Prompted by initial discussions at the Singapore 2002 Unreached Peoples Consultation, a group of 28 delegates from older and newer agencies gathered in Amsterdam April 18-21, 2005 to found the Global Network of Mission Structures (GNMS).

Since the Edinburgh meetings of 1910 and 1980, no non-invitational gatherings of mission leaders had been held which were open to all the agencies of the world sending equal delegates, nor had any other gatherings "called" for the establishment of a global-level network of strictly mission structures. As such, the Global Network of Mission Structures is reinvigorating the rich tradition of the International Missionary Council in the first half of the 20th century.

While many valuable "invitation-only" global-level conferences have been conducted, these can sometimes cultivate an "elitist" status and mentality for those invited and can further separate them from grassroots leaders. By contrast, the delegate format - where each participant represents and is delegated by his or her own agency - allows a leader from a newly-formed, 30-member agency from the Global South to dialogue as an equal with leaders of 1000-member agencies from the West.

National-level associations of mission agencies - such as the Nigerian Evangelical Missions Association, the India Missions Association, and the Evangelical Fellowship of Mission Agencies (USA) - have shown great value. So have regional networks, such as the Interdenominational Foreign Mission Association of North America, the Asia Missions Association, and the Third World Mission Association. But none of these are global, while the people groups which missions seek to reach are on the move all over the globe!

The sense of the founding group in Amsterdam was that a global network can significantly advance God's Kingdom. Since unreached peoples are on the move, we face a clear need to establish a global office to monitor their movement and plan for more coordinated efforts of outreach. The staffing of such a network will not necessarily be large since it can draw on many other offices and agencies in collaboration, but the sense of the Amsterdam group was that a closer networking of agencies, missiologists, and others - including sister organizations on a global level - is needed.

Furthermore, while it is a splendid thing for church leaders to network on the global level to better discern the potential outreach of congregations, the specialized task of missions has often gotten lost in the shuffle of many such gatherings and in the many worthy activities of churches. "We want to maintain the cutting-edge vision of specifically mission structures themselves," Amsterdam participants noted.

How to achieve such a task and nurture the Global Network? Today we have more tools than ever, including the Internet, to nurture connections, information-sharing, and other forms of learning among agencies. The founding documents at Amsterdam noted, "The idea is for all 'frontier-active' mission structures-wherever located-to become equal members with each other. Small, newer structures can belong and be full members."

After discussion, Amsterdam delegates agreed to speak primarily of mission "structures" because such a term is more comprehensive than mission "agencies." A mission statement was formulated: "Coming togegther to advance the Kingdom across the frontiers."

In a "working governance model," the GNMS Executive Board is to provide the anchor for the vision and overall operation. The terms and duties of the Executive and the larger Board will be outlined in the by-laws and articles of incorporation.

Amsterdam delegates noted that sufficient financing will be necessary for the success of the GNMS. The delegates agreed to initially encourage freewill contributions from participating agencies rather than imposing fees because the latter might hinder some agencies from joining. GNMS membership is open to all structures that classify as "frontier-active agencies" and have fulfilled minimal administrative standards.

The 28 founding Delegates of the GNMS: