Anglican Communion News Service

Jesus said 'I have come that people might have life, life in all its fullness'.

We are writing as twenty-two members of the Anglican Communion's new Mission Commission at the end of our first meeting in Johannesburg South Africa, May 2001.

We came as representatives of all regions of the world-wide Anglican Communion, heard and discussed reports of the mission, life and witness of Anglican and United Churches in many parts of the world.

We heard of the struggles of Christians in situations of life and death- poverty, HIV/AIDS, war and violence, Islamization and materialism. We also heard of the joys and strengths of congregations growing in numbers and vitality as they reached out to their communities - often in situations of life and death.

We believe that Jesus' promise of fullness of life in all its dimensions is at the heart of God's good news. It is carried into society by all Christian people, as congregations and as individuals -people committed to mission and evangelism.

To follow the Decade of Evangelism and at the beginning of this new century we encourage all dioceses, parishes and local churches to review their mission -the ways they seek to share Christ's life with others.

We offer the following questions to parish congregations to help in this review of mission:

• In what ways are members of the parish/congregation equipped to live and witness as Christians in their communities and at work? How effective are they?
• What are the ways the parish/congregation is reaching out to its community in service and witness? Are there new activities that should be started?
• How good is the parish/congregation's welcome for visitors and new members?
• How inviting for outsiders are the worship and other activities of the parish/congregation?
• In what ways can the parish/congregation join with other churches in service to the community?

If you would like to tell us about what your congregation is doing please write to the Secretary-General, Mission and Evangelism Department, Anglican Communion Office, Partnership House, London SE1 3UT, United Kingdom.

+ Sebastian Bakare
Bishop of Manicaland, Zimbabwe
Chairman on behalf of The Inter-Anglican Standing Commission on Mission and Evangelism