The Diocese of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands (Anglican) is committed to liturgical worship, safeguarding the integrity of creation, proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, service and outreach programmes to the community, transforming societies to facilitate the development of spiritually vibrant peoples.

Mission belongs to God and we are called to engage in this mission so that God’s will of salvation for all may be fulfilled.   In this sense, mission is not primarily an activity of the church, but an attribute of God.  The Church exists as an instrument for that mission.  There is church because there is mission, and not vice versa.  To participate in mission is to participate in the movement of God’s love toward people, since God is the fountain of
sending love.

As Anglicans, we value the “five marks of mission”, which begin with the preaching of the Gospel and the call to personal conversion, but which embrace the whole of life:
we would wish to see increased emphasis on ecumenism, peace-making and global mutuality as integral parts of God’s mission. Mission is a rich and diverse pattern faithful to the proclamation of the Reign of God in Christ Jesus, a proclamation which touches all areas of life.

Evangelism

Evangelism is a critical dimension of God’s mission in the world and involves the following:

• Evangelism is about making Jesus Christ known in the power of the Holy Spirit through word, action and presence.
• Evangelism has an intended result – people finding deliverance and salvation in accepting Christ as Saviour, and serving Christ as Lord and King, so contributing to a changed world and furthering the kingdom of God.
• Evangelism connects people to the fellowship of the Church.
• The practice of evangelism illuminates the Gospel for the church.  This happens as God encounters it in the context of its evangelism, especially through the poor.

The local church provides the pivotal point around which evangelism takes shape.  Nevertheless there is also the need for evangelism to take place beyond congregational boundaries and into new frontiers.
(Adapted from The Report of Church Army’s Theology of  Evangelism Working Party 2004)

The Church Army under the direction of Sister Phyllis Thomas directs the Diocese’s program of evangelism and arranges training for laypersons who wish to become part of the evangelistic team of their congregation.

Missionary Work

The Jamaica Church Missionary Society is the recognized missionary agency of the Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands in the Province of the West Indies (the Anglican Church). The Society focuses on spreading the Gospel of Salvation with special relevance to human needs, as demonstrated by the life and ministry of the Jesus Christ. It was established in 1861. All registered communicant members of the Anglican Church are members of the Society. The specific functions of the Society are:

To plan evangelistic and teaching missions
To carry out an on-going programme of evangelistic and social outreach
To undertake the dissemination of literature designed to educate and stimulate for   greater   involvement in mission on the part of the clergy and laity
To provide for training of lay leadership for the Missions
To accept responsibility for the establishment of Mission Stations in new areas
To raise funds for missionary work in Jamaica and overseas.

The JCMS operates within and through the existing organizational structures of the
Diocese, such as, the Congregation/Cure, the Deanery, the Region, the Diocesan Council and Diocesan Boards, as may be applicable as well as the annual Synod of the
Church.  It is administered by a General Committee accountable to Synod. The Society derives its income mainly from the voluntary contributions of its members - congregations island wide. Canon XV requires every clergyperson to appoint a Missionary Sunday each year, and also on some other day to hold a Missionary Meeting at all Churches and Missions in his Cure, at which Services and Meetings the claims of the Society shall be impressed upon the congregation and collections taken up for the purposes of the Society.