In collaboration with our link diocese of Kimberly and Kuruman in South Africa, we were thrilled to welcome four young adults to our diocese. This visit offered a unique opportunity for cultural exchange and mutual learning and included meeting young adults from our church communities sharing in faith, aspiration and celebrating together the glorious diversity of humanity.
During their visit the young people have been fully engaged with the priorities that the Kimberly and Kuruman and Oxford Link Summit in 2024 set for the link particularly the environment, gender-based violence and community resilience. They visited a number of parishes and programmes including Aston Rowant, The Community Garden at Quarrendon, Benson, Reading Minster, The Branch in Chipping Norton, St Frideswide’s in Milton Keynes and Greyfriars in Reading. Our parishes who have links with parishes in Kimberly and Kuruman hosted them in Summertown, Lacey Green, Moulsford and Berinsfield.
The young people reflected on their time with us:
"We feel very privileged and want to thank the summit and our dioceses for listening to the young people who asked for their voices to be heard. It is good to be asked to share our opinions and be taken seriously. It has been enlightening and encouraging for us to see people working in different parts of God's vineyard and we can see that everyone has a part to play in their diocese and the link."
"A lady in one parish said that 'Young people prefer speaking to young people' I wonder is this true? We have incredible role models in our churches and young people benefit from those relationships. We hope elders can be patient and engage even if the energy of young people seems chaotic. Young and old listening, working, praying for each other we all have something to offer all in the vineyard."
Activities included a Space Makers retreat with other young adults, enjoying time with parishioners, and meeting with church leaders including Bishop Steven, Bishop Olivia, Bishop Henry Scriven (Secretary of Partnership In World Mission) and Mark Humphriss our DioSec.
With their hosts they have enjoyed two trips to London where they were warmly welcomed at the Anglican Alliance and Westminster Abbey, as well as enjoying various sightseeing highlights - and reviewing a number of burger outlets!
The Revd Canon Sue Booys, the chair of Kimberley and Kuruman Link, said:
"It has been the greatest honour and privilege to journey alongside our four visitors Cara, Kgothatso, Rethabile and Thato during their two-week stay in the Diocese of Oxford. I know I speak for all those who have met them in thanking them for the joy and wisdom they have shared. I am very much looking forward to helping to select a similar group of young people to travel to the Diocese of Kimberley and Kuruman later in the year."
This is the first part of a two-way exchange. Young adults (18 to 25) from our diocese are invited to apply for the return visit, planned for early September. The application deadline is 14 July. See the full details and how to apply. Please do consider applying yourself and/or pass the information on and pray both for the four people returning to Kimberley and Kuruman, and for people applying or considering an application to join the September exchange.
See a full gallery of the visit on our Facebook page.