Council for Mission28 Jun 23

Video series shares stories from living out the Marks of Mission

Tell / Teach / Tend / Transform / Treasure

The Five Marks of Mission – ‘Tell’, ‘Teach’, ‘Tend’, Transform’ and ‘Treasure’ – are an important statement on mission. They express the Anglican Communion’s common commitment to, and understanding of, God’s mission.

Videos highlighting the Five Marks were commissioned by the Church of Ireland’s Council for Mission and launched with the support of the Priorities Fund. The videos feature people and projects throughout the Church of Ireland and beyond whose mission, outreach and innovation is making a real difference to their communities and building God’s Kingdom.

The Council for Mission’s Chairman, the Revd Tim Wright, says: “These videos highlight some of the amazing things happening across the island from Malin to Mizen Heads as the Church of Ireland seeks to build the Church, serve society and care for creation. The Council for Mission commends them and is always excited to hear what God is doing across our land.”

The first of the five videos on the Five Marks of Mission was launched at General Synod 2019 on ‘Tell’. Proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom (Tell) is the first of the Marks of Mission. In this video we interview clergy and staff involved in sharing this good news about Jesus in Belfast and Drumcliffe, Co. Sligo.

Videos highlighting the second and fifth marks, ‘Teach’ and ‘Treasure’, were shared at General Synod in 2022.  Teaching, baptising and nurturing new believers is the second (Teach) of the Marks of Mission and in this video we look at how discipleship courses and youth work initiatives are helping parishioners to deepen their faith in Dunmanway, Co. Cork, and Sion Mills, Co. Tyrone.

Striving to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the Earth is the fifth Mark of Mission (Treasure). In this video speakers share environmental perspectives from Eco Congregation Ireland, Tearfund, Carlow Union of Parishes, and a community project in Glendermott, Co. Derry.

This year, the final two videos in the series, featuring ‘Transform’ and ‘Tend’, were completed. The fourth Mark of Mission (Transform) seeks to unjust structures of society, challenge violence of every kind, and pursue peace and reconciliation. This video looks at how this is being done in an Irish context.

Responding to human need by loving service is the third (Tend) mark. In this video, we look at several examples of how this is put into practice in the Church of Ireland.

These videos are available on the Church of Ireland’s Vimeo, YouTube and Facebook channels, and the Church of Ireland Council for Mission Facebook page.

Thanks to Ms Ruth Garvey–Williams and Mr Jonny Sanlon for their professionalism and skill in creating the videos and to all who contributed to the videos and Priorities Fund for helping to fund these projects. We encourage you to share these videos in your parishes as tools for promoting and encouraging mission.