Wycliffe Global Alliance update november 2011 01

The wycliffe global alliance: evolving since 1942by Kirk Franklin, Executive Director

Continued next page >

On September 20-21, a group of sixteen Wycliffe leaders met for a day and a half near the Frankfurt

Airport. Each had been invited to come to the ‘Frankfurt Consultation’ to work through the new By-Laws of the Wycliffe Global Alliance (WBTI). Why would these leaders representing nine Wycliffe Member Organizations, Wycliffe Area staff, and the Alliance Board agree to spend their time looking at By-laws?

1942: Wycliffe Bible Translators

To appreciate the significance of this Consultation, I need to take you back 69 years to 1942. This was the year William Cameron Townsend, with his friend Bill Nyman, formed Wycliffe Bible Translators Inc. Its headquarters was in Nyman’s small garage apartment in southern California. Nyman was a businessman and volunteer to Wycliffe. The main purpose of the office was to do the bookkeeping and channel funds from U.S. supporters to field locations where members of the Summer Institute of Linguistics were already serving.

Although Townsend had not intended to start a mission agency, he found that no existing agency could provide support for his new linguistic and translation work. Townsend had already founded the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) in 1934. SIL provided the strategy and structure needed to place newly trained linguist-Bible translators in Mexico and, eventually, in other countries in South America, then Asia, the Pacific and Africa. Now the new Wycliffe Bible Translators organization would provide essential support for SIL.

1944-1980s: Spreading beyond the US

In 1944 SIL linguists accepted an invitation to run an SIL training school in Canada with 40 students. This started a trend that continued for the next decade with further introductory linguistics training courses in other western countries. By the late 1950s and early 1960s, this interest also gave rise to the formation of Wycliffe Bible Translators in Canada, Australia and the UK. They were formally recognized as subsidiaries of the Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc. (USA) and began to be referred to as ‘divisions’ of the US office.

In the early 1970s to the late 1980s a significant shift occurred that tested the organizational boundaries of SIL and Wycliffe. The 1973 international conference of the two organizations opened the way for a new type of organization to be

Off the coast of Mexico, October 1917: Cameron Townsend (second from left) on the S.S. City of Para, heading from San Francisco, California to Guatemala

in this issuethe global leadership team goes to ghana 5

introducing… judy bokelman 6

look!2012 and the wycliffe global gathering 7

Click on title to jump to article

Wycliffe Global Alliance update november 2011 02

Continued next page >

formed. These were called ‘National Bible Translation Organizations’. Each supposedly developed under the encouragement and guidance of SIL and Wycliffe. However, at the time, it was SIL that supported their establishment because these organizations also sponsored linguistics, literacy and Bible translation work in their own countries. They also engaged with the church in their countries, serving as promoters for mother-tongue Scripture use and recruiting personnel and prayer support for Bible translation work. In this manner they carried out Wycliffe functions in their own countries but their primary identity was with SIL. Most of their translation personnel, usually trained by SIL, were mother-tongue translators.

These national organizations emerged during the missiological shifts of the growth of the church in the global south and east (nations in the geographic regions of Africa, Asia, the Pacific and Latin America). They were also part of the spread of nationalism, particularly in Africa, where independence movements impacted the church, missions and other not for profit agencies. Increasingly there was the call for nationals to take greater authority over the affairs of their nations. Over a period of 15 years there emerged more than a dozen such organizations. They did not have either the Wycliffe or SIL name, but had unique names such as the Translators Association of the Philippines (TAP) and the Bible Translation Association of Papua New Guinean (BTA).

1980-1990: Preparing for Wycliffe International

In 1980 Wycliffe Bible Translators International (WBTI) was officially formed. It operated initially out of the Wycliffe US office until moving later to Dallas to be co-located with SIL International’s headquarters. During the decade of the 1980s the vision for Bible translation began catching the attention of Christians in Asia starting with Japan, then Singapore and South Korea. Eventually over the next 15 years it flowed to Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand and Taiwan. Wycliffe organizations were formed in all of these countries.

Ten years after the incorporation of WBTI, Wycliffe organizations outside of the US were becoming unsettled about their subsidiary status with Wycliffe in the US and with WBTI. This concern was particularly strong amongst Wycliffe organizations in Europe. National laws required that organizations show their own control over finances and personnel from their countries. There were uncertain trends and rising threats of legal liability if all such organizations were interconnected with a US organization. Thus there was a call for a structural change.

1991: Restructuring of Wycliffe International

In 1991 WBTI was restructured as an ‘organization of organizations’. The only constituents of WBTI were the Wycliffe Member Organizations themselves, not individuals and from this point on they were no longer divisions or subsidiaries of Wycliffe US. Rather, they were each now independent and autonomous

organizations that were given membership in an international body.

The individual Wycliffe organizations were now responsible to develop and shape their organizations, developing policies according to their cultural and national concerns.

In 1991 the status of the National Bible Translation Organizations was also changed again. As these organizations grew in number and maturity, SIL had difficulty fitting them into its structures. There was also a growing sense in these organizations of feeling like “second-class citizens.” Eventually, the Boards of SIL and WBTI decided that these organizations could better find their home and full acceptance within WBTI. Thus they were given the new title of ‘Wycliffe

Wycliffe, 1960s

Wycliffe Global Alliance update november 2011 03

Continued next page >

Affiliate Organizations’ (and the terms ‘National Bible Translation Organizations’ or ‘NBTOs’ were no longer needed) A decade later they were called ‘Wycliffe Member Organizations with Language Programs’, distinguishing them from the Wycliffe Member Organizations that did not carry out language programs.

1990s: Defining Wycliffe International’s role

Starting in 1992, WBTI began a journey to form its own identity. It went through various stages of development over the course of the decade. Then in June 1999, the delegates to the WBTI Convention quickly and enthuisiastically adopted Vision 2025. Among the concepts expressed in the original Vision 2025 document, the willingness to work differently and to work in partnership resonated with colleagues around the world.

Many missionary movements in Latin America responded to the Vision by adopting it as their own. This positive action also created a challenge because there were now participants had no formal relationship with WBTI. Desiring to include them, the Board of WBTI created a new category of affiliation called ‘Associated Partner Organizations’. Almost immediately, two new Latin American partners were given this status – FEDEMEC (Federación Evangélica Misionera Costarricense) of Costa Rica and LETRA (Latinoamericanos en Traducción y Alfabetización) of Argentina. Other organizations in the Americas, Africa and Europe soon sought and were granted this status.

At the administrative level, agreements (or memorandums of understanding) were signed between WBTI and new partner organizations that wanted a formal relationship with WBTI. Most of these were in Latin America. As a result of these agreements, there was now a new gateway for persons from partner organizations to do language program related work.

In 2004 during a meeting of the WBTI Board, an ad hoc committee was set up to study the feasibility of WBTI having its own Executive Director/Chief Executive Offficer (CEO), separate from SIL International. Even though the two corporations were legally separate, they were still being led by the same CEO and international leadership team. The committee recommended that it was time for WBTI to make the administrative separation as well as completely separate the WBTI Board from the SIL Board. It also recommended that

the historic role of the Wycliffe President be replaced with the role of Chairman of the Board.

At the 2005 WBTI convention all of these changes to the structure of WBTI were approved by the voting Wycliffe Member Organizations. This set a process in motion for identifying and appointing WBTI’s own Executive Director/CEO.

2006-7: Wycliffe International discovers its missiological voice

In 2006 in Orlando, Florida, WBTI sponsored its first missiological consultation. Its purpose was to provide a framework for our leaders to identify missiological issues that affect the church’s involvement in Bible translation in their various contexts. The benefits of holding an annual missiological consultation became more evident in the second gathering in 2007 in Singapore. The consultation there called for WBTI to develop a group of general ‘reflective practitioners’ because it is essential that our leaders understand and articulate the theological and missiological underpinnings of Bible translation, access and use.

This consultative process deeply impacted leaders within WBTI and many leaders of Wycliffe organizations. It created a new recognition that a mission agency that had been very active in a task – Bible translation – also needed to balance this approach, integrating careful thought and reflection as it considered its place in the mission of God.

Sulpher Springs, Arkansas: Wycliffe and SIL Board of Directors, 1953

Wycliffe Global Alliance update november 2011 04

2008-11: A new structure but same commitment

On 1 January 2008 WBTI began a new phase of its journey. It had a new Board, separate from the SIL Board, its own Executive Director/CEO, separate from SIL, and its own administration called the Global Leadership Team. It also made plans to set up its operational headquarters in Singapore, moving it from Dallas, Texas.

The Board of Wycliffe International adopted a new vision and mission statement to better reflect what the organization had become: “in communion with God and the worldwide Church, we contribute to the holistic transformation of all peoples through Bible translation and compassionate services” (vision) and “individuals, communities and nations transformed through God’s love and Word expressed in their languages and cultures” (mission).

In 2011 the ‘doing business as name’ for WBTI was changed to Wycliffe Global Alliance. As the worldwide Church and the awareness of the need for translated Scripture grow, so do the opportunities for more and more people to take part in this critical facet of God’s mission. The Wycliffe Global Alliance is helping create an environment for greater and broader participation, encouraging partnership and encouraging all Participating Organizations (the Wycliffe Member Organizations and the Wycliffe Partner Organizations) to identify the Participation Streams they are committed to fulfilling. The Alliance recognizes

seven Streams as the primary contributions of the Participating Organizations to the Bible translation movement, including language development.

2011-12: Why new By-Laws are needed

This brings us up to the Frankfurt Consultation. The current By-laws (the highest level of policies that govern WBTI) were written in 1991. They have undergone numerous changes since that time, in an endeavour to keep them current. But the *WBTI of 2011 is a very different organization from what was established in 1991. Even with periodic changes to the By-laws document it still remains a document shaped for the organization of the early 1990s. With the development of the Wycliffe Global Alliance and the numerous changes approved by the Board to allow the Alliance to embrace likeminded Wycliffe Partner Organizations while at the same time recognizing the historic importance and value of its Wycliffe member Organizations, the current By-laws can longer be “tweaked” or merely edited. There is a need for a major rewrite.

Therefore, the Board decided to rewrite the By-laws so that they reflect who we are today and, we hope, serve us into the future. These By-laws were processed with the Board members in the middle of this year. The Frankfurt Consultation was the final time, before sending them out for approval, for a delegation representing the Alliance leadership and the WMOs to work through them. During the period of October 2011-April 2012, all 28 WMOs with Vote are being

asked to approve these new By-Laws so that they can take effect on 1 May 2012 at the Wycliffe Global Gathering.

The approval of the new By-laws will enable the Wycliffe Global Alliance to operate with two types of Participating Organizations – the Wycliffe Member Organizations and the Wycliffe Partner Organizations. In anticipation of this, the category of Associated Partner Organization is being replaced by the general Wycliffe Partner Organization that includes an agreement between the Alliance and each organization in this category. The new By-laws enable the Wycliffe Partner Organizations to be represented on the Board of Directors and to be included in the Wycliffe Global Gathering. The new By-Laws recognize the Participation Streams that all of the organizations wanting to be part of the Alliance are contributing towards. The new By-laws better reflect what the Wycliffe Global Alliance has become rather than what it was.

*WBTI is still the legal name of the Wycliffe Global Alliance and will still be used by the Board in regards to governance and legal issues.

Wycliffe, 1960s

Wycliffe Global Alliance update november 2011 05

The global leadership team goes to ghana

In our ongoing effort to connect with Participating Organizations in the Alliance, the Global Leadership Team (GLT) held their biannual meeting in Ghana this past August. GILLBT Director, Dr. Paul Opoku-Mensah graciously hosted the

team and included us in many special events.

GILLBT did an excellent job of introducing us to their context and colleagues. For many of us it was our first visit to Ghana. In addition to addressing our GLT agenda, we had the privilege of learning about the history of GILLBT and met the staff and board members. We also spent time with key GILLBT partners including representatives from the University of Ghana and numerous churches.

The Church of Pentecost hosted a dinner which included leaders of churches, other Christian organizations and friends of GILLBT. This provided an excellent opportunity for the GLT to meet many GILLBT partners and for GILLBT to build relationships and also present a report to these organizations. Kirk Franklin (Wycliffe Global Alliance Executive Director), Mundara Muturi (Wycliffe Africa Area Director) and Paul all had the opportunity to give brief presentations.

Kirk was also invited to present the tenth in a series of national public lectures in honor of the centenary of William Ofori Atta, Ghana’s foremost Christian statesman and GILLBT’s founding Trustee Chairman.

Although our time in Ghana was brief, we left with a much better understanding of GILLBT and the people who are leading it forward. Our thanks to Paul and the GILLBT team.

Continued next page >

GILLBT Director, Dr. Paul Opoku-Mensah, shares at a dinner for the Global Leadership Team.

GILLBT Board Chair, Professor Akosua Adomako Ampofo giving gifts to Kirk, Dave and Mundara.

Wycliffe Africa Area Director, Mundara Muturi, shared a memorable story at the

Global Leadership Team dinner sponsored by GILLBT. “When you arise from the grave it is unacceptable to go back.”

Napo Poidi, Director of Wycliffe Togo. GILLBT invites a leader from a Wycliffe

Participating Organization to each of their major meetings.

Wycliffe Global Alliance update november 2011 06

Introducing…the latest addition to the global leadership team

Judy BokelmanJudy joins the team as Global Consultant for Information Technology. She will be identifying technology needs and solutions, evaluating technology processes, services and trends. She will work with the leadership team and with partners to build capacity for current and future needs. Judy will be reporting to Dave Brooks, Associate Director, Partnerships.

Judy shared a few words to introduce herself to the team: My business background is in IT, beginning as a programmer

and then moving into leadership during my 15 year career in the corporate world. I have served at JAARS for nearly 14 years, arriving on assignment in January 1998. During that time I served in several leadership positions in IT and in May 2005 I was asked to serve as senior vice president for information technology. I was on the JAARS senior leadership team for 6 years, serving 3 JAARS presidents.

God has blessed me with one beautiful daughter and one delightful granddaughter who live in Michigan. They are far away by car or plane but very close in my heart.

The Global Leadership Team visits the GILLBT Office.

Praying for the GILLBT team.

Professor E.V.O. Danquah, Chairman of the Ghana Securities and Exchange

Commission, Member of the GILLBT board, giving one of the numerous

thought-provoking devotions.

Calvary Methodist Youth Choir at Centenary Celebration event.

Wycliffe Global Alliance update november 2011 07

Wycliffe Global Alliance Update is an occasional bulletin, distributed by email and posted on Insite. Send questions and /

or comments to susan_van_wynen

@wycliffe.net

look!2012 and the wycliffe global gathering

In the near future you will be receiving more information about look!2012. What is look!2012? It’s the all new name and

face for next year’s international meetings, formerly known as ICON. SIL will still hold their SIL International Conference during this time. The Wycliffe Global Alliance will have the Wycliffe Global Gathering, a new kind of meeting to go with its new structure.

The Theme of the joint meetings is “look! 2012.” This represents all of us saying, “Look!

See what God is doing!” We will be looking at God’s mission of transformation, the global Church’s role, and our participation.

These meetings herald the beginning of a new era for both organizations. SIL will be looking at the implications and implementation of their Reinvention process and Wycliffe will be celebrating and welcoming many new partner organizations and new ways of thinking, talking and working. Both organizations are building on

the vision and efforts of past leadership, but looking ahead to where God is leading for the future.

As we meet together we will be exploring God’s Word, seeking God’s heart and looking to see what He is doing and how we can be a part of it. There will soon be more information for those attending and for those who desire to support these meeting in prayer.