MISSION PARTNERSHIP IN THE UNION OF MYANMAR : MISSION PARTNERSHIP IN THE UNION OF MYANMAR

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study is to investigate the cooperative mission activities of the Union of Myanmar Churches. Since 1990s, mission’s spirit began to awaken in the Union Myanmar churches. Many church leaders comedown to the mainland and started their ministry. But the mission work in the Union of Myanmar could not grow for several reasons. This remains a challenge for churches to evaluate from within and assess mission strategies to be more effective in ministering to the un-reached masses.
Like some countries in Asia, since the Union of Myanmar is under the Junta rule, the church faces a lot of difficulties in mission and partnership activities. The Union of Myanmar was colonized for more than 60 years by the British. Like other colonial countries, Burmese people dislike Westerners and Christianity because they think that Christianity belongs to the West. Since the ruling Junta government is getting pressured from the Western countries like Britain, France and the USA, where those countries are Christian, the church in the Union of Myanmar is considered a western ally and thus the government’s political enemy. The church is restricted by the government. General Khin Nyunt, the former prime minister of the Union of Myanmar (dismissed and arrested in 2003), told his special intelligence department neither to restrict Christians nor to give licenses to built church buildings and block registrations. His point is to split the church so that unity, partnership and cooperation would be weakened in the Union of Myanmar church.
Eight states make up the Union of Myanmar. There are 135 languages in the Union of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma and 65% speak Burmese. Among Myanmar’s Christians, 0.5% speak Burmese. The states from Kachin, Karen and Chin, who are minor ethnicities, make up 85% of the Union Myanmar Christians. Still among them, there are many dialects or languages. For example, the Chin state has 48 dialects or languages. The different cultures, customs, and languages create barrier and separate the church in the Union Myanmar. Nationalism is one of the causes which block the church in the Union of Myanmar to unite. We already mentioned that the Union Myanmar has 135 different languages. Among them, the Bah-ma is the largest tribe; it is most civilized and has strong nationalism. However, including the Bah-ma Christians, they never see the country as the Union of Myanmar but only as Myanmar. Such attitude causes disunity. Even though Burmese speaking Christians are few in numbers, their status in society led by Burmese speaking churches who are only a few in number. Actually, if we look at mission and unity view, they have more power and capacity to lead the Christians in the Union of Myanmar. An effective mission partnership in the Union Myanmar will be built on the basis of a good relationship or cooperation between Bah-ma and minor ethnicities.
The different religious background is one of the reasons which cause the Union of Myanmar’s Christian to cooperate in partnership. There are two kinds of Christianity in the Union Myanmar. The first kind of Christian is Buddhism-oriented Christianity which is widespread among the Bah-ma Christians who came from a Buddhist background. They approached Christianity from a Buddhist view rather than a cultural perspective. The second kind of Christianity is cultural-oriented Christianity. It is found among the various ethnic groups such as, Karens, Chins, Kachins and Shans. They approach Christianity from a cultural perspective. These two levels of approach co-exist side by side.
The relationship between mainline churches and independent churches is also another reason that cause mission work cannot grow. This problem is not only confined in the Union of Myanmar but other Asia churches face a similar problem. Nevertheless, the Union of Myanmar’s case is a greater concern. Today the churches in the Union Myanmar are divided into many parts. For example, Rangon Chin Baptist Church (RCBC) splits into Zomi Baptist Church, Lai Baptist Church, Matu Baptist Church etc. There are twelve Chin Baptist churches in Yangon (Rangon) at present. Because of dialects and regional royalties, the Zomi Baptist Convention is comprised of 25 associations in Chin State. Therefore, even the single (Baptist) denomination’s mission could not be as strong as it should be. While mainline churches are not active in mission as before, some evangelical churches are practicing sheep stealing instead of evangelizing. Therefore, understanding, respect, and theology are needed for partnership.
The lack of mission spirit and understanding on the meaning of mission also causes the decline of mission work in the Union Myanmar. The leading organizations such as Myanmar Council of Churches (MCC), Myanmar Baptist Convention (MBC) are not active in mission. The church in the Union Myanmar is like the “Dead Sea.” The members attend to the church on Sunday morning because of their duty as Christians. The pastor preaches because also because of his duty. The church in the Union of Myanmar should be a missional church where members as well as ministers would be active in mission and partnership, and one where the mission spirit is awakened.
The relationship between native and international mission agencies and organizations need to be considered. After 1963, the government not only expelled all missionaries from abroad but also closed the door to international communities. From 1990s, the Junta government has somehow reopened door to international communities. The Christians in the Union of Myanmar once again could communicate with international Christian community. However, this reunion is very limited. Such limitation includes government policy on Christianity, lack of experience with international Christian activities , and knowledge and practices of partnership in mission. In the short words, the Union of Myanmar Christian experiences with the international Christian community very young. The Church in the Union of Myanmar celebrated more than 196 years of Christianity, but has not made any significant impact on unbelievers.
In light of the above discussion, the question to be tackled in this study is: what are the main reasons that block the church in the Union of Myanmar to work together in partnership in mission? This study is aimed at those who participate in mission work in the Union of Myanmar. When considering mission work in the Union of Myanmar, there are the reasons which cause the Union of Myanmar’s church to cooperate in mission. First, the different cultures, customs, and languages created barriers. The churches in the Union of Myanmar need to leave the inherited old idea of regional and denomination royalty and strong feeling of linguistic through open eyes. In the Scripture, Paul said that there is neither Jewish nor Samaritan in Christ. Second, the relationship between Bah-ma and minority ethnic blocks the spirit of mission. National reconciliation is required this problem. The churches in the Union of Myanmar need to learn from the past history and should focus on national reconciliation. The MCC’s role in leadership is needed for the Christians. Third, they lack of experience with international mission agencies and maturity. The church in the Union of Myanmar needs to develop, not only spiritually but also in educationally and morally. The above problems make it difficult to separate any single organization or mission work in the Union of Myanmar.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1
• The Statement of Problem 1
• The Research History 5
• The Research Methodology 8
• The Scope of this Study 9
• CHAPTER TWO: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF MISSION IN MYANMAR 10
• The Land and the People 10
• Military Rule and Ethnic Conflict 12
• The Beginning and Growth of Christianity 15
• Roman Catholic Mission 15
• Baptist Mission 15
• Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society 17
• American Methodist Episcopal Church 17
• Outreach to Minority Groups (1852-1899) 18
• The Coming of Missionary to Chin-ram 18
• First Contact with the Shans 20
• Beginning of the Mission to the Kachins 21
• Colonization and Christianity (Minority Ethnic) 20
• Social Problem and Christian Life in Myanmar 24
• Three Great Native Mission Movements under Socialist Rule 26
• Chin For Christ in One Century 27
• Three Hundred Three Years Mission 28
• AD 2000 Mission 29
• Nagis Cyclone and Christianity 29
• CHAPTER THREE: THE ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONCEPT OF PARTNERSHIP IN MISSION 32
• Partnership 32
• Partnership and Changing Definitions of Mission 35
• The Emergence of Partnership 37
• Historical Development of Mission-church Relations 42
• Partnership in Obedience 44
• Partnership as Koinonia 45
• Theology of Partnership 46
• CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENT ACTIVITIES OF PARTNERSHIP IN MISSION: THEORIES AND STRUCTURE IMPLICATION TO MYANMAR 50
• Church to Church Partnership 50
• Mission to Mission Partnership 51
• The Role of Myanmar Council of Churches in Mission and Partnership 53
• The Role of Myanmar Baptist Convention 56
• Mission Agencies and Para-Churches 58
• Assembly of God 58
• Myanmar Christian Mission (MCM) 59
• Mission Strategy of MCM 60
• The Role of Orphanage Houses, Seminaries and Short Training 61
• Relationship Problem Among Contemporary Denominations 62
• CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION 64
• BIBLIOGRAPHY 67