Eurobishop

The Revd Joe Ponic (centre) with Parish Reps Irwin Timms (left) and Leyton Williams. Canon Medhat Sabry of Casablanca is on the right St Andrew's Church in Tangier is about to enter a new phase of its life. This historic Church, built in 1894 on land donated to the British Community by King Hassan I of Morocco, is home to an international community of English-speaking Christians. For decades the parish has been served by a rota of faithful locum priests who spend a brief time in the city ministering to what was at one time a largely British expatriate population. In recent years the parish has grown and the profile of the foreign community has changed significantly. Now St Andrew's serves many people from sub-saharan African countries, as well British, US, Australian and other expat communities. There are new opportunities for ministry with foreign students who are attending some international university programmes based in Tangier. After a period of consultation wit...

  The College of Bishops is in meetings right now in Leicestershire. We are beginning the process of shared conversations on human sexuality, one of the outcomes of the Pilling Report which was pubished about 18 months ago. Representatives in each diocese of the Church of England will eventually be engaging in this process, and these confidential discussions among the bishops are the start. It is clear that the aim of the conversations are not so much to reach agreement on the issues related to human sexuality, given the range of strongly-held convictions across the Church and among the bishops on these matters. However, it is hoped that we will be able to "disagree well" as David Porter, the Archbishop of Canterbury's Director of Reconciliation has put it. Those of us in the Diocese in Europe have a range of views on these issues, of course. It is interesting however that we have lived with a reality in many of our countries that England is just coming to terms with. Ci...

This Sunday is Holy Cross Day. As we gather together around the sign which is both the instrument of suffering, as well as the victory-sign of Christ, it will be an appropriate time to pray for suffering and persecuted peoples in the Middle East, and to unite with them in solidarity and faith. God of Compassion,, hear the cries of the people of Syria and Iraq.Comfort those who suffer violence, console those who mourn the dead.Give strength to all who welcome the refugees.Convert the hearts of those who have taken up arms and protect those who are committed to peace.God of hope, inspire leaders to choose peace over violence and to seek reconciliation with their enemies.Fill us with compassion for the people of Syria and Iraq and give us hope for a future built on justice for all. We ask this through Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace and Light of the world.

The Revd Deacon Frances Hiller has been invited to be an Honorary Minor Canon of Southwark Cathedral. This, as the title indicates, is an honorary position - we are not losing her from the diocese. Deacon Frances continues to serve as my chaplain, supporting my work in the Diocese in Europe. But this is wonderful recognition of her ministry as a deacon given by her London home, Southwark Cathedral. Many congratulations, Frances!

The Reverend Mary-Ellen Dolan has arrived in Spain to take up the post of priest-in-charge of Málaga. She comes from being Interim Rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd and St John the Evangelist, Milford, PA, USA. Her new responsibilities took effect from, Monday 1 September. Mary-Ellen, an Irish citizen and a priest for 19 years, comes to this diocese with a rich and varied experience. She has served the (US) Episcopal Church's parishes in Wiesbaden, Germany and Waterloo, Belgium. She continues to serve as Secretary of the Francophone Network of the Anglican Communion, having worked for many years in Francophone Africa. Besides her formal training for priestly ministry she is also trained in spiritual direction. And in addition Mary-Ellen also has professional qualifications in psychiatric nursing, which might be a useful skill for anyone in ministry! A service of licensing will take place on  Friday 19 September 2014 at 12 noon in St George's Church, led by the Act...

His Grace Bishop Angaelos: front, 2nd from left His Grace Bishop Angaelos, the General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom and the Moderator of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, CTBI, initiated an ecumenical gathering which was hosted by the Archbishop of Canterbury today in London. At the meeting, discussions were held about the plight of Christians and minority communities in Iraq, Syria and the wider Middle East. The following statement was agreed, which expresses solidarity with all those who continue to suffer gross violations of their rights and freedoms. REJOICING IN THEIR FAITH AND SHARING IN THEIR COLLECTIVE PAIN 3 September 2014 A new situation has arisen which creates a state of emergency in the Middle East for Christians and other religious and ethnic minorities. The recent increase in violence and aggression has resulted in gross violations of fundamental rights and freedoms in the region. We gathered today as Christians includin...

Tufton Street welcomed a dear friend and former senior colleague in the Diocese in Europe this week. On Tuesday, the Revd Canon Gordon Reid dropped in to see us, on the 2nd day of his retirement from full-time ministry. He literally presided at his last mass as Rector of St Clement's, Philadelphia, and caught a plane to London, en route to Edinburgh, his home town. Fr Gordon had a distinguished ministry in this diocese, serving as a priest in Ankara, Stockholm, Milan as well as sometime Dean of Gibraltar and Vicar General of the Diocese.  As he has been a priest for 47 years, so far, it was an occasion for some congratulations.