.svg)
‘When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose.’
Acts 11:23
Dear GSFA Family and Friends,
As I write, we celebrate the Festival of St Barnabas the Apostle, whose name literally means ‘Son of Encouragement’. At a time when many of our Churches face conflict, displacement, economic hardship, disease and growing pressures upon Christian witness, the ministry of encouragement is more necessary than ever.
I thank God that GSFA is growing as a family which brings encouragement and we do this because, like Barnabas, we have seen and experienced the grace of God in the gospel that transcends cultures and transforms lives. Within the Communion, we are therefore a covenanted body of Churches determined to ‘remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose’ so that the grace of God may be known more and more.
It has been especially encouraging that another Province has joined the GSFA family since my last Pastoral Letter. Last month, the GSFA Primates Steering Committee warmly approved an application for membership from IAMA, the Anglican Church of Angola and Mozambique, led by Archbishop Vicente Msosa.
We also welcomed ARDF (USA) as a Mission Partner. Their presence is already being appreciated by members of our Economic Empowerment Track and reflects the growing network of partnerships through which the GSFA seeks to strengthen Churches and communities.
Many GSFA Provinces are in particular need of the encouragement which our Economic Empowerment Track brings. Following a fact finding visit to Myanmar led by the Chairman, Diogo Henriques, the annual Track Conference held in Kuala Lumpur from 20th-24th May brought together Provincial and diocesan representatives with leading practitioners in education, development projects, impact investment and entrepreneur training. Since the first Track Conference last year in Singapore, a strong ‘community of practice’ is emerging which is already bringing tangible changes which speak of God’s grace and kingdom.
This ministry of encouragement is also exercised through our other Tracks in the vital areas of ministry formation and mission. Please pray for the next Bishops Formation Retreat to be kindly hosted by the Church of Uganda in Kampala, 14th-20th July and led by Ministry Formation and Leadership Track Chairman, Bishop Prof. Alfred Olwa, and for preparations being made for the third Mission Partnerships Track meeting in Kuala Lumpur 20th-23rd October led by Track Chairman Bishop Andy Shie.
The GSFA also seeks to serve and encourage orthodox Anglicans throughout the Communion. The Primates Council agreed when it met earlier this year to ‘engage for the time being with the IASCUFO Nairobi-Cairo Proposals’ and most GSFA Provinces will send delegates to the Anglican Consultative Council meeting in Belfast (ACC-19) 27th June – 5th July at which these proposals will be debated. We shall approach discussion prayerfully and constructively, while recognising the reality of impaired communion and what that entails for eucharistic fellowship.
Finally, let us continue to pray for one another in our family of Churches. In particular, we remember DR Congo and Archbishop Titre Ande as the spread of Ebola adds a further crisis to that country and we pray for Archbishop-Elect Eraste Bigirimana as he prepares to be installed as Primate of Burundi on August 23rd, looking forward to the encouragement of his fellowship as a member of the GSFA Primates Council.
As Barnabas encouraged the early Church to remain faithful with steadfast purpose, so I encourage each of our Churches today. The challenges before us are great, but the grace of God is greater still. Let us continue to stand together, pray for one another and labour with confidence in the mission entrusted to us by our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Most Rev Dr Justin Badi Arama
Primate of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and
Chairman of the GSFA
