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On Monday 19th February, CMSI’s Patron, Archbishop Richard Clarke, will join the society’s Mission Director, Jenny Smyth and the Chair of the Board of Trustees, Rev Adrian Dorrian, on a partner visit to the Diocese of Northern Zambia.
As part of the programme, the archbishop will preach at a Confirmation Service in St James’ parish, Buchi and will participate in the confirmations alongside Archbishop Albert Chama. Archbishop Richard and Adrian will also contribute to teaching sessions at St John’s Seminary in Kitwe, where CMSI Mission Partners Keith and Lyn Scott are based.
Speaking ahead of the visit, Archbishop Richard identified his hopes for his time in Zambia:
I am looking forward to deepening the growing relationship between CMS Ireland and our partners in Zambia. As part of our ongoing journey of faith together, we can learn and support each other through prayer, faith and devotion. We have much to offer to each other, and I believe that this visit will enable our shared fellowship to move to a deeper and better understanding of each other’s needs and strengths.
Mission is not simply something that happens in far-away places, but should be the cornerstone of our relationship with God, and I look forward to being challenged and encouraged by the faith and determination of our partners to reach out to their own people, and to ask what we can do better to facilitate that mission. Having known Archbishop Chama as a fellow Anglican Primate for some years, it will be a personal delight to enjoy his hospitality.
CMSI seeks to nurture deeper connections between different parts of the global Church, to encourage mutual sharing and support. Central to this approach is a commitment to facilitate visits from Church leaders in Ireland to CMSI’s Global Partners in Africa and Nepal. These visits often include opportunities to participate in teaching and training with theology students or clergy.
In 2017, visits were made to CMSI’s Global Partners by nine different clergy from the Church of Ireland. In addition, CMSI hosted visits to Ireland by Church leaders from DR Congo, Kenya, South Sudan, Rwanda and Zambia.
We're looking forward to the visit, next week, of Bishop Seth Ndayirukiye of Matana Diocese, Burundi. There is chance to meet Bishop Seth and hear his latest news from Burundi at "St Hilda's Cafe Church (Kilmakee Parish, Dunmurry) on Sunday 25th February, at 7pm. Contact the offices for more information.
