ANGLICAN EVANGELISM & CHURCH GROWTH INITIATIVE
Mission is at the heart of the life of Anglican churches around the world. In 1984 the Anglican Communion of churches set out its understanding of mission in the Five Marks of Mission.
FIVE MARKS OF MISSION
To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom
To teach, baptise and nurture new believers
To respond to human need by loving service
To seek to transform unjust structures of society
To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth
EVANGELISM & CHURCH GROWTH
In seeking to respond more faithfully to the first two of these marks in the context of a rapidy changing world the Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops, meeting in 2008, called for a global initiative that would encourage churches to strengthen their engagement in evangelism and resource growing churches. The bishops said, "We are called as a Communion to deveop a worldwide vision and strategy of church planting, growth, and mission."
The purpose of the Evangelism and Church Growth Initiative is to promote evangelism and church growth throughout the Anglican Communion.
This purpose needs to be seen in the context of the commitment to holistic mission outlined in the Anglican Communion’s five marks of mission, and is intended to enhance collaborative work and mutual support 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 aims of this Anglican initiative will be achieved by:
- Facilitating prayer and mutual encouragement
- Developing strategies to reach unreached peoples
- Recommending resources and sharing good practice
- Encouraging training in Evangelism and Church Growth for the whole people of God
- Sharing stories, news and strategies
- Identifying key issues for specific consultation
- Building links with other Evangelism and Church Growth networks within and beyond the Anglican Communion.
For more information contact Mark Oxbrow