Lambeth - Rural Mission: Challenges and opportunities for all of us

[Worldwide Faith News]

Lambeth Daily
Rural Mission: Challenges and opportunities for all of us
Posted On : July 31, 2008 12:58 PM | Posted By : Webmaster
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“This is why we need the Anglican Communion,” 
sighed Bishop Hilary Luate Adeba of the diocese 
of Yei, Sudan, after an hour-long discussion of 
the enormous challenges of rural mission during a 
Bishops’ Self Select Session on Wednesday.

Water, health care, food, and employment are 
indispensible, yet all are in short supply in 
many dioceses across the Communion. Without them, 
disease, conflict and hopelessness overwhelm many 
of our sisters and brothers every day.

Many rural dioceses encompass vast, yet sparsely 
populated, geographical areas, making 
transportation and communication critically 
important. The Diocese of Vanuatu, Melanesia 
covers over 800,000 square kilometers. In order 
to visit each of his priests, Bishop James Ligo 
undertakes a 3 week-long journey by air, truck, boat and on foot.

Government health assistance doesn’t reach many 
villages in his diocese, so the Church must step 
in. In places where there is no running water, 
sanitation is poor and medical care is almost 
nonexistent. He observed that if the Church could 
help provide running water, it would go a long 
way toward alleviating many serious problems.

Water is also an extremely precious commodity for 
Bishop Ossie Swartz’s Diocese of Kimberly and 
Kuruman (Southern Africa), which is perched on 
the edge of the Kalahari Desert. Bishop Swarz 
told of a six year-old child who recently 
experienced rain for the very first time in his life.

For Bishop Emanuel Arongo in Tamare, Ghana, the 
Sahara desert is more of a problem as it steadily 
expands into his diocese. But even rain is a 
mixed blessing. The rainy season should last from 
May to October, but lack of water commonly delays 
planting until July. Sometimes, when the rains 
finally arrive, too much water all at once leads 
to flooding, crop destruction and even more 
hunger. Flooding and rapidly flowing water also 
increase the numbers of blackflies, whose bite 
transmits the parasite causing river blindness.

Of course, HIV/AIDS is rampant all over the 
globe. Bishop Swarz said that his priests now 
spend most Saturdays conducting funerals rather 
than making pastoral visits to parishioners in 
their homes. AIDS has turned society upside down 
as parents bury their children, stigma further 
isolates those already suffering, and there is an 
increasing need to teach people how to take care 
of the dying at home. But it is not only 
parishioners who are dying: “it’s servers and 
priests who are dying—it is OUR problem!” declared Bishop Swarz.

In the Diocese of the Northwest Territories in 
Australia, Bishop Greg Thompson shared that for 
many indigenous people, addiction, malnutrition, 
kidney failure and other chronic diseases result 
in an average life expectancy of just 47 years.

Once again, so much bad news can lead to a sense 
of hopelessness. But the bishops, clergy and 
laity of these dioceses are meeting their 
challenges with determination and creativity.

In his first week as a new priest, Bishop Arongo 
was talking about God’s love with three siblings 
afflicted by river blindness. “If God is so 
loving, why are we blind? And who made the 
flies?” they retorted. Though the theological 
questions still linger, the experience led Arongo 
to appeal to the Royal Commonwealth Society for 
the Blind. Although the Society did not normally 
work with churches, they made an exception for 
his area. Other agencies have also helped. Now, 
the diocese assists with prevention and medical 
treatment for river blindness, as well as 
assistance for those whose blindness is irreversible.

Anglicare, an agency founded by the Diocese of 
Northwest Territories, provides health care and 
disaster relief. In just ten years, Bishop 
Thompson noted, it has become the largest 
non-governmental organization in the region.

Thompson also offered a moving vision of 
collaborative, holistic ministry. He told of the 
Pandanas tree, which has very long leaves with 
long and menacing spikes at the ends. Most people 
leave the tree alone, but aboriginal women know 
how to reach into the heart of the tree, get the 
young leaves and weave them into baskets. 
Thompson said that he believes his role as bishop 
is to help weave a basket of many 
cultures—comprised of people from widely varying 
ethnic, economic and social groups. Christian 
ministry should be holistic—focusing on body and 
soul, communities and individuals, and welcoming 
lay ministry and ordained ministry.

How can the rest of us help? “Come visit us and 
see what we’re trying to do!” exclaimed one 
bishop. Another tangible need is networking—rural 
bishops are very interested in learning about and 
connecting with Anglican, ecumenical, secular and 
governmental agencies with whom they can partner 
to provide water, health care and education.

In addition, we can begin to re-imagine 
theological education so that it is accessible to 
lay persons as well as future clergy, and ensure 
that it includes health education as well as 
theology and pastoral care. If we do this, 
Anglicans across the Communion can become better 
and healthier followers of Jesus, our teacher and healer