Sri Lanka Link
The Diocese of Ripon and Leeds has a link with the dioceses of Colombo and Kurunagala which form the Church of Ceylon, Sri Lanka's national Anglican church.
For more details about the link with the Church of Ceylon please contact the Diocesan Companion Link Officer, Barbara Belsham 0113 273 7192
For details about the David Young Sri Lanka Fund, set up to help individuals and groups visit Sri Lanka click here
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"The content of the gospel is Jesus Christ in the fulness of His ministry, death and resurrection. The gospel is this and not anything else...our perceptions of Him will be shaped by our own situation. ...our need is to see Him as He truly is. That is why we have to listen to the witness of the WHOLE Church in all places and in all ages."
Lesslie Newbigin - The Gospel in a Pluralist Society
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Companion Link Prayer
O God our creator, in you alone are the riches of life.
We come from the East and we come from the West,
believing we follow, on our different roads,
the same star to the same place.
May we share what we know of its light,
so we learn from each other the way to the stable,
to worship you, our only wealth,
and serve the world with gospel gold.
We make our prayer through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Why a link with Sri Lanka?
Many English Dioceses have found a variety of benefits through companionship links. These include:
· Awareness of interdependence within the worldwide church as the body of Christ.
· Deepening of spirituality and awareness of ourselves.
· Mutual support through prayer, testimony and encouragement, and the sharing of resources, training and other skills.
How does the link with Sri Lanka work?
Personal visits – i.e. people making contact with local churches whilst on holiday/business
Exchange visits by clergy and laity
Parish links
School links
It is important to note that whilst the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds has rightly sent financial aid to Sri Lanka in times of great need, such as the recent Tsunami disaster, the companion link is not based on financial need but on a relationship of mutual support and learning which finds its identity and task in Jesus Christ.
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Setting Up, Maintaining and Developing a Parish Link
To think about:
Why do we want a parish link? What are our hopes for it? What do we have to offer to a parish overseas, and what do we hope they would offer us?
How do we set up a parish link?
1. The first step should be a formal motion from the PCC to request the Link Officer to seek a link parish. This should also have involved the wider congregation; a link is an important commitment and should be seen as part of the total ministry of the parish. Question: How will the link relate to, or differ from, other parish overseas connections with churches and agencies?
2. The request to the Link Officer should include an indication of the kind of parish that a link is being sought with i.e. urban/rural, coast or hill country. You also need to advise the Link Officer if the link request is being made about a specific church because it forms the development of an existing relationship with someone in Sri Lanka. It may not always be possible to meet these requests.
3. The Link Officer will approach the Diocesan Bishop in Sri Lanka with a link request.
4. A small group of perhaps two or three people should be formed to take on the task of establishing a parish link. If a link relies on the enthusiasm of one individual it will die when they move on. The group should have some formal connection to the PCC.
5. The UK parish should draw up a profile of itself (i.e. facts, maps, photographs) to be sent as the initial contact. A similar request will be made to the Sri Lankan parish.
How do we maintain and develop the parish link?
· The link group will need to be a practical enthuser for the link in the parish – especially during the early stages of set-up.
· A regular commitment to intercession is vital; an exchange of prayer requests would be helpful.
· The creation of a permanent display area within the parish church will raise awareness about the link considerably. It is important that the display is updated regularly with news from the link parish.
· Maintaining regular contact with the link parish is key to the success and growth of the link. Not all Sri Lankan parishes have easy access to the Internet and post can be very slow and costly. Communication is an area that may need a lot of patience but is hugely rewarding in the long run.
· Seek to share the story of the life of the parish and the journey of faith that the church is engaged in.
· Think about including a variety of church and secular organisations in the link i.e. Sunday School, Choir, Mother’s Union, uniformed organisations, home groups, local schools. This will expand the number of personal contacts and help the link to become an integral part of the life of the parish.
· Try to be realistic about what can be achieved. Linking can be a slow process at first.
· Have some long-term aims. Perhaps to plan a visit to Sri Lanka or to sponsor a visitor to come to the UK – this should be for both lay and clergy.
How long should a parish link be for?
· A parish link is, by its nature, a long-term commitment, however, there may be an occasion when it is decided to bring the link to a close; the Diocesan Link Officer is always ready to offer help, advice and support. A regular audit of the link will not only help to gauge the health of the link it can also provide an opportunity for renewal. A major audit of the link should be carried out every five years.
Download a copy of the details of the Sri Lanka Companion Link Appeal here
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This page will be updated shortly. In the meantime please refer to our press releases for the latest news regarding our links with Sri Lanka.