What does the World Mission team do?
Lockdown brought home the importance of staying in communication with one another globally and to share in prayer and solidarity as we sought to respond. As a Diocese we value our formal companion diocesan links, but recognise that World Mission is actually much bigger than this because God is far bigger and cannot be contained within our limited structures.
We are keen to be able to identify and celebrate the wide range of links, connections and friendships that people already have worldwide, whether with mission partners, mission agencies or charities. We would like to include these in the Diocesan Prayer Diary as an expression of celebrating where we find God already at work in the world. Please send your information to: Denise Keen
'We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church'. A line we recite week-by-week in the Nicene Creed that affirms that we as parishes and as a diocese are but one small part of the Christian faith.
- 'apostolic' reminds us that we connect to generations of Christians in of the past and future, led by bishops anointed in succession that leads back to the early church.
- 'catholic' means both 'broad' and 'universal' - we are part of the family of Christ even when we disagree with each other, and no matter where we are in the world.
It is very hard to relate to all 2.2 billion Christians on this planet, nor even 85 million Anglicans. But by building links with a few in different parts of the globe, our vision and understanding of the lives of our fellow-Christians and our shared joy in the Lord grows.
As a diocese we have two key spheres of meeting with the worldwide: many parishes and individuals have many more:
Our Global Partnerships
- Matlosane in South Africa (Companion Diocese)
- QuAppelle in Saskatchewan, Canada (Companion Diocese)
- Nordkirche in Germany (Companion Diocese)
- Dioceses of West Malaysia, Kuching and Sabah in Malaysia
- Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross in Ireland
- Diocese of Saskatoon in Saskatchewan, Canada
- Diocese of Hyderabad, Pakistan (Companion Diocese)
Bishop Chris Harper, Diocese of Saskatoon, asks for our prayers following the tragic multiple stabbings this week:
Prayers ascending for all our Indigenous communities. This past long weekend here in Saskatchewan was indeed a problematic and painful one... Please continue to keep our province of Saskatchewan in prayers, as this event and realities in which we now find ourselves is not normal and not the common in our people and youth... Read more
A visit from Bishop Steve Diseko
On Tuesday 26th July 2022, we welcomed Bishop Steve, Bishop of the Diocese of Matlosane in South Africa to Lichfield Diocese. Watching people from across the diocese arrive at the Church of the Holy Spirit, Etching Hill, to greet Bishop Steve, and his wife Brenda, as old friends, was wonderful to see. Read more
Bishop Steve and Brenda were in the UK to take part in the Lambeth Conference (26th July-8th August 2022)
Global Swansong
‘Fancy a nice cushy job with lots of exotic world travel?’ So ran the Church Times advert which caught my eye back on the summer of 2009 for the Director of World Mission post in Lichfield Diocese. I was already hooked before I read the next part – ‘If so, don’t apply’. I am deeply thankful that I did apply and it had been a thoroughly rewarding and engaging post, building on the excellent legacy of those who preceded me and changing and adapting to all that the Spirit is doing within the world wide church and the Anglican Communion in particular. Read more.
A series of six Zoom conversations, anticipating Philip Swan’s retirement as World Mission Enabler on 11th September 2021, were held with our link Dioceses. Most of these have been recorded and provide insights into our current links as well as a record of the past. Click below to see the informative powerpoints presented during the sessions:
- West Malaysia powerpoint
- Matlosane, South Africa powerpoint
- Qu'Appelle & Saskatoon powerpoint
- Cork, Cloyne and Ross report
- Kuching,Brunei and Sabah powerpoint
- Mecklenburg, Nordkirche
Cross Cultural Placements
We are delighted to report back that the 9 second year curates who went on placements in 2019 to our link Dioceses all returned safely after very positive experiences. This was the first year when this option was available and we are hoping that it will be an increasingly important and strategic expression of our engagement with world mission as this becomes an annual practice. However, clearly no travel was possible during, and immediately after, the pandemic and we are reviewing what will be the best way forward in the future. Click here for reports on these visits: Matlosane, Qu'Appelle, Nordkirche, S.E.Asia, Moscow.
Reconciliation, Hope and New Advent - an introduction to indigenous culture an spirituality
Bishop Chris Harper, the first indigenous Bishop of Saskatoon, gave three sessions as an introduction to indigenous culture and First Nation spirituality via Zoom.
Links to the videos are available here:
1. New Advent 2. People of Hope 3. Reconciliation
The St Chads Volunteer Programme
Enabling young people (18-35) through the St Chads Volunteer Programme, to go to our Companion Dioceses and to come here on 6-12 month placements. The scheme has been running since 2000.
World Mission Newsletter
An update concerning World Mission and our Global Partnerships is circulated several times per year. The Winter 2022 edition is available here. To receive the Newsletter on a regular basis please contact: Denise Keen
To view previous editions please click below:
The team also:
- Supports and raises awareness of Anglica mission agencies such as USPG and CMS, alongside other mission organisations
- Promotes and encourages informed prayer for the church worldwide
The Ven Dr Sue Weller
Bishop's Advisor for World Mission
Denise Keen
Other Resources
'It takes the whole world to know the whole Christ.'
A 6 session course introducing World Mission and Cross Cultural Mission, produced under the five diocesan themes at the time, which continue to be useful resources.
To download copies of the course please click on the relevant links below: