I have spent the last five days attending a strategic planning meeting in the Anglican Province of the Indian Ocean. The bishops from each diocese, together with a priest and layperson, came together to discern the Lord’s will for the province under the archiepiscopate of Archbishop Gilbert.

With the help of strategists from the Relay Trust we began to think about where we would like the province to be in 25 years, 15 years, 10 years, and more specifically we tried to set priorities for the next five years. I’m especially grateful to our partners who were present to help facilitate this meeting – Relay Trust, Anglican Aid, and SPG. Without the strategists from Relay Trust we would have been far less productive.

We did not complete the task but have a very strong foundation upon which to continue. There were a couple of things which especially encouraged me. First, we agreed to a new vision statement of the Anglican Province of the Indian Ocean.

“We accept the authority of the Bible, therefore we are in evangelizing church, and we are called to makes disciples.” This clear stand for the Bible, as the word of God, is very encouraging, especially in this season of confusion around these matters within the communion. One of the specific tasks which will actionize our vision statement is that we have agreed to encourage that there be a Bible study in every congregation in the Anglican province of the Indian Ocean. I believe God will bless this initiative.

The second most encouraging decision was to prepare a provincial catechism based upon the historic catechism in the Book of Common Prayer 1662, but which will be intentionally more contextualized and therefore more evangelistic. The current catechism in the prayer book in the Indian Ocean is used almost exclusively for the preparation of young people for confirmation. Our new catechism will be intended for adults and will form a very serious theological document, together with the prayer book and the 39 articles, within the Anglican province of the Indian Ocean.

Together with these meetings there was of course time for worship, feasting, and fellowship. I’m honored to serve as a Bishop in this province.