Review 2015-16

DIOCESE IN EUROPE THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND R EV IEW 2015-16 europe.anglican.org WELco ME F ro M THE D I oc E S A N S E cr ETA R Y Welcome to the Annual Report Doves released which provides just a glimpse of to mark Waterloo the extraordinary and inspiring range of Christian life, work, worship, witness, growth and development in the diocese F ro M THE B I S H op over 2015 – a reflection on the common life of the Body of Christ. I introduce this review at the end of my first full year as bishop for the Diocese in Europe. We are a Mission-shaped diocese – a network of Christian communities and It is a year that has been deeply challenging. One country – Greece – has been almost congregations serving Anglicans and overwhelmed by the political and economic consequences of debt. Another country – France – has suffered a year framed by terrorism, from Charlie Hebdo to Bataclan. And other English-speaking Christians, nearly every country in the diocese has been affected by the vast movement of peoples working together to build up the that we call ‘the migration crisis’. Kingdom of God across an enormous Against this background our diocese has been working on a strategy that is faithful geographical area. to our historic identity and relevant to current needs. “Walking together in Faith” was Although we have slender resources, formally commended at the Diocesan Synod and endorsed by the Bishop’s Council. It these pages show that we are a vibrant has five points: building up the body of Christ; sharing in the evangelisation of Europe; and lively diocese, keen to grasp some striving for a just society and sustainable environment; working for reconciliation; with of the many mission opportunities proper resources. The strategy aims to give our dispersed diocese a stronger sense of that present themselves in new and focus and common purpose. surprising ways. And while we are very I am one of the few people who has the privilege of travelling around to see the centrally and recognisably Church of amazing work done by our churches. It is a delight for me to share in acts of worship offered in such different circumstances across a whole continent and beyond. I England, this Report also shows the invariably come away from visits humbled by the efforts of clergy, wardens and importance and reality of relationships lay officers who are sustaining and developing church communities, often under with ecumenical partners and valued challenging social or financial conditions. working links with many agencies. Read The life of our diocese is in its local churches – these are our growing tips. on; the report clearly shows the Christ is Our central resources are slender. Over this past year these have, however, been alive in His people across the diocese. significantly strengthened by the addition of Ian Carter, as safeguarding manager, and by Colin Williams as freestanding Archdeacon of Germany and Adrian Mumford Northern Europe and the Eastern Archdeaconry: both have already Diocesan Secretary made a big impact! In a fragmented and often fearful continent, we are messengers of the love of Jesus, seeking to bring hope and reconciliation. These pages are testimony to the efforts of many in seeking to do this. +Robert Gibraltar in Europe 2 C ATHE dr AL S C ATHE dr AL of THE S T PA U L’S P ro - M os T H O LY TR I N ITY, C ATHE dr AL , M ALTA G I br ALTA R The Pro Cathedral and its community a sign of unity, inspiring prayer and praise, have had a busy and fulfilling year. and ministering the Love of Christ. HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh visited the Islands for the Gibraltar Cathedral is a place where the Commonwealth Heads of Government Divine Law is preached, where Canon Law meeting in late November and the Duke is observed, and where some Civil Lawyers Holy Trinity launch their careers! Hence its famous Gibraltar Cathedral came for a Service of Thanksgiving and “peaceful”, “prayerful” and “inspiring” a tour of the building after which he met The Cathedral also plays an important members of The Friends. The Archbishop atmosphere. In the Cathedral, Canon Law part in civic legal life. The Dean, for of Malta (pictured) kindly agreed to bring is observed: “In every Cathedral church example, presides over the Swearing in of a an ecumenical flavour to the event and the Common Prayer shall be said or sung, Notary Public by Faculty of the Archbishop distinctly, reverently, and in an audible of Canterbury. The Master of the Faculties gave the Blessing to conclude the service! voice, every morning and evening...” (Canon writes: “To Our beloved in Christ the Very Some weeks before over 60 Heads of B10) ... “In every cathedral church the Holy Reverend the Dean of Gibraltar, greetings Government were on the Islands for the Communion shall be celebrated at least on ... We do therefore by these Presents grant global Summit on Migration and members all Sundays and other Feast Days, on Ash full power and authority to you, in whose of our Congregation acted as interpreters Wednesday, and on other days as often as fidelity We confide, to administer the Oath and welcomers for the period. In February may be convenient ... It shall be celebrated and Declarations to ‘XXX’ ” . ‘XXX’ says “I Bishop David visited to preach for our distinctly, reverently and in an audible do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and Feast of Title and the 4th annual lecture voice.”(Canon B12). So every day of the year affirm that I am residing in the Colony of on Church and State while in September is begun and concluded with public prayer, Gibraltar and am desirous of being created we took part in the 450th Anniversary of and the Eucharist is celebrated every day a Public Notary for the purpose of acting as The Great Siege of Malta in 1565. Some of the week. such in the Colony aforesaid...”. significant news ended our year when a development programme for the Undercroft and Terraces was announced. THE Pro -C ATHEdr AL of HO LY TRINITY BrussEL S John Wilkinson; Canon Pastor “Unless the Lord builds the house, the In 2015 we held a dinner for refugees builders labour in vain. Unless the Lord and others in need and celebrated the watches over the city, the guards stand centenary of the death of Edith Cavell, a watch in vain.” Psalm 127:1 former member of Holy Trinity. Our four Sunday 2015, like 2014 was a year of changes services welcome new people nearly every in staff and buildings. Our new Chancellor Sunday, whom we seek to make feel part of and Senior Chaplain, Paul Vrolijk joined the community as soon as possible. Phase HRH the Duke of us in September from Aquitaine. A new 2 of work on Church House was completed. Edinburgh in Malta phase of ministry begins, looking out into The ground floor frontage is now opened up, the city we serve. presenting a more welcoming face to the city. 3 O ur S EVE N A rc H D EAconr IE S Church choir in Vienna Youth drama in Monaco Music in Rotterdam A S TE rn five year’s work of the French Anglican Roman Assistant Area Dean, charged with overseeing E Catholic Commission which encourages the the increasingly diverse Anglican life in The Eastern Archdeaconry was at the centre celebration of Morning and Evening Prayer Finland. The chaplaincy in Riga maintained its of European geopolitical life during 2015. ecumenically in Roman Catholic and Anglican longstanding tradition of providing Saturday Huge numbers fleeing from wars in Syria, Iraq churches in France. breakfast for the poor, hungry and lonely; and Afghanistan came among us seeking The re-established Reuilly Contact Group Copenhagen has produced a Mission Action safety and support. From Ankara, Istanbul to met in Paris under the co-chairmanship of the Plan to focus its planning for the years to Budapest and Vienna Anglican congregations Bishop of Warwick and Dr Christian Krieger to come; Stockholm has continued to pioneer rallied to provide humanitarian care to those take forward relations between the Anglican Messy Church, and in Norway, an Anglican passing on their way north. The Anglican Church and the Eglise Protestante Unie de congregation has taken root in the historic Chaplaincy in Athens found itself in the ‘eye France. Mgr Robert Le Gall Archbishop of Mariakerken in Bergen. of the storm’. Working with other Churches, Toulouse co-chairperson with Fr Matthew Deanery of Germany NGO’s, UNHCR and ‘Us’ it participated in Harrison of the French ARC and Dr Christian During 2015 Matthew Jones departed from on-going programmes attending to the needs, Krieger have been invited to speak at the Hamburg and Andrew Sillis from Bonn- often acute, of refugees on the islands and French Archdeaconry Synod in May this year. Cologne. Christopher Parsons has come from the mainland. Meanwhile we welcomed David Throughout the year anglican communities Canada to serve in Freiburg and Stephen Brown to Warsaw and Jules Wilson to the in France have sought to respond to the Walton has begun his service in Düsseldorf, chaplaincy in Corfu who with the congregation refugee crisis in Europe. Among many sharing in the planting of a congregation in responded to refugee needs on the Greek responses the church in Grenoble has Essen while the Leipzig chaplaincy celebrated border with FYROM. At the Archdeaconry welcomed many migrants from sub Saharan its twentieth anniversary during 2015.

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