February 12, 2010

Following the resolution passed at ACC-14 (at http://www.aco.org/communion/acc/meetings/acc14/resolutions.cfm#s2) to promote ‘Evangelism and Church Growth Initiative' a Core Group of Animators has been appointed to take the work forward under the auspices of the Mission Department of the Anglican Communion. Its first meeting took place at St Columba's, Woking, UK, from 11 to 15 January 2010.

The main purpose of the Evangelism and Church Growth Initiative (ECGI) is to promote evangelism and church growth work throughout the Anglican Communion. As well, as facilitating the sharing of news, stories, experiences and strategies of various evangelism and church growth initiatives. ECGI objectives are:

• Facilitate prayer and mutual encouragement;

• Develop strategies to reach unreached peoples;

• Recommend resources & sharing good practice;

• Encourage training in evangelism and church growth for the whole people of God;

• Sharing stories, news and strategies;

• Identify key issues for specific consultation;

• Build links with other evangelism and church growth networks within and beyond the Anglican Communion;

• Encourage practical engagements in evangelism and church growth as signs of hope;

• Promote centrality of evangelism and church growth within God's holistic mission to be on people's agenda throughout the Provinces and instruments of Communion.

Meanwhile, the role of the Core Group will be to enhance and facilitate collaborative work, mutual support and prayer, and to stir up the passion for action in evangelism and church growth work in the Anglican Communion.

The Evangelism and Church Growth Initiative is therefore a forum for sharing ideas, experiences, skills, and mutual support of those involved in evangelism and church growth in parishes, dioceses and provinces of the Anglican Communion, in order to bring people to follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and become life long disciples within the community of God's people. The Evangelism and Church Growth Initiative is committed to holistic mission, as expressed in the Anglican Communion's five marks of mission.

The full report of this initial meeting and progress reports will appear on the Anglican Communion website (Mission section), and there will also be further postings on ACNS. You are encouraged to complete a registration form here http://www.anglicancommunion.org/ministry/mission/ecgi/form.cfm, if you want to contribute to and receive the ECGI newsletter and other information.

For further information about the Evangelism and Church Growth Initiative contact the staff involved in the project – John Kafwanka: john.kafwanka@anglicancommunion.org, or Stuart Buchanan: stuart.buchanan@anglicancommunion.org.

Website: http://www.anglicancommunion.org/ministry/mission/.

Anglican Communion News Service, London