Being Anglican
The Five Marks of Mission
The Five Marks of Mission are a foundational framework that defines the Anglican Communion’s common commitment to God’s holistic and integral mission. They provide a comprehensive vision for how the Church participates in God’s redemptive work in the world.
While deeply theological, the Marks are also a practical tool. They offer parishes and dioceses around the world a memorable ‘checklist’ for mission activities. This ensures that as a community focuses on one area of mission, no other essential component—from evangelism to creation care—is inadvertently neglected.
A Foundational Mandate: The Mission of the Church is the Mission of Christ
The entire framework for the Five Marks of Mission rests on a single, core principle: ‘The mission of the Church is the mission of Christ’.
This declaration is the interpretive key to the framework. It establishes that the Church does not invent its own mission; rather, it is called to participate in the mission of God revealed in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Within this structure, the First Mark—proclaiming the ‘Good News of the Kingdom’ —functions as the primary lens through which the other four are understood.
The other marks are the necessary expressions of what the ‘Good News of the Kingdom’ looks like in practice.
A Memorable Framework for Action
To aid in their practical application, many churches and dioceses have adopted a simple mnemonic as a memorable way to apply this holistic framework:
Tell, Teach, Tend, Transform and Treasure.
This helps to easily recall the five marks and put them into action, with each word corresponding to one of the official statements:
A Living Framework:
The Evolution of the Marks
The Five Marks of Mission are a dynamic framework that has evolved to meet contemporary challenges.
The marks are not a final statement but a guide that is reviewed regularly by the Communion.
- 1984: The Anglican Consultative Council (ACC-6) first developed the four marks, balancing evangelism and social action.
- 1990: The Anglican Consultative Council at ‘ACC-8’ adds the Fifth Mark in response to a growing understanding of the global ecological crisis and the biblical call to care for creation.
- 2012: The Anglican Consultative Council at ‘ACC-15’ refines the wording of the Fourth Mark to more explicitly include the pursuit of peace and reconciliation.
Many Anglican churches have adopted the Five Marks of Misison in their settings around the world.
TELL
Proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom
This first mark stands as the wellspring of all mission activity. Identified with personal evangelism at the Anglican Consultative Council in 1984, it is the non-negotiable verbal witness of the Christian faith. The proclamation is of the “Kingdom of God,” God’s sovereign, redemptive, and restorative rule over all life. This broad concept announces that in Jesus Christ, God is acting to heal, reconcile, and make all things new, providing the theological foundation for the other four marks.
TEACH
Teach, baptise and nurture new believers
Flowing directly from the proclamation, this second mark addresses the essential work of discipleship. It affirms that the Church’s responsibility does not end at conversion but requires the intentional processes of teaching the faith, incorporating individuals into the community through baptism, and providing ongoing spiritual nurture. This ensures the long-term sustainability and spiritual depth of the Church, forming mature disciples who can, in turn, participate in God’s mission.
TEND
Respond to human need by loving service
The third mark is rooted in Jesus’s example of compassionate action, embodying the Kingdom of God’s presence through care for the sick, poor and vulnerable, reflecting the Great Commandment to love God and neighbour, and demonstrating that service is central to faith, transforming lives and society through practical love and justice.
TRANSFORM
Transform unjust structures of society, challenge violence of every kind and pursue peace and reconciliation
The fourth mark represents the prophetic dimension of mission. It demonstrates a sophisticated understanding that sin is not only personal but also systemic. It calls the Church to move beyond individual acts of charity (Mark 3) to address the root causes of suffering: the “unjust structures” that perpetuate poverty, oppression, and conflict. The call to challenge violence and pursue peace insists that a holistic mission must engage the political, economic, and social systems that shape human lives.
TREASURE
Strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth
The fifth mark articulates the ecological dimension of mission, widening the circle of responsibility to its furthest extent. Formally added in 1990, this mark reflects a mature theological understanding that God’s redemptive plan is cosmic in scope. It calls human beings to their divinely appointed role as stewards of the earth, presenting environmental care not as a secular agenda but as an integral component of faithfulness to the Creator God.
Resources for Living the Marks
To assist parishes, small groups, and individuals in putting the Five Marks into action, churches and agencies across the Communion have developed a wide range of resources, including Bible studies, youth curricula, and guides for action.
