By: MARGARET BROWN
Margaret Brown is one of The Resident’s longest standing contributors and has lived in the Algarve for more than 20 years. As well as Point of View, she also writes Country Matters twice a month.
WHILE THOSE present at the Lambeth Conference fail to deal with outstanding differences about the interpretation of God’s Word, 230 Bishops have formed the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), along with over 1,000 clerics from all over the world.
Its emphasis is on mission, the planting of new churches and an uncompromised Gospel. Vital to the work carried out by missionaries is a clear certainty that they are teaching the true word, not that agreed by Lambeth in order to paper over the cracks and keep an uneasy peace in the Anglican Communion.
As time passes, there is a danger that other human behaviour will be incorporated to keep the peace, so that a kind of ‘mix and match’ will be on offer to aspiring Christians depending upon which is most likely to bring the numbers in.
Disintegration
Although there are many reasons for social breakdown in advanced countries, it seems that the less the Church connects with the rising generation the greater the disintegration. Through the work of missionaries already established in under-developed countries, the reverse is happening.
One among many, the Reverend Jenny Green has been working with the Church of Uganda since 1994. Based at Kisoro in South West Uganda close to the borders of the Congo and Rwanda, she has responsibility for children and young people in her area.
Because of the large number of abandoned babies and homeless children without the basic needs to maintain life, Jenny is hoping to build a permanent home to give them shelter. A plot of land has been donated by the Church and through a ‘Buy a brick’ scheme, money is beginning to come in, but not nearly enough and more help is needed.
A prayer group that originated from the congregation of Luz Church of St.Vincents in the Algarve sends donations when it can, but much more is needed.
To find out more go to www.marpleparish.co.uk and help if you are able?
