Anglican church charting new course in Barbados

The Anglican church is charting a new course in Barbados, which it hopes will enable it to be more relevant, relatable, all-embracing and transformational.

Bishop of Barbados, Reverend Michael Maxwell, today stressed that this journey will be one of faith, hope and love, using the Diocese’s Mission Action Plan (MAP) to empower them to raise the nation.

The MAP commenced with special services in each Anglican church that included a videotaped message from Maxwell. The Bishop attended the service at the Holy Innocents Church, St Thomas.

Elaborating on the introduction of the action plan, Reverend Maxwell noted it was a pivotal period for the Anglican Church in Barbados and the aim is to energise the more than 50,000 Anglicans.

“This MAP is to guide us over the next two years to become God’s church — that is reset, resource and resilient for his mission. It was developed through much prayer and reflection on the contribution submitted at last year’s Synod on our church’s need to address three critical areas of ministry: discipleship, outreach and stewardship (DOS),” he said.

“As a living document inspired by the Holy Spirit, our MAP will serve as our GPS, our compass to direct us from where we are at present … to where God desires us to be — fully engaged and thriving as His church in His mission. We especially hear God calling us to be a unified, missional and resilient church, embracing, serving, transforming and uplifting our people and our republic for Him. And this will be our Diocesan vision as we approach our 200 years as a Diocese come July 2024.”

Within the MAP, nine mission-critical areas fall under the categories of the DOS reset. To achieve this vision, the church will embark on becoming more intentional in the nurturing of the faith of the youth and their involvement in ministry through creative arts.

Moreover, it will aim to develop and offer in-person and virtual intention faith formation initiatives; deepen the membership’s spiritual growth as disciples and utilise more readily blended or indigenous forms of worship that resonate more with a Caribbean identity, and for some, is that spiritual connection with God. (KC)