IDWAL Annual Festival

18th February 2006 held in Portsmouth Cathedral

Just Trade or Betrayed

This event is held to celebrate the Links, (Diocesan, Deanery, Parish and MU Branch) between the Anglican Provinces of West Africa and the Provinces of the Church of Nigeria and the UK Dioceses of Guildford, Chichester and Portsmouth.

The major mission agencies including MU were invited to provide displays. Throughout the day the MU Video of the World Wide President, Trish Heywood's visit to Nigeria was playing and was a source of interest.

After registration we were welcomed by the Dean, Nick Ash, and we selected workshops to attend. The list included Co-op Fair Trade, Education links, Parish links and Osagefo (Ghanaian drummers and singers).

The Rt Revd Michael Doe, General Secretary of USPG addressed us all before lunch. Other invited guests included Daniel Sarfo, Bishop of Kumasi, Ghana, Victor Baffoe, Dean of St Nicholas' Seminary, Cape Coast, Ghana and Justice Akrofi.

After an excellent lunch (soup, ploughman's and fresh fruit) we reassembled for a repeat of the workshops. Those attending Osagefo were instructed in the singing of two Ghanaian hymns to be used in the closing worship. We also learned to dance!

The Afternoon Address was given by Isaac Osei, High Commissioner for Ghana.

The Anglican and RC Dioceses have both achieved Fairtrade Status i.e. two thirds of their parishes have signed up to become regular users of Fairtrade products. A certificate was presented to the Dean, in the absence of the Bishop and Archdeacon of Portsmouth (in each case owing to sickness). It will be displayed in the Cathedral.

Beautiful Kente cloth stoles were presented, for the Bishop of Portsmouth, Michael Doe, the Dean and Revd Terry Louden, Chairman of IDWAL, Portsmouth, by the Bishop of Kumasi and the Dean of the St Nicholas' Seminary to commemorate the occasion.

The closing worship was accompanied by the Ghanaian group 'Osagefo' and this included an Offertory held in the West African tradition ie the whole congregation danced and sang their way down the aisle, placing their offerings in a central bowl.

So concluded a thought provoking and enjoyable day, which can be summed up in the words from a closing prayer.

Teach us love, teach us compassion,

Above all, teach us to act. Amen

The day was attended by Pauline Wale, Valerie Edmonds and Margaret Symonds and other MU members.

Margaret Symonds