“The archbishops, bishops, lay and youth were just astounding, with such commitment to the people they serve” Rob Dawes, Executive Director.
Members of the Anglican Alliance staff team were honoured to take part in the full assembly of the Council of the Church of East Asia, which was hosted by the Episcopal Church of the Philippines and the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) in Manila between 10th and 14th October, with the theme “Celebrating Diversities in Mission.”
The full assembly takes place every three years and brings together senior clergy, lay people and youth from all the Anglican provinces of the region for fellowship, prayer and reflection. Delegates shared deeply about both the joys and the profound challenges in their provinces and the ways the Church is responding.
In his opening address, Prime Bishop Brent Alawas (Episcopal Church of the Philippines), challenged the assembled delegates to be “shameless and persistent in prayer”. He spoke of how Jesus, in his Nazareth manifesto (Luke 4: 18-21), spoke of the need for social change now , echoing Jesus’ words, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing”. He talked about how Jesus saw the commonality of oppression in his time and how he presented a counter-narrative – the Kingdom of God – and how we too need to keep challenging the prevailing narrative of our time, countering individualism with community and capitalism with seeing and valuing people.
Each province gave an inspiring presentation about the various ways they are proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom; teaching, baptising and nurturing new believers; responding to human need by loving service; working to transform unjust structures of society, challenging violence and pursuing peace and reconciliation; and striving to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth. In situations of real suffering and pain, the Church is stepping up and stepping in, listening, caring and responding.
We heard, for example, about how the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui church (above) plays an important role in society, especially through its educational institutions. We heard about how the long-delayed (due to Covid) gathering of the Nippon Sei Ko Kai (The Anglican Church of Japan) had been a time to listen to each other, to God and the earth – about life and how it should be lived. We also heard about how they responded to a major earthquake in Noto at the beginning of the year and about how next month they are celebrating their 40-year relationship with the Anglican Church of Korea, a relationship that is about reconciliation – between people but also with the earth.
We heard about how the Anglican Church of Korea is focused on social care, evangelism and environmental stewardship, and how it is engaged in reforestation in Mongolia to combat desertification. We heard how many young people are moving away from Myanmar because of conscription and because of fewer job opportunities as many companies have left the country – but also the testimony from the Church of the Province of Myanmar that “Our faith is very important. At this time, without faith we can’t survive”. We heard about the Episcopal Church of the Philippines’ Banquet Fund, a programme which supports people whose livelihoods have been devastated by disasters, which is funded by donations from people hosting celebrations or banquets.
Humour, joy, vibrancy and love were the hall marks of each presentation – and of the whole gathering.
How was the Anglican Alliance involved?
The conference programme was coordinated by Gay Manodon, the Anglican Alliance Facilitator for East Asia. Gay is based in the Philippines and is a deacon in the Episcopal Church of the Philippines. Rob Dawes, the new Executive Director of the Anglican Alliance said, “Gay was brilliant and it was great to see how regional facilitators are key connectors and vital to us all being able to work together to transform communities”.
Paulo Ueti, the Anglican Alliance’s Theological Adviser and Facilitator for Latin America, led the biblical-theological reflections, exploring familiar passages with new eyes – continuing a piece of work he has been leading through the Asian Theological Academy for some time. In his two sessions, Paulo offered a perspective on the Emmaus story and the Wedding at Cana that focused on the relational and participatory nature of Jesus’ leadership, in which the whole community plays a part in bringing about transformational change, contrasting this way of seeing with more typical colonial exegesis, which emphasises hero figures individually exercising power.
Outgoing Executive Director Rachel Carnegie and Gay Manodon gave a presentation on the work of the Anglican Alliance, highlighting especially activities that have taken place in the region, such as the anti-human trafficking and asset-based church and community transformation consultations.
Elizabeth Perry, Programmes Director, led a session with the youth on Agents of Change. With Rob co-facilitating, the young people reflected on the joys and challenges they face, played “The Longest Line” as a way of exploring assets (see photo), did a short Bible study on Luke 4:14-21 and were given an overview of the Agents of Change programme. As a result of the evening, the youth resolved to set up a regional youth network and asked that there should be a training of trainers in Agents of Change at the CCEA’s regional youth gathering next year. The passion and determination of the young people was exhilarating!
Finally, Elizabeth Perry co-led a plenary session with Floyd Lalwet, Executive Director of Episcopal-CARE and General Secretary of the Episcopal Church in the Philippines on the Communion Forest and attaining net zero in the CCEA. Together, Elizabeth and Floyd set the scene for why initiatives such as the Communion Forest and attaining net zero carbon emissions matter in safeguarding the integrity of creation and what they might look like in practice.
Floyd described the absolutely inspiring and ambitious approach the Episcopal Church of the Philippines is taking to achieve net zero by 2030. His presentation is captured in the video below.
Please join us in praying for the churches of East Asia as they proclaim the gospel in word and action, often in difficult circumstances.
The Anglican Alliance is deeply grateful for the invitation to take part in the CCEA and for the warmth of fellowship and hospitality they enjoyed.
