SOMA is a mission agency called by God to serve the Anglican Communion and the worldwide Church: by building up and equipping the Body of Jesus Christ through the renewing power of the Holy Spirit for the transformation of individuals, churches and communities principally through short-term, cross-cultural missions. 

October 29, 2003

Beloved in Christ,

We, the National Directors of Sharing of Ministries Abroad (SOMA) and our International Chairman, gathered in Kampala, Uganda for our annual meeting, bring you greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We write this to offer you reassurance and encouragement in the Lord regarding the ongoing ministry of SOMA.

In keeping with SOMA’s calling to serve the Anglican Communion and the worldwide Church, and in light of the present controversy in our Communion, we offer this reaffirmation of the foundational beliefs that have always undergirded our ministry:

• We believe that God has revealed Himself to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
• We believe that no one is reconciled to God except through Jesus Christ, His Son (John 14:6).
• We believe in the sole and final authority of scripture, in all matters of faith and practice, as interpreted and taught by the historic tradition of the Church. (See Article VI of the 39 Articles of Religion.)
• We believe that scripture can only be rightly understood through the illumination of the Holy Spirit (John 16:13). Any claim to God’s truth can never be contrary to or at variance with the plain meaning of scripture (2 Tim. 1:13-14).
• We believe that the love of Christ compels us to extend his grace to all people, since all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (2 Cor. 5:14; Rom. 3:23).
• We believe that all need to know the power of the cross for forgiveness, healing and transformation (1 Cor 1:18).
• We believe that the Church is called by God to minister this grace of Jesus Christ by faithful teaching and application of the scriptures, and by the power of the Holy Spirit.

With these convictions, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, SOMA will steadfastly continue to play its part in ministering God’s life within the Anglican Communion and the worldwide Body of Christ.

Yours sincerely in Christ,

The Rev. David Harper, SOMA International Chairman
Church of the Apostles, 3500 Pickett Road, Fairfax, VA 22031, USA

The Rev. Don Brewin, National Director, SOMA UK
P.O. Box 6002, Heath and Reach, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 0ZA, UK

The Rev. Fred Carson, National Director, SOMA Canada
St. Mary Magdalene Church, P. O. Box 194, Fort Nelson, BC VOC 1RO

The Rev. Niall Griffin, National Director, SOMA Ireland
7 Cloughmore Park, Rostrevor, Newry Northern Ireland BT34 3AX

The Rev. Gradon Harvey, National Director, SOMA New Zealand
P. O. Box 226, Waikanae, New Zealand

The Rev. Canon Lovey Kisembo, National Director, SOMA Uganda
Diocese of Rwenzori, P. O. Box 37, Fort Portal, Uganda.

The Rev. Ken Munns, National Director, SOMA Australia
94a Cobham Avenue, Melrose Park 2114 NSW Australia

The Ven. Rennis Ponniah, National Director, SOMA Singapore
St. John’s-St. Margaret’s Church, 30 Dover Avenue, Singapore 139790

Mrs. Edwina Thomas, National Director, SOMA USA
5290 Saratoga Lane, Woodbridge, VA 22193

The Rev. Chris Viljoen, National Director, SOMA Southern Africa
P. O. Box 585, Ferndale 2160, South Africa