMS) until 1992
The Society's foundation
BCMS was founded on 27 October 1922 as a result of a split within the Church Missionary Society (CMS). A number of CMS missionaries and supporters had become unhappy at its drift towards theological liberalismLiberal Christianity
Liberal Christianity, sometimes called liberal theology, is an umbrella term covering diverse, philosophically and biblically informed religious movements and ideas within Christianity from the late 18th century and onward...
. BCMS was intended as a continuation of CMS' original theological and missionary principles. The Society was quickly established under the forceful leadership of Daniel Bartlett, who dominated its first quarter-century. Another significant early supporter was Dean Wace. While the parting was less than amicable, Bartlett ruled that all BCMS missionaries should transfer to areas where the CMS had not previously operated, in an attempt to restore charitable
Charity (virtue)
In Christian theology charity, or love , means an unlimited loving-kindness toward all others.The term should not be confused with the more restricted modern use of the word charity to mean benevolent giving.- Caritas: altruistic love :...
relations. Another priority was the establishment of a training college (1925) in line with BCMS' theology, which later became Trinity College, Bristol
Trinity College, Bristol
Trinity College Bristol is a Christian college affiliated to the Church of England, though students come from different denominations. It is located in Stoke Bishop in Bristol, England, next to the University of Bristol's residential halls...
.
The ecclesiastical historian Adrian Hastings has argued that this is one of the few English parallels to the Fundamentalism controversy in the US. He notes that BCMS differed from CMS by "only one word" - Bible. However, it is noteworthy that in contrast to US examples, BCMS remained committed to the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
, the Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
, despite their theological diversity.
The 27 October anniversary has become part of Crosslinks' traditions, and is commemorated by enthusiasts as Crosslinks Day.
Crosslinks Resources
At Christmas 2010, Crosslinks asked people associated with them from across the globe, to tell their supporters what the coming of the Lord Jesus meant to them. They produced the following Christmas Cards, available to view at 'Crosslinks Christmas Cards Gallery'History
The first BCMS missionary was 84 year old Archdeacon Mackay of Saskatchewan, Canada. He worked among the InuitInuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
people of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. In 1923, work began in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, followed by China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Burma. In 1927, officials in Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
invited BCMS to begin work there, but it was not until 1929 that BCMS' first missionaries to Africa arrived in Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
. The same year saw a specific requests to begin work in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
and Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
.
The worldwide turmoil around the Second World War led to the Society's withdrawal from a number of countries: Ethiopia (1937 war
Second Italo-Abyssinian War
The Second Italo–Abyssinian War was a colonial war that started in October 1935 and ended in May 1936. The war was fought between the armed forces of the Kingdom of Italy and the armed forces of the Ethiopian Empire...
), Burma (1942 invasion
Japanese occupation of Burma
The Japanese occupation of Burma refers to the period between 1942 and 1945 during World War II, when Burma was a part of the Empire of Japan. The Japanese had assisted formation of the Burma Independence Army, and trained the Thirty Comrades, who were the founders of the modern Armed Forces...
), and China (1949-51 expulsion).. The late 1940s also saw Bartlett finally relinquish leadership to A.T.Houghton. The following decades saw an increasing focus on East Africa, particularly the Karamoja
Karamoja
Karamoja sub-region, commonly known as Karamoja, is a region in Northern Uganda.-Location:The subregion, is located in northeastern Uganda and comprises the following seven districts:* Abim District* Amudat District* Kaabong District...
area of Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
., and the Diocese of Karamoja retains a strong Crosslinks connection.
In the second half of the twentieth century, the tide of decolonization
Decolonization
Decolonization refers to the undoing of colonialism, the unequal relation of polities whereby one people or nation establishes and maintains dependent Territory over another...
led to the scaling down and rethinking of activities in Africa and India. BCMS/Crosslinks has participated in two trends common to most Western missionary societies:
- Missionaries are as likely to come from the Global South as to go there. Given the distribution of Anglicans, this has tended to mean African mission partners joining Crosslinks.
- The WestWestern worldThe Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
is now seen as a mission field. Crosslinks bring Africans pastors to England and Ireland, has an environmental protection programme in Western Europe (A RochaA RochaA Rocha is an international environmental organization with a Christian ethos. A Rocha, which means "the rock" in Portuguese , was founded in Portugal in 1983 by Anglican minister Peter Harris and his wife Miranda...
) and starts new churches in urban England as it traditionally did in rural Africa.
The Crosslinks name emphasises the society's principle is that Mission is from everywhere to everywhere. The name also helps to make possible work in some of the 60 or so countries where Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
, Church
Christian Church
The Christian Church is the assembly or association of followers of Jesus Christ. The Greek term ἐκκλησία that in its appearances in the New Testament is usually translated as "church" basically means "assembly"...
and Missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
are not acceptable.
External links
- Crosslinks - God's Word to God's World This is the official Crosslinks web site, and is frequently updated with news from mission partners. Publications are also available on-line. An RSS feed for site additions is available.
- List of BCMS/Crosslinks archives at Birmingham University, including list of missionaries