Kenya hosts 18 Anglican communion primates

Bishop Joel Waweru of Nairobi ACK Diocese chats with a visiting clergy during the dinner held for visiting archbishops and their spouses at the archbishop's official residence in Nairobi. [Courtesy]

Kenya is hosting 18 archbishops affiliated to the Anglican Communion Worldwide.

The primates who are currently at a retreat in Maasai Mara are in the country to reflect and pray over their ministry in a visit hosted by the Most Rev Dr Jackson Ole Sapit, the Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK).

In the dinner hosted at the Archbishop’s official residence on Sunday evening, the church leaders reiterated the need for oneness among Christian faithful and the need for peaceful coexistence.

“This is an annual meeting where we get together and have a peer review even as we share our experiences and pray for each other and deliberate on our ministry,” said Dr Sapit.

He also stated that the meeting which is held in different countries came to Kenya this year; last year it was held in Ghana while in 2017, the leaders were in Zambia.

The trip has been organized by Trinity Church Wall Street, a leading episcopal church in Manhattan, New York.

Earlier on Sunday, the archbishops had visited and preached in various ACK churches both in the All Saints Cathedral and Nairobi dioceses.

At St Francis Karen, the archbishop accompanied Rev. Dr. William Lupfer, the rector of Trinity Church, who preached the message of never giving up.

Dr Lupfer gave a story on how his own mother was given up for adoption after birth by her single mother – Lupfer’s grandmother - reiterating that God has a plan for every human being.

Dr Sapit told the Standard that at their retreat they are discussing different issues mainly on peace in neighbouring countries like South Sudan, Sudan, DRC, Burundi and Somalia.

“We are also looking at how diversity can be used to benefit a country like Kenya instead of it being a problem that leads to conflict,” said Sapit.

He noted that they also take time to reflect on the Bible and get lessons that can apply in everyday life in ministry work.

He stated, “On Tuesday we studied the book of Jonah and found that no sin is too great that God cannot forgive just like he forgave the people of Nineveh.”

This is the second time in four years that Kenya is hosting the primates as they came to Kenya in 2016.

Some of the countries whose archbishops came include Brazil, South Korea, Barbados, Ghana, Zambia, Scotland, Panama, South Sudan, Sudan, Burundi, Tanzania and Uganda alongside a priests from Trinity College. 

Also present during the dinner was Bishop Joel Waweru of Nairobi Diocese and provost of the All Saints Cathedral, Rev Canon Sammy Wainaina.