The Diocese in Europe Annual Review 2017-18 Welcome Welcome to the 2018 Diocesan Annual summer that commended the reforms we Review. The year 2018 has been one of have made and pointed the way towards deep and sustained uncertainty for Europe. renewal. We are living out the five-point It is fair to say that one theme has domi- Diocesan Strategy we agreed in 2016, and nated: Brexit. the Review elaborates how: The UK and European Union have been We are building up the body of Christ: I striving to negotiate terms for the UK to am delighted to say there is continuing withdraw from the EU, and to outline momentum for growth in the Diocese in their future partnership. As I write, the Europe. Our Church of England Ministry Brexit Summit on 25 November has Experience Scheme (CEMES) now includes concluded with an agreement between six young people in the Diocese. And we are developing proper resources the UK and the leaders of the other 27 EU to do our work: We now have a clear, Member States. We do not know what We are sharing in the evangelisation of forward-looking Financial Plan that was will happen next in the UK Parliament. But Europe: Our relationships with our Euro- agreed in October, and I would like to what we do know is that, for people right pean sister churches develop and deepen. thank Mike Fegan who, as our interim across the Diocese in Europe, the level The first Forum Francophone Chrétien Diocesan Secretary, has been the driving of current uncertainty about the future in Lyon and a conference with German force for improving our financial and touches their lives in so many ways, on Protestant leaders stand out this year. business operations. I believe this plan will everything from residence rights to driving They demonstrate clearly that whatever underpin the strategic direction we are licences and pet passports. Brexit may hold for the UK, the Diocese taking as a Diocese through clergy and lay in Europe represents an enduring Europe- senior leadership. Several appointments As a Diocese we have engaged actively wide presence. this year have been made to reinforce with the UK and other governments and our staffing and capability. These include EU institutions, raising issues and concerns We are striving for a just society and a new Chief Operating Officer, Andrew about Brexit. We started the year with a sustainable environment: This includes par- Caspari, who will start work with us in discussion with a UK Minister for Brexit, ticipation in the humanitarian corridor for January 2019. Andrea Watkins became and have continued to meet with senior Syrian refugees in Belgium, and licensing a Diocesan Safeguarding Manager in August, representatives across EU Member States new priest in Calais, Revd Kirrilee Reid, to and Damian Thwaites joined us as my new in the Diocese. I urged a prayer vigil across minister among our church communities European Institutions Attaché and Dioce- our Diocese for European leaders and and support refugee projects. And I’m san Communications Director in October. decision-makers in October. As Christians, delighted we’re now an Eco-Diocese. In addition, there will be new stipendiary we should continue to pray that they will Archdeacon posts from 2019. show wisdom and act for the common We are working for reconciliation: Clergy good of over 740 million people in the UK among us minister in some challenging Whatever 2019 may bring, you may be and the remaining EU Member States. local conditions and work with a range of assured that in this Diocese our commit- mission partners. We are recognising the ment to walking in faith together, in, with As a Diocese, I am pleased to say that we reconciling and healing role needed in the and through Christ, remains undimmed. are continuing to move forward positively. Brexit context. +Robert Gibraltar in Europe We had an excellent peer review this Diocese in Europe Annual Review | 2 Our Bishops Bishop David ordains Giampaolo Pancetti in Florence, Italy The Diocese in Europe? Brits abroad? Well not really! Certainly the historic roots of the Diocese just about every continent are represented lie in the many English folk who for the in large numbers in many Chaplaincies. past 450 years have found themselves on Our clergy include UK nationals, but also the continent of Europe for a variety of nationals of Canada, the USA, Australia, reasons, diplomatic, economic, family or New Zealand, Egypt, Finland, Iceland, retirement among them. (In light of the Estonia, The Netherlands, Nigeria, Sudan, forced movements of peoples across the India, Pakistan and Ireland. At Petertide world today it is useful to remember that the ordinands were from Congo, Rwanda some members of our congregations some and Italy. We have currently twelve men centuries ago were actually refugees from and women training for the diaconate or England during the Marian persecutions!) priesthood, including citizens of Poland, the UK, Russia, Norway, Netherlands, Today many who are UK passport holders Nigeria and Romania and just beginning continue to be a very important sector of their studies this year will another fifteen the membership in the Chaplaincies. But including citizens of the USA, Latvia and globalisation in recent years has brought Switzerland. peoples from every part of the Anglican world to Europe and Morocco. So now So perhaps a better way to describe us in our Diocesan family are congregations today is not “Brits abroad” but “The Angli- which are almost 100per cent Tamil, Nige- can Communion in miniature”. rian, Sudanese and Malagasy. People from +David Hamid 3 |Diocese in Europe Annual Review Archdeaconries France and Monaco The Archdeaconry of France and Monaco is one of the largest and most diverse Archdeaconries in the Diocese, with contrasting opportunities and challenges, and a wide spread of nationalities (not all of whom have English as a first language). Bishops Robert and David meeting with our Archdeacons We are also seeing new congregations emerge, which adds to the sense of vitality The challenge, as always, is communicating Nordic and Baltic Deanery here, and the encouraging signs of growth, the Gospel ecumenically within the French Representatives of all the Chaplaincies despite financial pressures. context. With that in mind, our Archdea- met together in Iceland in September. We conry website has become an invaluable were joined by the Revd Smitha Prasadam, There was a good deal of positive energy tool: www.anglicanfrance.fr newly licensed as Chaplain of St Alban, at our Archdeaconry Synod in Brittany this Meurig Williams Copenhagen. In the light of concerns year. Our outstanding speakers enabled us expressed by several Chaplaincies at the to confront the uncertainties of Brexit in impact of the Diocesan Financial Plan, the light of the Gospel, and the distinctive Germany and Mike Fegan, our interim Diocesan Sec- terrain of Europe as fertile ground for mis- retary, joined us by Skype to explain the sion. The Bishop encouraged us to grasp Northern Europe background to what was planned. As to the opportunities to become informed individual priests, the Revd Amos Manga – and involved – stakeholders in the future Deanery of Germany has been deputed to help in peace-building strategy of our Diocese. Together with our Episcopalian brothers initiatives in South Sudan. The Revd David and sisters within the Convocation, the Oliver has announced his retirement We are especially thankful to have wel- Church of England parishes in Germany and will leave Vaasa in Finland at the comed many new clergy to the Archdea- are working to renew the vision and end of 2018. conry during the past year, who bring with priorities of the long-established Council them considerable gifts, experience and of Anglican and Episcopalian Churches in vision. In particular, our churches in the Germany (CAECG). As one of the first Paris area (St George’s, St Michael’s, Ver- fruits of that, a weekend for Anglican sailles and Fontainebleau), with their com- young people across Germany will take plementary styles of worship, have new place in Berlin in early 2020. There was priests to encourage outreach and growth. also a CAECG Retreat in 2018. An exciting new pattern of partnership in mission is beginning in Pas-de-Calais as During 2018, the Revd Kara Werner was Kirrilee Reid begins a pioneering ministry licensed as Chaplain of St Catherine, as Chaplain and Refugee Projects Officer. Stuttgart. A priest continues to be sought Revd Tuomas Mäkipää, Revd Smitha Prasadam, Ven Colin Williams for Heidelberg. Diocese in Europe Annual Review | 4 Archdeaconries The Eastern Gibraltar Celia Paterson from Madrid has run the This last year has seen some exciting recent courses with Mercedes Méndez, Archdeaconry developments in Gibraltar Archdea- who is an Asunción Sister, and José There have been new arrivals in the Arch- conry, covering Gibraltar, Spain, Portugal Andrés Sanchez, a De La Salle Brother. deaconry. The Revd Nathanial Nathanial, a and Morocco. We hold the courses in a building in the priest of the Church of North India, was Roman Catholic De La Salle University licensed in June as Chaplain of St Clement, Camino Chaplaincy Launch Courses in Aravaca, near Madrid, donated to the Prague. Canon Bruce Bryant-Scott was University by IKEA, and which proves to licensed in October as Assistant Chaplain be a wonderful setting for a Godly Play in Crete, and the Revd James Harris as room. About eighteen people attend each Assistant Chaplain in Athens. In Novem- of the courses and the attendees tend to ber the Revd Mohammad Eghtedarian, a be a mixture of primary and secondary former refugee from Iran, was licensed as schoolteachers, pastoral directors from Chaplain in St Nicholas, Ankara, where 70 the different regions of Spain, and cate- per cent of the congregation are predom- chists.