Jem leads the UK charity BUILD Partners, which helps to support and develop the Church of Uganda’s BUILD training initiative. That programme has now spread to the surrounding countries and Anglican provinces to varying degrees – South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Congo – and near neighbour, Ethiopia (Province of Alexandria).

BUILD stands for Biblical Understanding for In-service Leadership Development and is designed to equip church leaders who have no access to traditional training. BUILD uses a multiplication model: the formal training of trainers equips them to train leaders at the grassroots. Those trainers are exposed to, and taught to use, a curriculum that is biblical, theological and practical, and has been developed in context.

Jem joined Crosslinks in 2000 and lived in Uganda until 2007 before moving to South Africa. He returned to the UK in 2013, but continues to serve BUILD remotely and through regular trips to East Africa. As clergy Jem has Permission to Officiate in the Diocese of Bath & Wells, and serves in his local church.