The Big Hello hospitality initiative will provide an important opportunity for church communities across the world to foster connections and relationship.

Across the Anglican Communion, many churches and dioceses already have special community connections in place called ‘Companion Links’.

Similar to the idea of ‘town twinning’ Companion Links enable churches around the world to enjoy fellowship, share resources, and learn from one another’s experiences of different cultures and ministry settings.

The Big Hello will match event attendees to their companion link diocese, or provide the opportunity for new ones to be started.

So far over 84% of bishops and spouses booked in to the Lambeth Conference are taking part in the Big Hello.

The Big Hello is being facilitated by dioceses in England, Wales and Scotland, in coordination with the Lambeth Conference Company.

Once delegates have booked into the conference, the Lambeth Conference Company matches up the visiting delegation with a host diocese.

From this point, the diocesan coordinator makes arrangements for the hospitality programme locally, organising volunteers and activities and communicating directly with the people that they will be hosting.