Anglican International Development for Relief and Change (AID)
Following the GAFCON conference in Jerusalem, the Archbishops of Nigeria and Uganda commissioned a team to visit the Province of Sudan on behalf of the Primates’ Council. Its role was to investigate ways in which other Anglican Provinces could facilitate partnerships with the Episcopal Church of Sudan to work together with them in addressing the many challenges associated with poverty that face their country after 21 years of war.
David Holloway of Reform, Vinay Samuel and Chris Sugden visited Sudan on behalf of AID (www.interanglicanaid.org) at the end of November 2008. Over Christmas many churches in the UK, USA and Australia took part in providing 105 bicycles for pastors in the Sudan. Over £14,000 was raised and the target met.
In the middle of February Baroness Caroline Cox hosted a meeting in the House of Lords with the Archbishop of Sudan and his team, facilitated by AID, to work on a number of initiatives to encourage DFID (department for international development) and the British Government to pursue more active policies to enable the Church to make its contribution, especially in developing agriculture in Southern Sudan.
Now AID has been invited to lead a 5 day workshop for all the 24 Bishops of the Episcopal Church on the Biblical Basis for Stewardship and Economic Development. This will take place from March 28 - March 31 2009. It will be led by David Holloway, Vinay Samuel and Chris Sugden.
The budget for the Sudanese Bishops to attend is £10,500. Sudan is the size of western Europe and travel is expensive. £2,250 has already been raised. We have therefore been asked by Chris Sugden whether churches as a Lent project could pledge to help support a bishop to attend this workshop. It will cost £450 on average for travel and accommodation for each bishop to attend. The travel and other costs of the AID team are being met from other sources.
The most important thing is to know that the funds will come. So a pledge of sending funds to follow will be a great help prior to the seminar. Funds can follow once secured. Please could they be sent to AID, 21 High Street, Eynsham, OX29 4HE. While AID awaits charitable status, gift aid funds can be sent to Anglican Mainstream at the same address.