Mission as Hospitality with Refugees and Other Migrants: Exploring Ross Langmead’s “Guests and Hosts” in Australian Churches

Abstract

Abstract This article explores the “mission of God” and its relationship with refugees and migrants in Australia. At its best, this mission is experienced as hospitality to, by, and with people of cultural diversity. Ross Langmead (2014) called for a theology of mission as an expression of divine hospitality to those marginalized and forcefully displaced, and recalled the significance of the cultural diversity that the Bible celebrates. By hospitably serving and learning from refugees and migrants, Australian local churches function as both guests and hosts. Langmead suggested this hospitality has ten dimensions including advocacy, meals, mutual learning, and “openness to a transforming divine presence” (2014:39ff). It is this last dimension that invites reflection as to how all ten may be more broadly applied. This article is a conversation on the experience of Australian churches at large in giving and receiving hospitality with refugees and other migrants. The conversation demonstrates the value of practicing hospitality for the sake of mutual learning and shared mission amongst the global diaspora in the Australian context.