SOMA was founded in 1978 as a charity within the Anglican Communion world-wide to promote the work of the Holy Spirit by giving leadership training to clergy and church leaders. It began at a conference before the Lambeth Conference of bishops from around the world, meeting at Canterbury, UK. It was believed that God was saying there was a need for an organisation to be "caring for the nervous system of the Church." This was interpreted as being the work of the Holy Spirit about whom there was perceived to be much ignorance at the time. The initial founding of SOMA in the UK has since spread to other countries: USA, Canada, Singapore, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Uganda, Ireland. Nigeria and South Korea are currently working on setting up SOMA offices. SOMA's "Calling Statement": "SOMA is a mission agency called by God to serve the Anglican Communion and the worldwide Church: by building up and equipping the Body of Christ; through the renewing power of the Holy Spirit; principally through short-term cross-cultural missions for the transformation of individuals, churches and communities." The most visible part of this work is the sending of teams of volunteers from churches in sending-countries to dioceses overseas at the invitation of local bishops. The volunteers come from churches sympathetic to the aims of SOMA who commit themselves to raising travel expenses for a 10 to 15-day short-term mission. The host dioceses aim to raise the finances for the cost of accommodation, both for the team members and for attending delegates. Teams have been sent to about 50 different countries, some of which are in situations of great poverty. This frequently places strain on the finances resulting in the need for fund-raising by supporters to enable missions to areas such as Southern Sudan, or Kitgum in northern Uganda to be possible. Biblical teaching material is provided by the visiting team and covers topics such as Renewal for Life; Healing; Gifts of the Spirit; Renewal in the Midst of Chaos; Building a Prophetic Community; Worship; Leadership; Marriage.
