Global Edge Churches to launch at Synod

Church Mission Society to issue call to “the edges” for churches at General Synod fringe

Church Mission Society (CMS) is set to launch a bold new initiative – Global Edge Church Partnerships – at a special fringe event during the Church of England’s General Synod in York on Monday, 14 July 2025. The campaign invites churches across the UK to engage more deeply with mission at the margins – the edges of church, society and comfort zones.

Headline speakers at the event will include Jonny Baker, CMS Britain hub director, and Bishop Martin Gordon (pictured), CMS mission partner and Bishop of Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The event will be co-hosted by Rt Rev Philip Mounstephen, the Bishop of Winchester and former CEO of CMS and Rev Jeremy Moodey, recently appointed chair of trustees for CMS.

The Global Edge Church initiative reflects a shift in the landscape of global mission – from traditional models of “West to rest”, to one rooted in indigenous, contextual disciple-making. Churches participating in Global Edge partnerships will connect directly with Christians and CMS mission partners working together in challenging, often overlooked areas around the world.

“CMS believes people at the edges are at the centre of God’s story,” said Jonny Baker. “We’re co-creating mission movements with local leaders in places where Jesus is not yet known – not just funding but collaborating for lasting impact.”

A Global Edge partner church will receive a range of inspirational information resources from the global CMS family including updates on key areas of work across the world, news from mission partners, update films and prayer points.

The campaign is backed by compelling data. According to the Lausanne Movement’s State of the Great Commission (2024), 97 per cent of global mission resources currently go to regions where Christianity is already established, while just 1 per cent is directed to areas where Jesus is not yet known. CMS is committed to reaching the 29 per cent of the world’s population with little to no access to the gospel.

The Monday Fringe event is titled Views from the Edges of Pioneering and offers Synod participants the opportunity to hear from global and UK-based mission leaders how pioneering, contextual mission is transforming lives in difficult and unexpected places. At the event, Bishop Martin Gordon will share firsthand insights into making disciples amid conflict in the DRC. Jonny Baker will also highlight some innovative approaches to pioneering mission in the UK.

Bishop Martin concluded, “Last summer I was able to visit an area called Walikale in the diocese of Goma where we have a vision to plant 50 churches in the next five years. During the short mission 500 people came to faith and we were honoured to baptise 100 new believers. Through getting involved with the Global Edge campaign, churches will be empowering people pushed to the edges to reach their God given potential.”

For more information, visit:

churchmissionsociety.org/globaledge

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