Addressing the All Africa Conference of Churches in Kenya

It was by a curious quirk of a benevolent Providence that, only days after becoming Rector, a previous commitment to address the All Africa Conference of Churches, at the Desmond Tutu Centre in Nairobi, obliged me to visit Kenya. There could hardly have been a clearer way to be reminded of the fact that, as Episcopalians, we are proportionally but a very small part of the Global Anglican Communion, and that by far the majority of Anglicans world-wide live in the Global South and are in fact African.

His Grace Archbishop Eliud Wabukala and Rhoda*, who only recently stayed with us while on sabbatical, extended a characteristically warm welcome. They invited me to stay at their base near Bungoma, where they have built a church and the Mama Karen Primary School. The children of this day school are fed two meals each day, with much of the food grown on the land around the Archbishop’s house. The new academic term has just begun with a full teaching staff. This was only made possible by support from this parish.

Ever the man of vision, Archbishop Wabukala is now planning a new Anglican Primary and High School in Bungoma itself. The town is becoming a regional hub within Kenya and has a correspondingly rising demand for education. This School will undoubtedly have great impact on the lives of generations of children to come and it was very exciting to visit the site and see the initial designs with the architect.

All this brings home, both how richly blessed we are here with material resources, yet also, what a privilege it is to belong to a world-wide church with which we stand united in witness by our shared bonds of faith.

Anglicans may differ significantly in liturgical style around the world, yet we share a common calling to spread the gospel message of salvation in Christ. It is my prayer that united by this vision and faith, blessed and adorned as it is by our very particular liturgical charisms, that we can all come together in this parish to witness God’s truth to the city and wider world beyond. This parish has had a very special place of leadership in the Anglo-Catholic movement historically, and by God’s grace, let us pray that this is a role we shall resume.

The Rev. Canon Alistair Macdonald-Radcliff
Rector