2017 Encounter Program

 

Fr Graeme Weaver visited the Mission to Seafarers in the Philippines. © Graeme Weaver 2016, Used with permission

 

This is part of the Church to Church Program:
Learn more about ABM’s Programs.

 

The Encounter Program has evolved to offer a variety of opportunities. Traditionally, the program sees ABM bring clergy from its partner churches to Australia for mutual learning. ABM helps the Australian parish to devise a program which transforms and enriches both the parish and the visitor, who is able to experience Australian and Anglican life.

In 2016, Fr Graeme Weaver visited the Diocese of the Northern Philippines on a self-funded ABM Encounter visit, spending four weeks in the Diocese of the Northern Philippines.

This visit to the Philippines had been a long-term dream, birthed through prayer and reflection. It began with Fr Graeme’s ministry as chaplain for Bunbury Mission to Seafarers, and the contact he made with many Filipino seafarers as a result. Over time and through much prayer, the dream to visit a diocese in the Philippines crystallised, and the opportunity to further explore the possibilities came through contact with ABM and the Encounter Program coordinator, Wilnor Flores.

Fr Graeme says he was delighted when ABM’s partner, The Episcopal Church of the Philippines, allocated him to the Northern Diocese of the Philippines and the parish of St Catherine’s (Cervantes).

He said the experience offered him, “Wonderful scenery, fantastic and interesting people. Plus many experiences of the spiritual and of the interaction of faith in the many varying contexts of the Diocese and parishes.”

“I was able to visit the Manila Mission to Seafarers within the Cathedral of the Holy Child, in Manila, and to do some networking and to link our two centres together, Bunbury and Manila,” he said.

“I am looking forward to returning to the Diocese of the Northern Philippines in 2017, and celebrating the 100th year birthday of St Gabriel’s Lubon, since the first missionaries arrived in the north, and once again being part of that great Diocese.”

The Encounter program offers clergy in ABM’s partner dioceses learning opportunities similar to what Fr Graeme experienced.

Snow, pictured at Trinity College Theological School in  Melbourne, is studying a Doctorate in Theology that is  supported by the Encounter program. © Nant Hnin Hnin  Aye 2016, Used with permission.

Through this unique program ABM is also supporting a postgraduate scholarship at Trinity College in Melbourne.

In partnership with the Church in the Province of Myanmar, ABM is delighted that Nant Hnin Hnin Aye 
(Snow is her English name) is the first recipient of the scholarship.

Snow will study for a Doctorate in Theology, specifically looking at how Jesus redefined the social and cultural norms of his day, as described in Luke’s gospel. Given Myanmar’s particular political context, she will focus on the application of Jesus’ teachings to the reality of marginalised groups in Myanmar today. Snow is hoping to be a role model and set a trend for Anglican women theologians in Myanmar.

 

 

 

 

Please give to this program allowing Anglicans from around the world to learn from each other and build a stronger, more connected church.

AU012EP needs $15,000 in 2017 (non tax-deductible)

 

HOW TO DONATE

You can make an online donation to this project.  

 

Alternatively, for donations by cheque/money order (made out to the Anglican Board of Mission – Australia), telephone or email, view contact details here. Please don’t forget to include the project name and/or code with your payment details.

Gifts to ABM will be applied to the support of project(s) selected. In the unlikely event of the project being oversubscribed or not proceeding to completion, donations will be applied to a similar project to the one(s) selected.

 

PROGRAM UPDATE

May 2017 – Snow recently gave an update on her Theological studies, and shared some of the joys and challenges of her time in Australia so far. Read more.

November 2016 – Snow has sent an update on her progress at Trinity College, sharing the experiences she has had so far. Read more.

October 2016 – Fr Graeme spent four weeks in the Diocese of the Northern Philippines, and wrote of this remarkable experience. Read more.