SEASONS CHANGE AND WE'RE CHANGING WITH THEM.

- IN THIS ISSUE -

Anglican Missions profile grows, all about ORAC and the way forward.

Diplomats talk about a year being “fully occupied” and Anglican Missions can honestly attest to that even though we are not even a quarter of the way through! This season has been equal parts exciting and fast-paced. And the fruit is showing - in the crowded space of mission, development and humanitarian agencies, our public profile is growing.

This has been helped in no short measure by participating in three significant events this summer: New Wine (Masterton); Festival One (Cambridge) and the Wellington Diocese Leaders Camp (Kapiti). At each event Anglican Missions had a strong presence.

More recently, we hosted in New Plymouth the Oceania Regional Advisory Council (ORAC) which brought together 24 representatives from across the region as well as the USA and UK. This annual meeting focussed on what the Anglican Church is doing across a number of key themes such as safeguarding and strengthening climate resilience.

ORAC took place the weekend after a 4-day workshop in Wellington. This practical, hands-on session focused on the Partners in Risk Resilience (PiRR) tool, exploring how building community resilience - preparing for and responding to natural disasters and the impacts of climate change -can be similarly approached across diverse regions. Whether in sub-Saharan Africa, low-lying Pacific atolls, or coastal communities in Aotearoa New Zealand, the principles of strengthening resilience remain remarkably consistent.

Ensuring Anglican church communities are well ‘joined up’ around the implementation of the Five Marks of Missions is a key role of ours and one we will grow. You can read more about this meeting in the next section and watch a presentation on the PiRR tool.

I believe we are in an exciting space right now, and this has meant we're starting a comprehensive strategic planning exercise designed to chart our course for the next five years. Seasons change, and we're changing with them! This process will include talking with many of our key partners to see where they believe we could be positioned going forward.

We continue to appreciate your ongoing support. Please give generously to our Lenten Appeal – both projects deserve your support.

Michael Hartfield

National Director, Anglican Missions

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ORAC 2025.

The 2025 Oceania Regional Advisory Council (ORAC).

This year's ORAC welcomed participants from the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and representatives from the Anglican Board of Mission and Anglican Overseas Aid (both Australia); the Mothers Union (UK), Melanesian Mission UK; Episcopal Relief and Development (US) and the Anglican Alliance.

The main goal of this gathering was to establish a regional steering and support group to share experience, deepen collaboration, and ensure that disaster response efforts across the Pacific are well-coordinated and effective. The region has faced numerous natural disasters, and Pacific churches have played a crucial role in helping their communities prepare for, endure, and recover from these events.

Participants expressed a sense of hope and determination about the potential of this new network. Annsli Kabekabe from Papua New Guinea spoke about the clearer path forward in serving her community, emphasizing that the wellbeing of the people remains the priority. Ethel George from Vanuatu appreciated the value of in-person discussions, sharing how face-to-face conversations allow deeper understanding and connection — essential for effective collaboration.

Throughout the consultation, a strong sense of unity emerged. Mark Mitchell from Anglican Missions reflected on the idea of being “one body” — interconnected, supportive, and working towards the same purpose. This sense of togetherness was reinforced during a Bible study led by Casper Supa from the Anglican Church of Melanesia, who reminded participants that building resilience is part of the church’s mission to spread hope and share good news with those in need.

Karen Chute, seconded from Anglican Missions as the Anglican Alliance’s Pacific Facilitator, emphasised the power of this regional collaboration. By working together, churches can support each other more effectively and create a lasting, positive impact in their communities. This is especially evident in the Partners in Resilience and Response (PiRR) tool, which you can learn more about below.

This new regional support group marks a significant step in strengthening disaster resilience across the Pacific. It is a testament to the power of unity, shared purpose, and the deep commitment of Pacific churches to care for their communities in times of need.

Click to watch Karen's presentation on PiRR, alongside some other exciting initiatives being undertaken across the Anglican world.

The way forward.

Anglican Missions has begun work on the next phase of our strategic planning for the future. Our existing strategy, Te Ara Hou has served us well, but with our growing profile and against the backdrop of a world that is continually shifting, it's time for a new season.

Very shortly, we will be reaching out to various key stakeholders to begin a consulting phase. This is designed to offer our board the necessary information to help them discern and plan our new strategic heading. We anticipate this process will take up to 2 months.

Please pray for us as we begin this process, and that Anglican Missions would continue to follow God's leading into this new and exciting season.