Risky mission …

The article "Bold initiative," by L. Gregory Jones (Faith Matters, Nov. 27), is important in several respects. First, Jones equates selecting church mission with social entrepreneurship, so that an appropriate mission should move us toward taking risks in fulfilling it. Second, he reminds us that United Methodists and other mainline denominations have applied mission, social entrepreneurship and risk-taking to the creation not only of congregations but also of educational institutions, hospitals, health care organizations and other important institutions. Third, he argues that we have begun to take these institutions for granted.

Having spent 21 years in campus ministry and many other years serving in some capacity related to higher education in the UMC, I share his conviction that the church relationship of these institutions has begun a not-so-slow slide into irrelevance.

Howard L. Daughenbaugh

Bloomington, Ill.

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