A New Year Message from the General Secretary

Warm greetings from USPG.

Let me start by thanking you all for the many ways in which you have you have supported and encouraged the life and work of USPG and our partner churches in 2024. You have given generously to our seasonal appeals – in Lent, Harvest and Christmas – as a result greater resources have been able to support the church in Brazil as it seeks to reduce HIV/AIDS stigma, in Zululand where it is supporting communities in facing the challenge of food insecurity and in Bangladesh with the church’s work assisting the community healthcare. And it was wonderful to see so many friends and supporters engaging with the London Landmarks half-Marathon in April, the USPG conference at High Leigh in July and, bringing the year to a joyful conclusion – our carol service at St John’s Waterloo.

As we come into the new year, we are in good heart, but we know that we live in an increasingly polarised and precarious world. As I write, a fragile ceasefire in Gaza hangs in the balance and following close conversations with the Diocese in Jerusalem, our Lent Appeal this year – Bring Care in Crisis – will support the work of the Diocese’s hospitals as they work tirelessly to provide care and medical support. That Appeal will begin with an online service from Jerusalem on Monday 3 March at 10am GMT.

This year is the 1700th anniversary of the Nicean creed (AD 325) – a key summary of our common faith – and we will be reflecting on how we deepen our fellowship and commitment to each other across the wonderful diversity of cultures, contexts and languages within the Communion. This is the focus for our Lent study course – We Believe – with contributions from the Philippines, the Caribbean, Jerusalem, Virginia, USA and South India. It will also be the focus of our Annual Conference, ‘We Believe: We Belong?’ at Hayes Conference centre, Swanwick (1-3 July).

We are called as Christians to live out a hope-filled faith with humility and in deep solidarity with our sisters and brothers across God’s world. I look forward to joining with you in that to which we are called in 2025.

The Revd Canon Dr Duncan Dormor, General Secretary