Rescued from Debt Slavery Meet Our New Chief
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
News and features from the Anglican Communion Winter 2017 RESCUED FROM DEBT SLAVERY − Page 10 MEET OUR NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE − Page 3 SUPPORT FOR JAILED BISHOP − Page 8 Cover: Alethi benefited from a livelihoods programme run by FAITH IN the Church of North India (see page 10). Credit: Church of North India DEVELOPMENT It is heartening that the United Nations USPG is an Anglican mission has acknowledged the critical role that agency supporting churches faith-based organisations are carrying out around the world in their in development and humanitarian relief. mission to bring fullness of life On page 5 we quote UN Development to the communities they serve. Programme Administrator Helen Clark Theologically, practically and financially, we encourage and who acknowledges that faith-based enable churches within the organisations play a vital role in talking Anglican Communion to act to people about what really matters. This as the hands and feet of Christ. is a wonderful endorsement because Together, we are working to USPG has been doing just this for improve health, tackle poverty, decades, even centuries, yet the valuable put children in school, challenge discrimination, nurture leaders, work we do with our partners has rarely give a voice to women, and been recognised by the ‘big players’ in much more. Founded 1701. international development. USPG Hopefully, the tide is turning. We Harling House believe it is only when we embrace – rather 47-51 Great Suffolk St than deny or ignore – the ingredient of London SE1 0BS faith that development programmes start 020 7921 2200 to make sense. [email protected] The topic of faith and development is so www.uspg.org.uk important it will be our central focus during Registered charity number 234518 2018. To this end, we will be looking at the The views expressed here UN’s Sustainable Development Goals in may not always represent the our Lent study course and at our annual official position of USPG. conference (see page 5). We hope you will ISSN 0967-926X be inspired to see how the world church is Edited by Mike Brooks right at the heart of God’s mission to bring Designed by Monika Ciapala fullness of life to all people. Transmission is sent free of The Revd Canon Richard Bartlett charge. Donations to cover Director for Mission Engagement costs are appreciated. If you’d like to receive Transmission on a regular basis, please email [email protected] 2 NEWS USPG extends a warm welcome to our new Chief Executive The Revd Duncan Dormor, the Dean of Chapel at St John’s College, Cambridge University, has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of USPG. Ahead of formally taking up the post in January, USPG Communications Manager Mike Brooks interviewed Duncan (pictured) to find out about his background and what draws him to USPG and world mission. Mike Brooks: Welcome to USPG! You’re joining us from St John’s College, part of Cambridge University. How have you found your time there? Duncan Dormor: It’s been a wonderful experience. While I’ve worked and taught there for almost 20 years, our community changes every year and the world of higher education is always evolving; so there are constantly fresh challenges. It has been a real joy to work with young people who are so vibrant, creative and engaged. I’m mindful that we are called to proclaim the gospel afresh in every generation, and I’m interested in how USPG I’ve had the pleasure of working with one can engage with young people in new ways. of the best Anglican choirs in the world. In fact, it’s interesting that USPG has a historic commitment to students – I’m Music is important to you, then? thinking about how the UMCA (Universities’ Yes, definitely. Worship and music. One Mission to Central Africa, founded 1857) of my proud achievements at St John’s became a part of USPG in the 1960s. was pioneering webcasting services from our chapel, a first for the UK. Now many What have been your main duties at St cathedrals and college chapels do this, and John’s? it’s giving Anglican evensong a global reach. I’ve had a number of different roles within the We have people listening and getting in touch college. I started as chaplain, which involved from all over the world – including Mexico a great deal of pastoral work. In the university and China. A teacher in Scandinavia told us my subject is sociology and anthropology of she uses our webcasts to teach her students religion, though I’ve also taught sociology of mission to ordinands. And, of course, as dean Credit: Dumbletons Photography → 3 NEWS English because in chapel we have to speak out to those on the margins. slowly and annunciate so clearly! It can be very easy for the church to turn In fact, I think music and worship have inwards and become something of a club. By been overlooked in mission. Music has a contrast, I think it’s only when we reach out into healing power and can reach people in ways the world, with all its rich complexity, that the that words can’t. I’ve often wondered why church responds to God’s call; it is in mission worship isn’t mentioned in the Anglican that the church becomes most fully itself. Communion’s Five Marks of Mission. What are your hopes for USPG? Has the church always been a part of your life? I am deeply attracted to what lies at the Yes, my uncle and grandfather were both heart of USPG’s vision: the transformation of parish priests; my father, a lawyer, has communities by following Christ. just stepped down after a long stint as a As Christians, we live in a global churchwarden in Beer, Devon, where I grew community and, as such, we all have a great up. The other side of my family are farmers. deal to learn from one another’s perspectives At university I was influenced by a more and cultures. I’m greatly looking forward evangelical form of Anglicanism, which was to listening and learning from our partner very important at that stage, and I guess churches across the Anglican Communion I would now be described as a liberal or – this strikes me as a deeply authentic and modern catholic. However, I grew up with a faithful response to Jesus’s call that we love practical sort of Christianity and I’m not a fan our neighbour. But it is a two-way dialogue of labels – the world is much more complex and one of my hopes is that, through and interesting than labels! this ongoing dialogue, USPG can help to bring a greater ‘fullness of life’ to Anglican How would you describe your theology? congregations in Britain and Ireland. We are pilgrims together, and in our journey Duncan is the author/editor of numerous with Christ we need to take the fact that every books. His latest, Pope Francis, Evangelii human being is made in the image of God Gaudium and the Renewal of the Church, is very seriously indeed – it should prompt us to due out soon. act in ways that challenge structures of power ▪ that promote inequality and injustice. This is what Jesus did again and again. He reached Photo: With choristers at St Johns Chapel. 4 USPG Lent course explores global development Many of us hope for a better world, but helping to lead an initiative that is bringing we know that change is not easy. It seems together faith organisations to discuss how good intentions and willpower alone are we might encourage the UK government to not enough. In fact, change is only possible engage seriously with the SDGs in the UK. with God because, with God, all things are Emma said: ‘The SDGs provide an possible. opportunity for us to rethink what we This is the message of our Lent study understand by development. For example, how course for 2018, which has a special focus on can the UK call itself a “developed” country the United Nations’ Sustainable Development when many of our so-called advancements Goals (SDGs) – which replace the former can only be sustained through exploitation?’ Millennium Development Goals. Entitled All Things Are Possible, the course HOW TO ORDER looks at how Anglican Churches in Africa, All Things Are Possible is free to order Asia and Latin America are playing their part or download at www.uspg.org.uk/lent to end extreme poverty, fight inequality and See also advert on page 19. injustice, and fix climate change. We hope ▪ you will be inspired to discover the role that you and your church can play for the future Photo: How is the UK impacting on global well-being of all people on our planet. warming? Rugeley Power Station. The course was inspired by a growing Credit: Wiki Commons recognition that faith communities are key players in development. For example, according to UN Development Programme USPG CONFERENCE 2018: Administrator Helen Clark: ‘Faith-based organisations... have an important role to ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE play in reminding us to focus on what really Our conference next year is at High Leigh matters to us as human beings in search of Conference Centre, Hoddesdon, from 2 well-being.’ to 4 July. There will be workshops and It is gratifying to know that faith-based international speakers looking at how organisations are increasingly being the church is engaging with the UN's recognised for the important work we are Sustainable Development Goals. Find doing alongside our world church partners.