Eurobishop

Many people assume that the only Anglican congregation in Finland is in Helsinki. Of course, this is where Anglican work began in the country. However today the work is expanding with congregations or occasional services in such places as Kerava, Kuopio, Oulu, Pori, Salo, Tampere, Turku and Vaasa. On Sunday 7 February, during a pastoral visit to St Nicholas's Helsinki, I was able to commission the Revd Tuomas Mäkipää, the chaplain, to be Assistant Area Dean for Finland. Fr Tuomas’ ministry as Assistant Area Dean will include providing pastoral care and support for the clergy and people of our congregations in Finland, outside Helsinki (except Espoo, which is part of St Nicholas Chaplaincy). Priests from the Church of Finland joined us for the Sunday celebration, including the Very Revd Matti Poutiainen, the Dean of Helsinki Cathedral (seen below giving a gift to Fr Tuomas) and the Revd Dr Jaakko Rusama, Co-Moderator of the Anglican-Lutheran Society. I am grateful that Fr ...

Last week saw the beginning of another programme to address the refugee and migrant crisis, jointly funded by United Society (formerly USPG) and donations sent to the Anglican Chaplaincy in Athens. Each week 400 meals provided by this Anglican project are distributed between two detention centres on the outskirts of Athens. In these centres irregular migrants are incarcerated for at least six months largely because their papers are not in order. The living conditions are grim. Representatives from United Society visited one of the centres recently. The authorities responsible for the centres and staff attached to United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNCHR) were heartened that such a programme could be made available - limited as it is. The (Roman Catholic) Sisters of Mercy are also providing a similar programme once a week. This programme will last until the end of April and then be reviewed. The pictures are of Amigdaleza Detention Centre on the night when the first mea...

The largest Archdeaconry Synod in the diocese has just concluded its sessions. A sign of the good health of the archdeaconry was that only 3 absences were recorded from the clergy and lay representatives who are connected to our over 60 congregations in Morocco, Gibraltar, Spain, Portugal and Andorra. Archdeacon Geoff Johnston preached an inspiring sermon at the closing eucharist, in which he commended three "hums" to the members present, as touchstones for their life as Christians in this Archdeaconry: Hum ility, Hum our and Hum anity. It was a busy few days, which included bible study led by the Revd Deborah Chapman of Barcelona, spiritual input from Bishop Bill Godfrey of Peru, updates on safeguarding in the Church from Safeguarding Manager Ian Carter, the diocesan strategy from David Coulston, the appointments processes in the diocese from Appointments Secretary Catherine Jackson, and vocations to Holy Orders from Canon William Gulliford the Director of Ordinands. Plus mu...

21 Readers and trainee Readers from the Archdeaconry of Gibraltar gathered on Tuesday 2 February for a day's workshop prior to the full meeting of the Archdeaconry Synod. Deacon Frances Hiller led the workshop in which the role of Readers (Licensed Lay Ministers) in discipleship training in their congregations was explored in depth. As theologically and pastorally trained lay ministers, Readers have an advantage of knowing the challenges of living the Christian life day to day as members of the laity, in the workplace, at home, and in community life and service. They "know the soil" in which the seed of the Gospel is to be planted and nurtured and therefore have an important role, complementing that of the clergy, in equipping the members of the Church for active lives as disciples. Deacon Frances opened up the theme of catechesis - teaching the faith - and introduced in detail a new programme produced by the Church of England to encourage deeper exploration and underst...

Last weekend in London, 19 persons from across the Diocese gathered with the Revd Canon William Gulliford, the Diocesan Director of Ordinands, as part of an initial enquiry into possible vocation to Holy Orders in the Church of England. Fr William brought together a team of vocations advisors, as well as other former ordinands of the Diocese, to assist him in guiding the enquirers through this weekend of exploration. The enthusiastic group of enquirers came from Switzerland, Spain, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Turkey, Poland and Italy. Many come from non-Anglican backgrounds, and one of the key questions explored in the weekend was "What has brought me to this point and why am I an Anglican?" Fr William and his team led them through discussions that help to prepare them for the Church's rigorous discernment process. It is a healthy sign that so many in our Diocese are interested in the Sacred Ministry.

An Iraqi family who managed to make the journey safely to Samos.  This report of yet another tragedy off the coast of Greece has just reached me from Max McClellan who is working with the Diocese and with United Society (formerly USPG) in Greece.  This morning 26 Kurdish refugees from Iraq were confirmed to have drowned off the coast of Samos Island in Greece on 28 January as they attempted to cross to Europe from Turkey. 10 of the dead were children; five boys and five girls.  Despite the winter weather and dangerous seas refugees continue to arrive on Greek islands in their thousands. Over 200 people have drowned crossing from Turkey since the beginning of the year. The Anglican Chaplaincy in Greece, with the support of the Diocese in Europe and United Society continue to support a Greek medical organisation “Medical Intervention” on Samos Island. For those who arrive safely by boat to Samos many need medical treatment and Medical Intervention is there to prov...

I have just returned from Marrakesh where I witnessed a momentous gathering. The inspired vision of His Majesty, King Muhammad VI of Morocco, has borne fruit. Under his high patronage, the scholars, muftis, academics and government ministers from Muslim countries around the world have agreed a significant statement, entitled The Marrakesh Declaration . The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs of the Kingdom of Morocco and the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies based in the UAE, jointly organised the conference, which after 3 days of intense work and exchange of ideas, histories, theological, legal and textual information, has resulted in this remarkable and historic agreement. In recent years the world has seen brutal atrocities inflicted upon religious minorities in predominantly Muslim countries. Many members of minority groups have been victims of murder, enslavement, forced exile, intimidation, starvation, and other affronts to their basic human dignity. The...