Projects supported by the Anglican Communion Fund

The Anglican Communion Fund helps to build up the family of believers – the Church – so that it can more effectively be salt and light in its local community. 

Our grants often support the church in the poorest and most threatened parts of the world, where many times the church is the only stable, functioning organisation. They cover a wide variety of areas: economic empowerment, theological education, peace and reconciliation, women’s empowerment and more.

 

Maridi, South Sudan

“You held our hand during our most trying moments.” Bishop Moses Zungo, Diocese of Maridi

 

The Diocese of Maridi South Sudan had plans to conduct a conference in 2020 on intentional discipleship to train church leaders, but this plan was interrupted by the Coronavirus pandemic, which Bishop Moses Zungo describes as a “crisis on top of a crisis.” The ongoing problems of widespread hunger and lack of access to safe water make COVID-19 a devastating threat to families in South Sudan.

A grant from the Anglican Communion Fund provided food items, soaps and seeds to over 200 pastors and lay-readers. It also trained church leaders in virus prevention and provided bicycles and hand microphones for pastors to carry prevention messages into remote areas, along with encouragement in faith and scripture. 

We are supporting the Diocese of Maridi as they are helping people through the trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges currently faced in South Sudan.

 

Church and Community Mobilisation in Kagera, Tanzania

The diocesan tree nursery in Murgwanza, Kagera, Tanzania.
The diocesan tree nursery in Murgwanza, Kagera.

 

Church and Community Mobilisation Programmes (or CCMP) are having significant impact in communities across the globe. They change communities by changing individuals from the inside out using the gospel. Bible study is at the centre of the programme promoting spiritual transformation and empowering people to use their resources to change their families and their communities.

This programme in Kagera is teaching communities how to plant tree nurseries to address deforestation and over-consumption of natural resources, which has been exacerbated by population growth due to migration from neighbouring conflict. The programme also includes Demonstration farming to help people to improve their own farming methods and training in entrepreneurship and business management.

 

Theological Education

Graduates at theological college
Bujumbura Christian University's first graduation, Burundi, February 2019,

 

Our support for a new theological college in Burundi is helping them to deliver critical training for new leaders throughout the Burundian church. This photo is of their first graduating class. It is very valuable for this training to be delivered locally, in their own language and cultural context.

The ACF is also supporting theological education in Sudan, Upper Egypt and Namibia.

 

Women on the Frontline

 

In areas where there is conflict, women play a vital, and often overlooked, role. Supporting these women is the focus of the Women on the Frontline programme. The programme involves retreats for bishops’ wives, led by Caroline Welby, where women can connect with God and engage in fellowship that is healing; where they can build bonds with one another. This is followed by practical peace and reconciliation training.

Each WFL programme is tailored to the needs of the women and their communities, from ethnic divisions to family conflict. Art and creativity are integral to the programme, as an extension of prayer and an alternate means of communicating.

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