Anglicans Ablaze - Vulindlela Conference

From 20 to 22 September 2011, around 80 leaders from ACSA renewal movements met in Kwa Mashu, in the Diocese of Natal, under the shared banner ‘Anglicans Ablaze’. Seeking a fresh vision from God for the ongoing renewal of the Anglican Church, they reflected on the Provincial Vision for Anglicans in Southern Africa to be ‘Anchored in the love of Christ, Committed to God’s Mission, and Transformed by the Holy Spirit.’

The Vulindlela (‘Opening the Way’) conference followed a meeting last year, convened by Bishop Martin Breytenbach, the Province’s liaison bishop, at which representatives of IVIYO, Anglican Renewal Ministries, Sharing of Ministries Abroad (SOMA), New Wine, and Soul Survivor, together with the Provincial Youth Council and Growing the Church, agreed to work together under a common umbrella.

Below is the message of greeting sent by the Archbishop of Cape Town to the Conference, and their reply.

Archbishop's Message to the Anglicans Ablaze ‘Vulindlela’ Conference

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ

I greet you all in the precious name of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour!

Be assured that we shall be remembering you in the Chapel at Bishopscourt as you meet this week – praying that God our Father, through his Spirit, will indeed be setting your hearts on fire with love for him. May he fan into greater flame the gifts he has given you, and ‘Open the Way’ ahead for you within the Anglican Church in Southern Africa, so you may enrich our common life and help us become more fully the people of God whom he is calling us to be.

Please keep me in your prayers also, that I too may listen and respond with faithful obedience, and with joy, to the life and ministry that God sets before me.

Yours in the service of Christ,

+Thabo Cape Town

20 September 2011

Anglicans Ablaze Response

Dear Archbishop Thabo

Warm greetings in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour.

First we want to thank you most sincerely for your letter of greetings and well wishes which we received. It meant a lot to us that you took the time and trouble to remember us. It was read out by Bishop Martin and received with warm applause. Many thanks once again.

You will no doubt know that the ACSA vision statement was at the very heart of the program of our meeting together. In the context of prayer and worship we sought to listen to God and to one another. Out of that time, the leaders decided to formulate a brief statement on behalf of the various ministry groups which reads as follows:

“Dear Archbishop Thabo, the leaders of the various formations meeting together in KwaMashu under the banner of “Anglicans Ablaze”, having reflected prayerfully together on the ACSA vision statement, wish to say to you that if our understanding of the statement is correct, then you can be assured of our whole-hearted support both for you and for the working out of that statement. This concise statement is easy to remember, provides clear direction, provides space for bold leadership and we are excited by it.

• We are Anchored in the Love of Christ

• We are Committed to God’s Mission

• We are being Transformed by the Holy Spirit.

We also affirm and express our commitment to the ACSA Mission Statement. Please be assured of our love and prayers. We have been praying for you here and will continue to pray for you, as you asked”.

Yours in the love of Christ,

+Martin St Mark the Evangelist

On behalf of Leaders of Anglicans Ablaze: Iviyo, New Wine, SOMA, GtC, Anglican Youth, Soul Survivor

22 September 2011

Further details are available at http://www.growingthechurch.org.za.