Myanmar is a country in civil war, that is causing thousands of deaths. It is also increasingly vulnerable to the climate change impacts of floods, droughts and landslides. On November 14, during a UK tour, the Most Revd Stephen Than Myint Oo (Archbishop of Myanmar and Bishop of Yangon) met with the Secretary General and Anglican Communion Staff to talk about his ministry and how the international church can support and pray for Myanmar.

Ministry in a country in civil war

Archbishop Stephen Than Myint Oo says that ‘peace is our only tool to liberate our country’, and that he is committed to working for peace and reconciliation in a context where civil war, political unrest and protest are causing thousands of deaths and instability in Myanmar.

In 2021, a coup d'état overthrew an elected government, which sparked civil conflict. It triggered anti-government protests and a violent crackdown. This has, in turn, led to a nationwide armed resistance movement in which different opposition groups compete for control with the military. Violence has notably intensified since October 2023, with many civilians caught in the crossfire of war. More than 3 million people have been displaced and the country has been plunged into economic crisis.

In such a chaotic setting, Archbishop Stephen shares that the main challenge for Anglicans in Myanmar is consistency to ‘practice what we believe’ and particularly ‘in difficult situations’ to behave righteously. ‘We need to practice our Christian belief’ amidst political and economic challenges. This is especially true, he explains, given that the Christian church is in the minority in Myanmar. 74% of the population identify as Buddhists, with only a little over 8% saying they are Christians.

With warring factions and opposing views in every direction, Archbishop Stephen explains that it’s vital that people of faith practice the commitment to justice and peace that Jesus embodied. He encourages Christians in his province to focus on the ‘teaching of biblical scripture’ and not allow their own ‘emotion and understanding’ to lead. He asks that the wider Anglican Communion prays for the people of Myanmar to have, and act with, ‘genuine faith’.

Living out the Christian faith in disaster response

Alongside the political crisis, the archbishop describes some of the environmental challenges facing Myanmar. There are regular natural disasters, as Myanmar is situated between four tectonic plates. In March 2025, Myanmar suffered a devastating earthquake, which resulted in widespread loss of life, injuries and infrastructure damage. Speaking about the importance of being involved in disaster response, Archbishop Stephen says, ‘For Christians, we serve people, not only by automatic response but also based on the love of Christ.’

Some people, when earthquakes or floods come, naturally serve as volunteers even though they don’t have training on what to do in response. In Myanmar, Archbishop Stephen feels there is an opportunity for training and a more unified system of disaster response for people of goodwill. 

A reminder of the importance of collaboration over confrontation

Archbishop Stephen relays a family story from 2008 when Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar. His uncle’s village is in the Delta area, where every year the floods rise, then go back down again. In 2008, the water rose, step by step and didn’t recede. When the night fell, there was a heavy storm and the people were afraid. They didn’t know ‘where to go because of the dark, but they tried to climb a tree’.

His uncle and family were among twenty or so people who sought refuge from the rising waters in the tree. By the morning, only four people remained, including his uncle. Archbishop Stephen describes that each person had been from a different faith tradition. A Christian (his uncle), a Buddhist, a Muslim and a Hindu. ‘These four people held tightly. They did not ask [about] religion… They just tried to face the common threat.’

Amid the profound tragedy, Archbishop Stephen reflects on the hope that can be found in the resilience of individuals. He views the survival of the four people as a testament to humanity's ability to collaborate and persevere in the face of adversity. In his comments on the ongoing conflict in Myanmar, as well as the wide differences within the Anglican Communion, he emphasises the importance of unity, stating: ‘We can work together… We need to hold each other in overcoming the common threat that is life and death.’

Find out about the Church of the Province of Myanmar (Anglican).