bath & wells: mission

World Mission Adviser Jenny Humphreys' Reports on her Visit to Zambia

“In May 2006 World Mission Adviser Jenny Humphreys and her husband Rod visited the five dioceses of the Anglican Church in Zambia, with whom we have a 28 year-old Companion Link.  Jenny had been invited to represent Bath & Wells at the 100th Anniversary of the first Anglican Church in what is now Zambia, consecrated on Easter Day in 1906. During the visit to each of the dioceses meetings were held as part of an ongoing process of consultation on how the link is perceived, currently being done in conjunction with the Zambian Church. In addition, as part of “Changing Lives” the School of Formation sent some questions to the Zambian church about Lay Training, to find out more about how this takes place. The church in Zambia has always relied heavily on lay involvement within parishes, where clergy are responsible for many separate congregations spread throughout largely rural areas.

For more details of how this works see the article on the website at http://www.bathandwells.org.uk/changing_lives/toolkit/toolkitzambia.php

They had some excellent input from parish representatives, lay and clergy, and hope to collate all the notes from the meetings before the Archdeaconry Evenings in July and let people have reports on them, and on what we can learn from the way mission and ministry are undertaken there.

Rod spent time liaising with the Zambia Anglican Council about on-going building project work being undertaken with funds sourced through the link.”

Passing on an introductory letter and photos from Timsbury & Priston, to their new Link, St Agnes Church, Kaunda Square, Lusaka. In the photo is the Parish Priest the Revd Yobo Jere, and link correspondent Mr Brown Mkunsha. Mr Mkunsha used to be the correspondent in his previous church before he retired to Lusaka. He is delighted to take on the role again!  The photo is taken outside the new priest’s house, which was blessed by Bishop David Njovu of Lusaka Diocese. It was purchased by the diocese with funds sourced through the Bath & Wells Link. Jenny had the honour of cutting a ribbon and turning the key in the lock!

One of the several meetings we held around the five dioceses to discuss perceptions of the 28-year-old link. Some very useful discussions were held about issues of communications, finance, visits, awareness, projects, training, and poverty alleviation. This photo was taken at the end of the meeting in Choma Church, in Lusaka Diocese. It was Christian Aid Week, so Jenny asked people to sign cards for Christian Aid to send to our Prime Minister, and gave everyone Make Poverty History wristbands.