Windows and Agendas
photo courtesy/copyright IRIN http://www.irinnews.org/
We are sharing a few thoughts on future directions for integration. Integration is a field of study which brings together the disciplines of theology and mental health in order to better understand and help humans. The links between member care (MC) and mental health (MH) are highly relevant for the global development of integration (global integration--GI). And GI can potentially be intricately connected to the global development of mission/aid.
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The field of integration has progressively developed over the last 40 years or so. We wonder what the next 10-40 years could be like. Depending on the work-life expectancy for those working in this field, there is a 10-40 year “window” of involvement. What will integration be like and where will it be during this time period—from now until say 2050? Should we intentionally shape it in different ways? How to do so? Perhaps a group could get together and envision a GI Agenda for the next 10-40 years.
In misiological parlance there is the 10-40 Window of the Earth—referring to the people living between the latitudes of 10-40 degrees north. So maybe we create a variant of this term and consider a 10-40 Window for Global Integration—a GI Window comprised of temporal space not physical space. One reason why this time frame is relevant: by the year 2050 there will be an estimated nine billion humans living on earth. One-third will likely to be living is squalor and misery. So how could our efforts in developing global integration make a difference for these three billion folks? Is this an integrative distraction, a duty, or something else?
Reflections and Discussion
1. To what extent does the field of integration need to consider the overall needs of humanity? Is it a distraction, duty, or something else?
2. How could a group form to envision a GI Agenda during the current GI Window? What would be a couple ways to further link member care and mental health globally?
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