Press Releases
Archbishop Clarke to visit CMS Ireland partners in Zambia
On Monday 19th February, the Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Revd Dr Richard Clarke, will join CMS Ireland’s Mission Director, Jenny Smyth, and the society’s President, the Revd Adrian Dorrian, on a partner visit to the Diocese of Northern Zambia.
As part of the programme, Dr Clarke will preach at a Confirmation Service in St James’ Parish, Buchi, and will participate in the confirmations alongside the Most Revd Albert Chama, Archbishop of Central Africa and Bishop of Northern Zambia. Archbishop Clarke and Mr Dorrian will also contribute to teaching sessions at St John’s Seminary in Kitwe, where CMSI Mission Partners the Revd Keith and Lyn Scott are based.
Speaking ahead of the visit, Archbishop Clarke identified his hopes for his time in Zambia: “I am looking forward to deepening the growing relationship between CMS Ireland and our partners in Zambia. As part of our ongoing journey of faith together, we can learn and support each other through prayer, faith and devotion. We have much to offer to each other, and I believe that this visit will enable our shared fellowship to move to a deeper and better understanding of each other’s needs and strengths.
“Mission is not simply something that happens in far–away places, but should be the cornerstone of our relationship with God, and I look forward to being challenged and encouraged by the faith and determination of our partners to reach out to their own people, and to ask what we can do better to facilitate that mission. Having known Archbishop Chama as a fellow Anglican Primate for some years, it will be a personal delight to enjoy his hospitality.”
CMSI seeks to nurture deeper connections between different parts of the global Church, to encourage mutual sharing and support. Central to this approach is a commitment to facilitate visits from Church leaders in Ireland to CMSI’s Global Partners in Africa and Nepal. These visits often include opportunities to participate in teaching and training with theology students or clergy.
In 2017, visits were made to CMSI’s Global Partners by the Revd Malcolm Kingston, Sister Myrtle Morrison, Canon Dr Maurice Elliott, Canon James Carson, and a team from the Diocese of Tuam, Killala and Achonry that included Bishop Patrick Rooke and four of his clergy. In addition, CMSI hosted visits to Ireland by Church leaders from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, South Sudan, Rwanda and Zambia. The society is currently preparing to welcome Bishop Seth Ndayirukiye of Matana Diocese, Burundi.
For more information, please contact Roger Cooke, Mission Resource Manager with CMS Ireland, on 028 9077 5020 or rogercooke@cmsireland.org