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CHURCH OF ENGLAND COUNCIL FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY CHURCH HOUSE LONDON EUROPEAN BULLETIN – No 92 June 2016 CONTENTS 1. Introduction 2. Anglican Centre in Rome 50th Anniversary Service in Westminster Abbey: Christian Leadership Course 3. Archbishop Justin pilgrimage to Cappadocia 4. EU Referendum: meetings and letter to “The Times” 5. Faith in Europe briefing Thursday 14 July 6. News from CEC: CEC and CCEE Secretaries meet in London to plan further co-operation; Secretaries of National Church Councils meet in Lisbon; Human rights summer school in Thessaloniki; ECEN Conference on water; CEC Governing Body on Assembly Preparation and Statement on Refugee Crisis 7.. The Reformation in European Perspective Conference in Erfurt September – October 2016 8. Lutherans and Roman Catholics commemorate Reformation in Sweden 9. Relic of St Thomas Becket comes to England 10. News from WCC: Delegation visits Ukraine; Bossey celebrates 70 years; European Christian Convention plans develop 1. INTRODUCTION Dear Bulletin Readers This Bulletin comes with a tinge of sadness as our Senior Editor will soon be moving from his twin headquarters at Church House Westminster and Lambeth Palace to take up a Chaplaincy post in Hamburg . The Revd Canon Dr Leslie Nathaniel to be the new Chaplain of the Anglican Church of St Thomas Becket Church in the German city of Hamburg - one of the oldest established and significant churches in the diocese, whose congregation has been in existence since 1612. St Thomas Becket draws a large international worshipping community from 15 nationalities, has a fine musical tradition and strong links to the local community. Great local ecumenical opportunities through close links to St Michael’s (EKD), the chaplaincies of the Nordic churches and the Roman Catholic Church as well as the Mission Academy, lie on its doorstep. 1 In welcoming the appointment, Jo Dawes, from St Thomas' Becket church, says “Father’s Leslie’s own experience of crossing cultural boundaries will resonate with many of us. We are thrilled to have secured the services of Father Leslie who should arrive in Hamburg in mid-September to be commissioned by Bishop David.” Canon Leslie’s new church is dedicated to St Thomas Becket and there has been recently been a notable week of events as a Hungarian delegation brought a relic of the saint over to London and then to Canterbury (see item 9). This has been a reminder about the impact that St Thomas Becket has made in mainland Europe over the centuries. Canon Leslie is currently the Archbishop of Canterbury’s International Ecumenical Secretary and European Secretary of the Council for Christian Unity. He has edited the European Bulletins since number 59 in June 2009 and convened conferences of European Diocesan Links Officers inviting some notable guest speakers. Born and brought up in South India, he has previously lived and worked in Germany, and is married to a German priest. He is already a Canon of the Diocese in Europe. Leslie promises to stay in touch as a bulletin reader with, we are sure, items of interest to report from his new base. Thanks to readers for information Thanks to the Venerable Christine Allsopp for sending in a report about the CEC Human Rights Summer School in Thessaloniki (see item 6). We are indebted to the Anglican – Lutheran Society journal “The Window” for information in items 7 and 8 of this bulletin about Reformation based events in Erfurt and Sweden. Thanks to readers who sent in information about EU Referendum hustings events so that we could send out details in messages in between bulletins. Leslie Nathaniel Archbishop of Canterbury’s International Ecumenical Secretary and European Secretary Council for Christian Unity Francis Bassett Assistant Secretary Council for Christian Unity The Bulletin is sent out on a mailing list: Please advise us if your email address changes, or if you do not wish to receive the Bulletin. CCU is not responsible for the content of external web sites mentioned in this Bulletin. Individual views expressed in blogs, reports or communiques are not necessarily the views of the editors. 2 2. ANGLICAN CENTRE IN ROME 50TH ANNIVERSARY SERVICE AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY On Tuesday 14 June the Dean and Chapter of Westminster Abbey hosted a Choral Evensong with Thanksgiving for the 50th Anniversary of the Anglican Centre in Rome. The Most Revd Bernard Longley, Archbishop of Birmingham and Roman Catholic Co-Chair of the ARCIC III dialogue read the first lesson from 1 Samuel and the Most Revd Dr David Moxon, Director of the ACR read the second lesson from Ephesians. Joining the Ven Andrew Tremlett in leading intercessions were ACR associates the Revd Marcus Walker, Bridget Moss, Sodiq Abioye, the Revd Roxanne Hunte and the Rt Revd Dr Stephen Platten. Taking as his text Ephesians 4 1-3 (“making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”) Archbishop Justin described the ACR in his homily as: “a needle to provoke mission, a translator to interpret tongues of difference, a channel of friendship to help share hope and strength, a family to celebrate our call as God’s children.” He spoke about the ARCIC dialogue, the IARCCUM practical projects in his closing remarks described the ACR as “the living presence that enables love – that in some sense cannot be fully consummated at present – to be expressed through those from here who go there, and with those in Rome who meet its director and know that we love them, which we do, as individuals and together. Like the ring given by Pope Paul VI to Archbishop Michael Ramsey, the ACR is worth much but stands for infinitely more. It is essential to our relationship, to knowing the pain of division, to being humble and patient in bearing with one another in love. Above all it carries the disruption of love, that brings in place of the comfortable complacency of long accustomed distance the ecstasies and agonies of passion and the presence of the Holy Spirit. In its neighbours like Caravita, it finds a reciprocity of affection, which provokes and disrupts disunity.” The Abbey Choir conducted by James O’ Donnell sang music by Palestrina, Howells and Jonathan Harvey. The Dean, the Very Revd John Hall, concluded the service with a blessing. The full text of Archbishop Justin’s sermon can be read at: 3 http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/articles.php/5737/archbishop-preaches-at- anglican-centre-in-rome-50th-anniversary-service CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP COURSE The Anglican Centre in Rome is currently accepting applications for this year’s ‘Christian Leaders’ course. The course will take place in Rome from Monday 5 to Sunday 11 September. Archbishop David Moxon, the Director of the Centre has commented that ‘Rome offers a number of unique and very memorable role models and examples of Christian leadership in action today. There are also remarkable opportunities to make first hand contact with sites associated with the early apostles, Peter and Paul. Rome is witness to a refreshing and courageous form of papal ministry these days. A course such as this helps a student learn and grow from this context.’ He also notes that students who participated in the course last year have reported their appreciation for ‘the context, the action-reflection method, the personal mentoring and the well-researched methodology’. Further details are available via the Centre’s website, at http://www.anglicancentreinrome.org/Groups/108939/Anglican_Centre_in/Resources/ Courses_Sabbaticals_Study/Courses_Sabbaticals_Study.aspx. Details can also be found at this link about an equivalent week long course that the Centre is planning for 2017 from 16 to 22 October. 3. ARCHBISHOP JUSTIN PILGRIMAGE TO CAPPADOCIA On Monday 6 June on the final day of his recent pilgrimage to Cappadocia Archbishop Justin met Ecumenical Patriarch. During Vespers at the former church of St Constantine and St Helena in Sinasos he referred to his previous visit to him in 2014 and His All – Holiness’ visit to London in the autumn of last year. Archbishop Justin offered his prayers for the meeting later in June of the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church. He said: “… the whole Christian world is aware that you are meeting later this month for the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church. You have been in all our prayers, in particular during the last months as you and your co-workers have coordinated the final preparatory phases of the Council, looking also to find ways to enable the Council to be an event experienced by all the Orthodox Faithful. The proposal after so many centuries to hold a Council concerns the whole Church. All other churches and Christian bodies can only be encouraged and strengthened by a renewed and more visibly unified Orthodox Church in our midst. From you we find great blessing and strength of faith and purpose. So we pray that the Council will be greatly blessed by the guidance of the Holy Spirit and prove to be as you have said not only a first but also ‘a most decisive step’ that, by God's grace, will give Orthodox witness the authoritative seal of unity and conciliarity. 4 Your All Holiness, dear Brother, our experience as Anglicans this year, in far simpler meetings, has taught me more of the complexities of convening and presiding at such global gatherings; and it leads me, with a deep sense of fraternal love, to assure you of my prayers as you now look to the inauguration of this great gathering. May the Holy Spirit be ever present during your deliberations and may it be a Council of hope and love. I look forward to our continuing pilgrimage together. In a world crying out for redemption and reconciliation may we be strengthened to point together to the only eternal hope and lasting treasure as we confess and witness to Christ, our risen Lord and Saviour.” 4.