There is so much more I could say about the vision I believe God is setting before us. It is a vision we must seek through rootedness in Christ Jesus, and ever-deepening engagement with Scripture and Sacraments; through the discipline of daily prayer and Bible-reading.
It is a vision that will touch every area of our lives. Let me share where it is already touching mine:
It is a vision of the restoration of dignity of each person, created by God and precious in God’s sight.
It is a vision of growing parish youth ministries, strengthened ecumenical ministry in tertiary education and Anglican schools helping address the skills shortages of our communities.
It is flourishing theological education, including through our residential college in Grahamstown and the Anglican House of Studies in Pietermaritzburg.
It is confident, competent, well-remunerated clergy, energising all God’s people in mission.
It is parishes as centres of peace and safety, offering shelter and nurture the vulnerable, especially children and youth: whether parishes in Cape Town, across South Africa, in Angola, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Swaziland, or in St Helena and Tristan da Cunha.
It is churches working in partnership with governments and civil society to breathe hope and transformation into every aspect of our communities and common life.
It is an Africa without conflict, and without the unjust structures that fuel injustice….