The challenge facing devolved Wales is how to create a more confident, compassionate and caring nation, the Archbishop of Wales will tell Assembly Members and other Welsh leaders at a unique event next week.

The Bishops of the Church in Wales are hosting a reception at the Senedd, the home of the National Assembly for Wales, to promote partnership work for a better future and to celebrate “believing in Wales”.

The reception is sponsored by the Presiding Officer of the National Assembly, Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas and will be led by the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan. It is the first time for the Church in Wales to host such an event and nearly 200 guests are expected to attend. As well as AMs, they will include representatives of organisations from the public, private and third sectors across Wales, most of whom already work in partnership initiatives with the Church.

Dr Barry Morgan said, “In a devolved Wales the challenge we face together is: how do we create a more confident, a more compassionate and a more caring nation? No one body can achieve that on its own and that is why the Church, as one of the oldest all-Wales organisations, is keen to work in partnership with the Assembly and others. We believe in Wales and believe that, working together, we can transform the way we live.”

Lord Elis-Thomas said, “Disestablishment of the Church to create the Church in Wales was the first great devolution measure of the last century. The second was the Government of Wales Act which established the National Assembly ten years ago. As a communicant member of the Church in Wales I have valued the support it gives to all of us who engage in public life, and its active participation in the public debates on ethical and democratic issues along with all other faith communities. I am particularly pleased to welcome the whole Bench of Bishops to the National Assembly.”

The reception takes place at the Senedd on Tuesday, January 26, between 12-2pm.
For more information, please contact:
Anna Morrell
Archbishop's Media Officer / Swyddog y Cyfryngau i'r Archesgob
Tel: 02920 348208; mobile: 07 91 91 587 94
39 Cathedral Rd, Cardiff / 39 Heol y Gadeirlan, Caerdydd
CF11 9XF
http://www.churchinwales.org.uk
http://www.eglwysyngnghymru.org.uk

NOTES

Churches across Wales are involved in many projects in partnership with other community organisations. On a Provincial level, the Church in Wales’ joint initiatives include:

• All-Wales Education Symposium, in partnership with the Welsh Assembly Government http://www.churchinwales.org.uk/press/display_press_release.php?prid=4887
• Finding a Common Voice – series of consultations in partnership with the Muslim Council of Wales and the Welsh Centre for International Affairs http://www.churchinwales.org.uk/press/display_press_release.php?prid=4882
• Enough is Enough Campaign against binge-drinking with the Chief Constables of Wales http://www.churchinwales.org.uk/press/display_press_release.php?prid=4700
• All-Wales Symposium on Transforming Behaviour, Transforming Communities -  in partnership with South Wales Police http://www.churchinwales.org.uk/press/display_press_release.php?prid=4695
• Historic Places of Worship conference  http://www.churchinwales.org.uk/press/display_press_release.php?prid=4880
• Shrinking the Footprints conference http://www.churchinwales.org.uk/press/display_press_release.php?prid=4702