Where's That?

Posted by Alan Lukabyo 3 months ago.

‘On Tuesday I’m going to Madagascar.’

I’ve had 3 basic responses to this statement. Most make a joke about hip-hopping lemurs. Others thoughtfully mention a David Attenborough documentary. A final group says either, ‘Where’s that?’ or ‘What for?’

Madagascar is a large island in the Indian Ocean near Africa. It’s home to about 21 million people, and is one of the poorest and most politically unstable nations in the world. In the strange way the Anglican world map works, Madagascar is grouped with Mauritius and the Seychelles under the leadership of one archbishop. That archbishop is currently Ian Ernest, who has strong ties to Sydney Anglicans, and who visited St Andrews Dundas about 2 years ago.

Madagascar does not have a ministry training college, and Archbishop Ian has invited the Bishop Peter Tasker and me to attend a conference of the Madagascan bishops to discuss options for training ministers. The invitation came at short notice, but it is a great privilege and an opportunity to contribute to far-reaching decisions about Anglican ministry in Madagascar. It involves some inconvenience for our parish, but it is also an expression of fellowship with our Madgascan sisters and brothers in Christ.

Please pray for God’s Holy Spirit to bless and direct our discussions and the decisions to be taken. I’ll update you on the lemurs when I return in a week!