Through world mission we are encouraged and enabled to share with our brothers and sisters in the Worldwide Anglican Church the task of bringing in God’s Kingdom of justice and peace. Learning more of the richness and diversity of our global faith, praying for and with each other and seeking bonds of mutual encouragement and support are the pillars of this wonderful community of faith.
The World Mission and Global Justice group aims to offer parishes, deaneries and individuals ways to engage with, be inspired by and to share in this work with reference to the Five Marks of Mission, originally developed by the Anglican Consultative Council:
- To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom
- To teach, baptise and nurture new believers
- To respond to human need by loving service
- To transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and pursue peace and reconciliation
- To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth
These five marks are sometimes abbreviated to five words:
- Tell
- Teach
- Tend
- Transform
- Treasure
Mission agencies
Through strengthening our links with organisations active in mission work, we signpost parishes to the huge amount of information, support programmes, and study, educational and other opportunities provided. We will be focusing in more depth on the work of a small number of organisations each year, both global and local.
- Church Mission Society (CMS) - working 'at the edges' to encourage individuals and groups of people to follow Jesus.
- United Society Partners in the Gospel (USPG) - an Anglican mission agency that partners with churches worldwide in God’s mission to enliven faith, strengthen relationships, unlock potential and champion justice.
- Anglican Alliance - helping the worldwide Anglican family to work for a world free of poverty and injustice and to safeguard creation.
- Ripple Effect - a partnership of resourceful farming families working alongside experienced and committed staff based in Africa.
Parish links with Zambia
Bath and Wells has enjoyed a Companion Link with the Anglican Church in Zambia since 1978. Take a look at our Zambia Parish Links page, which features a range of stories of parish links with Zambia.
Anglican Communion
At the Lambeth Conference, which took place in July 2022, a major feature was discussion of the Lambeth Calls. The aim of each call is to deepen faithfulness to God, advance the ministry of the communion and enable wider participation in the calls by churches and communities around the world. Each call includes declarations, affirmations, and common calls for action or reflection. Lambeth Calls were shared on the following themes:
• Discipleship
• Environment and Sustainable Development
• Anglican Identity
• Safe Church
• Science and Faith
• Human Dignity
• Christian Unity
• Mission and Evangelism
• Inter Faith
• Reconciliation
These Calls are available to read on the conference website. In Phase 3 of the process of discussion and reflection, these themes are being taken forward, involving the whole communion. Anyone can participate in this process by signing up here: The Lambeth Calls – The Lambeth Conference
Anglican Alliance was an outcome from the 2008 Lambeth Conference and is mandated to bring together development, relief and advocacy work across the Anglican Communion. More on Anglican Alliance can be found here: Anglican Alliance: development, relief, advocacy and on The Anglican Communion here: Anglican Communion Home Page
The Communion Forest is an environmental initiative of the Anglican Communion and more on its progress can be found here: How’s it growing? The Communion Forest, one year on - Anglican Alliance
Environment
The mission team has advisers who are active in supporting the environment, and much information on the perspective from our global partners is provided by the Anglican Alliance. An outcome of the Lambeth Conference 2022 was the Communion Forest, with the Anglican Communion joining together in tree growing and ecosystem conservation, protection and restoration throughout the world. Communion Forest – Sustain and Renew
Development agencies
Campaigns launched by other agencies, in particular Christian Aid and Tearfund, will be supported and publicised through this section of the website, with details of local and national events featured and promoted here.
- Christian Aid - a partnership of people, churches and local organisations committed to ending poverty worldwide.
- Tearfund - works with local churches and organisations in more than 50 countries to tackle the complex challenges of poverty.
Diocesan Prayer Calendar
Praying with and for our global partners in mission is vital for ourselves and for them in building up God’s people. The monthly diocesan Prayer Calendar provides each of us with opportunities and subjects for prayer every day.
Who to contact
Mike Haslam, Acting Mission Development Team Leader
Annabel Capel, Zambia Programme Coordinator