A ten-year vision for growing disciples and planting one million new or renewed churches across the Anglican Communion has been launched during a service at St Julian’s Retreat Centre Nairobi, Kenya, live streamed to Anglicans around the world.

Present at the launch on 11 November, were members of the Anglican Communion Commission for Evangelism and Discipleship (ACCED), which comprises representatives of Anglican Member churches around the world. The Commission shaped the ambition for Vision36, and is championing the initiative, inviting churches around the Communion to get involved.

Preaching at the launch service was the Rt Revd Joseph Galgalo, the Provincial Secretary of the Anglican Church of Kenya, who formally declared Vision36 launched, commending it to the ‘prayers, participation and faithful service of the Anglican Communion’.

A choir led celebration singing. In an act of dedication, the congregation committed itself to a decade of growing disciples and planting churches, and to the revitalisation of existing congregations alongside new ones. 

Building on a decade of Intentional Discipleship

The service, was led by the Revd Canon Zadoch Oluoch. At the beginning, those gathered heard short reflections from Bishop Eleanor Sanderson on what discipleship formation and church planting are and why more is needed.

Referring to the decade of discipleship that has led to the launch of Vision36, Bishiop Eleanor said: ‘The disciples of Jesus are peacemakers, reconcilers, children of God, children of the new creation. This is what it is, to live and to share a Jesus-shaped life. And through repentance and belief, allow the Holy Spirit to continually renew the Jesus shape of our church’.

Vision36 and Gen Z

Grace Zawadi, a Kenyan worship leader and youth representative, spoke about what excites her about growing disciples and planting churches: ‘I think Gen Z… is one of the most inquisitive generations. We have so many questions about faith, about scripture and the church and sometimes those questions seem unanswered. And this can leave young people feeling disconnected and eventually disengaging from fellowship.

'So what excites me about Vision36 is the opportunity to change that… we are creating spaces where young people can ask questions, find answers, genuinely understand their faith and grow in their relationship with Jesus’.

The Secretary General commends Vision36

The Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, the Rt Revd Anthony Poggo commended Vision36: ‘This is a communion-wide vision. But it will find expression in different ways across our member churches in provinces, dioceses and local churches. Jesus's command in Matthew 28 is clear. "Go make disciples of all nations". Our prayer is to see disciples making disciples. Leaders developing leaders. And churches establishing new worshipping communities where people encounter Christ.’

The Secretary General affirmed the support of the Anglican Communion Office, saying: ‘I'm committed to championing this vision and encouraging primates, bishops, clergy and other church leaders to engage with it. The Anglican Communion Office will support this work by connecting leaders, evangelists and church planters through the Anglican Communion Commission for Evangelism and Discipleship’.

Encouraging the ACCED, Bishop Anthony urged: ‘Your task now is to help member churches make this vision their own’.

Archbishop Ric Thorpe gives thanks for communion-wide church planting activities celebrated by Vision36

Archbishop Ric Thorpe, Co-Chair of the ACCED, then set out the purpose of Vision36. Emphasising that the initiative is ‘not starting from scratch ’, he gave thanks for various church growth activities that are happening communion-wide, referencing churches like Malaysia and Tanzania, among others. Recognising that the target of 'one million' may not appeal to all as a motivation, Archbishop Ric outlined that ‘the focus... is on every person living a wholehearted, fruitful, Jesus-shaped life’.

He concluded with an invitation for churches to get involved saying: ‘We invite you; we call you to join us in this journey. Pray with us. Get involved with us and share what God is already doing amongst you. Vision36. Go for it. It's a call and invitation. to all of us. To rise and take part in this journey because it's a shared mission to all of us'.

The Provincial Secretary formally launches Vision36

The Provincial Secretary of the Anglican Church of Kenya, the Rt Revd Professor Joseph Galgalo, formally launched the initiative: ‘Vision 36 is not merely an ambitious strategic target of 1 million churches or renewed congregations. It is a divine prompt. A call to step out in faith. Knowing that we planted the mustard seed is able to bring multiplication beyond all we ask or even imagine. Here in Kenya, we know that church growth is will when lives are truly transformed Jesus Christ. Vision 36 reminds us that every church, whether under a cathedral roof or a village tree, might plant and serve its community. We see this happening on the ground today’.

Commissioning Vision36, he said: ‘In obedience to the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ, and dependence upon the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit, we gather as an Anglican family to dedicate ourselves to Vision36. We commit ourselves to a decade of growing disciples and church planting as the revitalisation of existing congregations. We pray that every Anglican community may become a centre of Christian witness. Every believer a disciple growing in faith, and every disciple, an instrument through whom others come to know and follow Jesus Christ. Therefore, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, I declare Vision36 launched and commended to the prayers, participation, and faithful service of the Anglican Communion. May [the] God of disciples multiply communities of faith, and make his church faithful in every nation to the glory of God's name'.

Prayers of Dedication for Vision36 - Bishop Moon Hing

The Co-Chair of the ACCED, the Rt Revd Moon Hing shared a prayer of dedication for Vision36: ‘We dedicate Vision36 to you and us for your blessing upon all who will carry this mission forward. Bless the Anglican Consultative Council, the Commission for Evangelism and Discipleship, our Archbishops, bishops, Leaders, evangelists, catechists, church planters, and every member of our church. Including all of us. In Jesus name. Amen’.

Next Steps - Inviting Anglican Churches to take Vision36 forwards

The launch of Vision36 happened during a wider meeting of the ACCED (10-13 November). Members of the Commission have been gathering to develop plans and ways to support Member churches that get involved. In the decade ahead, the Commission plans to offer training resources, events and information sharing opportunities to enrich the approach to church planting.

With the launch complete, attention turns to Member Churches. Each is being invited to name a Vision36 representative and to develop an action plan suited to its own context. There is no single model: what planting or renewal looks like in a rural diocese in East Africa will differ from a city parish in Europe or a remote community in the Pacific.

Vision36 has the endorsement of the Anglican Consultative Council as a communion-wide priority and was affirmed at ACC-19 in Belfast in 2026. In resolution 3, the ACC called on every Member Church, diocese and parish to ‘adopt a clear focus and “walk an extra mile" between 2026 and 2036, to grow wholehearted discipleship and to plant one million new and healthy churches, communities and congregations’.

For more information

Churches that wish to find out more or get involved can sign up on the Vision36 web page at: www.anglicancommunion.org/vision36

Watch the launch service