For the first time ever the full Anglican Alliance staff team met together in a strategic meeting last week.
Regional facilitators from the Pacific, Asia, Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean came together with the London-based secretariat to share fellowship, review the development of the Alliance and plan together for the next three years. It was the first time some of them had met the new Alliance Co-Directors, Andy Bowerman and Rachel Carnegie.
Andy Bowerman said, “It was fantastic for the team to gather together from across the world. The retreat has given us valuable time to refresh ourselves together, reflect on where we have come from and renew our commitments and plans for the future.
“Together we remain committed to providing a space where the voice of the most marginalised can be heard and where issues of poverty & justice can be challenged.”
The team spent three days on retreat hearing from each other about previous achievements and challenges and reviewing the progress on priorities for development, relief and advocacy.
Priorities for each region were identified at the initial consultations in 2011, and the Alliance are continuing to draw from these to support the work of local churches and agencies in key areas.
Building on the foundations made in the last three years, the team worked together to discuss the strategic plan for the Anglican Alliance for its next three years of development. This document will be reviewed by the Alliance Advisory Council and signed off by the Alliance Board in upcoming meetings.
Rachel Carnegie, Co-Director, said: “It was very inspiring to be together with the whole team, hearing the stories of Anglican and Episcopal churches around the Communion as they respond to human need and work for justice.
“Under Sally Keeble’s leadership over the past three years, the vision of the Anglican Alliance has become a reality. We were able to reflect with thanks on all that has been achieved and to share and shape our vision for the path ahead. We look forward to the inputs of the Advisory Council and the Board.”
Each staff member has reflected on the value of meeting as a team to discuss key achievements and challenges and take priorities forward.
Michael Roy, Facilitator for Asia, said, “It was good to meet everyone and have productive discussions. This kind of meeting was necessary particularly with new directors and to set the plan for the future.”
Paulo Ueti, Facilitator for Latin America and the Caribbean, said, “It was good to be here and our meetings and conversations with all the team were very fruitful. It is great to be able to connect more and work more closely as a team.”
And June Nderitu, recently appointed as Facilitator for Africa, said, “I was thrilled to meet all the team and I am grateful to God for the time we spent together.”
Further details on the Anglican Alliance’s future strategy and key priorities for each region will be shared following the full Board meeting in April.
In the picture:
Top: The full staff team taking a lunch time walk on the beach near Wareham, Dorset
