Archbishop of York hosts Anglican Alliance development conference
03 May 2012
York was the setting for an Anglican Alliance conference that brought together churches from across the province to look at building up their links with people in the developing world.
Over 50 delegates attended the conference that was hosted by the Archbishop of York, the Most Rev John Sentamu, who led the opening act of worship. The opening address was given by the Bishop of Durham, the Rt Rev Justin Welby who spoke of his own early experience of working in Kenya, and of the need for a commitment, during difficult times, to supporting the holistic mission of the Church worldwide.
The conference heard from the Bishop of Mbeere in Kenya, the Rt Rev Moses Nthuka, whose diocese has a far-reaching development programme to meet the needs of a hard-pressed community. Mrs Lucy spoke of her work with the Mother’s Union in Mbeere, which has been a driver of transformational change in the community. The bishop and his wife took part in a three-way discussion with Revd Malcolm McNaughton, from the Archbishop’s office.
Sally Keeble, Anglican Alliance Director, presented on the work of the Alliance in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific.
Delegates discussed the lessons they had learned from local and global actions, including the importance of mutual respect between developing and developed world, the need for those in the developing world to define needs and shape programmes and the value that the strong relationships of the link dioceses brought to development. The discussion was facilitated by Rev Rachel Carnegie, International Development Secretary to the Archbishop of Canterbury.
There will be a further Anglican Alliance meeting at York on July 7th, when young Anglican peacekeepers from Zimbabwe and Sudan speak at a Synod fringe meeting hosted by the Anglican Alliance and Partnerships in World Mission.