Shaping the Parish in the Diocese of Eastern Zambia
The Order of the Ascension is working with the Diocese of Eastern Zambia as it forms its own Shaping the Parish program. The effort is the result of a friendship between Bishop Dennis Milanzi of the Anglican Diocese of Eastern Zambia and Sister Liz Schellingerhoudt, OA. Their conversations led to the participation of a number of priests from the diocese in the Zoom based Shaping the Parish (STP). What we quickly learned was that some participants didn’t have a stable internet connection. That brought us to two actions. The first was that those with strong internet service would continue in the Zoom STP.
The second action was a decision to create Shaping the Parish in the Diocese of Eastern Zambia. As Bishop Milanzi wrote, this would “allow for more participation among clergy and laity in the diocese.” This would be a diocesan program fully under the control of the diocese. The Order of the Ascension has agreed to allow the diocese to use and adapt materials to better fit the situation and culture of the diocese, provide an initial supply of books, and, if the diocese desired, to have two OA members respond to questions about parish development.
In an October 4, 2024 letter to his diocese, the Right Reverend Dennis Milanzi, Bishop, appointed the Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Mwale as the inaugural Shaping The Parish Ministry Coordinator for the diocese. The Bishop wrote, “How do we shape parishes that are characterized by prayer and service? Parishes of adoration, awe and service that also are making use of the best methods of parish development?” He said that Fr. Mwale would “work with the leadership of our Church structures to revive the parish life and ministry to further the effective ministries in our diocese.”
The next steps include conversations among Fr. Mwale, Sister Michelle, OA and Sister Liz, OA.
More will be added as the program takes shape.