USPG is the Anglican Mission agency that partners churches and communities worldwide in God’s mission to enliven faith, strengthen relationships, unlock potential and champion justice. Founded 1701.
MP David Lammy’s tweet to Comic Relief arguing that “The world does not need any more white saviours” made headline news this year. He claimed that “the idea Africans are victims that need saving is a missionary idea…Let’s instead promote voices from across the continent of Africa and have a serious debate.” USPG is a 300 year old mission agency and we believe Greenbelt is the perfect place for such a debate. We have invited thinkers from around the world to join us – we hope you will join us as well.
Speakers:
Revd. Rose Hudson Wilkin grew up in Montego Bay. In 2007 she was appointed as a Chaplain to Her Majesty the Queen and in 2010, she became the 79th (and first female) Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons. She leads the prayers in the House of Commons daily and has pastoral care of members and staff of the Palace of Westminster. She has represented the Church of England at the World Council of Churches in Zimbabwe and Brazil and is a fellow of Public Theology at Virginia Theological Seminary, USA.
Revd. Ijeoma Ajibade is an Anglican priest working in the Diocese of London and the Diocese of Southwark. She is also the Regional Director for Europe at Mission to Seafarers. Ijeoma has always combined ministry with secular work, working in different government roles in the UK public sector for 25 years. She has worked in local government in London on issues including Audit and Special Investigations, Housing Advice and Homelessness, and welfare benefit administration. Ijeoma spent twelve years working for the London Assembly and two Mayors of London (Ken Livingstone and Boris Johnson). As well as being ordained in the Church of England since 2010 Ijeoma is also a community activist working on human rights, and HIV awareness and prevention.
Shakeel Nurmahi grew up in Southampton. He read Theology at Trinity College Bristol before moving to Kettering to join the ministry team at St Andrew’s Church Kettering, as part of the Church of England’s ministry experience scheme in Peterborough Diocese. Alongside this Shakeel has been the Chair of the Church of England Youth Council (CEYC) since January 2018. In 2018 Shakeel attended the CAPA Youth Congress in Kenya with USPG. After two years in Kettering, Shakeel is moving to Durham to begin ordination training at Cranmer Hall.
Revd. Duncan Dormor became General Secretary of USPG in January 2018. He is an Anglican priest, published author, teacher and public speaker. Before joining USPG Duncan was at St John’s College, Cambridge, where he served as Dean of Chapel. He also represented the University of Cambridge on General Synod for over ten years. He is a member of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland’s Mission and Theological Advisory Group.
The debate will be chaired by Revd Dr Rachele (Evie) Vernon O’Brien, a Jamaican womanist theologian, European coordinator for Pan African Women’s Ecumenical Empowerment Movement(PAWEEN) Theological Adviser at USPG, and is a member of Caribbean Women Theologians for Transformation (CWTT).