The purpose of SOMA stems from the prophetic word given that started the SOMA ministry, that is, to share the blessings of renewal in the Holy Spirit so that the Body of Christ might be empowered to preach the Kingdom of God and minister in the power of the Spirit.
The focus of our ministry is to both the leadership and members of the local church being visited. Teaching will always include hands on training to equip people for ministry. SOMA is very much a servant ministry.
The initial visit to a diocese (at the request of the Bishop or Diocese Evangelism body with the Bishops support) defines the focus for subsequent missions, this “exploratory” mission serves several purposes:
• To build relationships between the national leaders and SOMA Executive
• To understand the needs and culture of the local situation
• To introduce the leadership to Renewal if not previously experienced
During an Anglican international conference on spiritual renewal in 1978, a prophetic word given in Canterbury Cathedral formed the basis of Sharing of Ministries Abroad.
“You are to take care of the nervous system of the Anglican Church”.
The burden of this vision was picked up by the then Archbishop of Cape Town, Bill Burnett, Rev’d Michael Harper and Rev’d Terry Fullam. Michael Harper became the founding Director in 1979. An international board was formed under the chairmanship of Archbishop Burnett in 1983.
SOMA has established offices across the globe, USA (1985), Canada (1986), Australia (1986), Ireland (1991), South Africa (1992), New Zealand (1994) and Singapore (1999). Since 1999, other SOMA national and regional bodies have been established in Uganda, Nigeria and Latin America.
The International Board is the guardian of the SOMA vision. The International Board comprises of the National Directors of the regional SOMA’s. The International Chairman is Most Revd Justin Badi Arama– Archbishop of Juba and Primate of South Sudan.
The Board aims to meet every year and in the interim operate by zoom. The national directors form a collegiate leadership in planning and carrying out SOMA’s ministry. They meet annually face to face as well as in telephone conferences.
As well as Ireland, there are national SOMA bodies in the United Kingdom, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and South Africa. Each national SOMA body has its own board or council which provides a covering and support for the National Director. The local board meets at regular intervals as required.
