Eurobishop

27 of the 44 countries covered by the Diocese in Europe are member states of the European Union. Tomorrow, 22 May, EU citizens go to the polls to elect members to the European Parliament.  From my discussions around the diocese, I have been heartened to learn how seriously the many EU citizens who are members of our congregations and resident in those countries will be taking their democratic responsibility.  Europe faces many problems. Yet the elections  present a chance for EU citizens to make contributions to overcoming  extremism, renewal of solidarity, respect of differences  and sharing responsibility. To encourage Christians who are EU citizens to cast their vote tomorrow, the General Secretary of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), the Revd Dr Guy Liagre, has issued a statement about the elections, entitled: It’s about Europe, it’s about you!   I have posted the statement below. The elections to the European Parliament are an o...

Canon Dr Jack McDonald and Canon Ulla Monberg at the Chapel of the Resurrection A day of consultation was held in Brussels last week involving the Director of Training, the Revd Canon Ulla Monberg, the Revd Canon Dr Jack McDonald, Canon Theologian at the Pro-Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Brussels and priest-in-charge of Saints Mary and Martha, Leuven, the Revd Canon Dr Robert Innes, the Chancellor of the Pro-Cathedral and myself.  We explored the potential for training offered by theological faculties in Leuven, and the possibility of working with Roman Catholic, Lutheran and Orthodox partners in developing a lay theological centre for reflection, dialogue and formation, based at the Chapelle de la Resurrection which is situated at the heart of the EU institutions in Brussels.  The Chapel of the Resurrection is also known as the Chapel for Europe. It is a place for all Christians working in the European Institutions and seeks to be a place of ecumenical ...

The archdeacons of the Diocese in Europe met together from 28 Feb to 2 Mar in Brussels for prayer and discussion. The 7 archdeacons oversee areas of the diocese on behalf of the bishops, giving support to clergy and congregations and guiding them in their mission and ministry. During their meeting the archdeacons also met with the Revd Dr Gary Wilton, the Archbishop of Canterbury's representative to the EU, and an assistant priest at Holy Trinity Pro-Cathedral in Brussels, who arranged for them a tour of the European Institutions. The 7 archdeacons are pictured above with Dr Winton outside the headquarters of the European Commission. "We were most impressed with the ministry of Dr Gary Wilton amongst the European Institutions, " said Archdeacon of Germany and Northern Europe, Jonathan LLoyd. As part of their meeting in Brussels, the archdeacons also attended Choral Evensong at Holy Trinity Pro-Cathedral. In the photo above, from left to right: Ken Letts, Archdeacon o...

A panel of senior Church of England bishops has told the EU that its plans for the next decade fail to reflect the needs of both the most disadvantaged and those 'ordinary citizens' who indirectly contribute to its financial and political viability. The bishops, led by the Christopher Hill, the Bishop of Guildford and Chair of the House of Bishops’ Europe Panel, were responding to EU 2020, a strategy paper outlining how to make the EU a smarter, greener, social market. The bishops assert that: more effort must be made to improve the EU’s financial and accounting transparency, and to reduce bureacracy.  the welcome environmental focus of EU 2020 seems to be based purely on an economic argument for efficient growth rather on a commitment to the sustainable stewardship of global resources for future generations; an emphasis on investment in vocational subjects that provide skills for industry ignores the importance of other subjects that sustain common life, and betrays “a...