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Advent 2008 Diocese of Egypt with North Africa Bishop Mouneer and Lambeth We welcome this opportunity to publish Bishop Muneer's conclusions...

“The Lambeth Conference 2008 was an opportunity for all Anglican bishops to come together to discuss, learn and face the challenges in front of us. Unfortunately many of my brother bishops from the Global South were not there and their absence was sorely missed. Archbishop Rowan Williams described the Communion as “wounded.”

It was very clear that we are not divided over issues like social justice, environment, interfaith relations, etc..., but the real division was around the issues of interpretation of Scripture, human sexuality, the Anglican Covenant and the Windsor Process. North American bishops continuously stressed the importance of accepting diversity and differences within the Anglican family. I agree as long as diversity involves the nonessentials of faith. But it is obvious that we have major differences on the essentials of faith. The churches in North America allow the culture to shape the faith, rather than allow the Gospel to transform the culture. I would say yes to diversity, but no to unlimited diversity.

We, as a church, are called to be “light and salt” in this world. In other words, we have a role to shine on and to preserve the society where we live. We would not be able to achieve this role unless we preserve our own distinctiveness as “light and salt.” This does not mean that we isolate ourselves from the community where we live, becoming exclusive. We need to be inclusive and welcoming to everyone, but not at the expense of our distinctiveness. We live in this world, but we should not be conformed by the world.

On the contrary, the Scripture teaches us we are to transform the world (Romans 12)”.

125 Years of Community Service

“The Diocese is committed to serve our society through its education, health and community development institutions” wrote Bishop Muneer in his July Report and these years of service were recognized at a celebration attended by the British and Irish Ambassadors and the vice-Minister of Social Affairs. Among the achievements was the opening of a rehabilitation centre for drug addiction to be known as the ‘Way of Life Project’.

The Way of Life Project

The centre is 44 km to the west of Alexandria and it is run by Dr. Emil Zaky, a Christian psychiatrist, in premises provided by Revd Emad Azmy. “I was in tears” said the bishop “listening to the testimonies of people who came completely broken and were being restored during their stay”.

“We held the first graduation of drug addicts after they fully gave up addiction”.

Each one of the former addicts stood up to tell his testimony of healing. One of them said “I never dreamed that I would quit taking drugs, but I did not only quit drugs, but I also accepted Jesus as my saviour – that is much more important!” Another one said, “It is the love of the people in the ‘Way of Life’ as well as in St. Mark’s Church who changed my life. They accepted me as I am”.

Fighting Illiteracy Programme

“The diocese has signed an agreement with the Government Department of Adult Education to start literacy classes in their social centres. The government is going to contribute financially towards this programme. The Diocese has six classes up and running, five of them are for women and girls. There are an additional two classes which are about to start.

It is a very important way of empowering women in society. “I am very grateful” says the bishop “to Mrs. Mariam Awad, the Executive Director’s Assistant for Community Development, for her relentless work”.

Alexandria School of Theology

The Bishop writes:

It was a real joy to start the academic year with a reception and dinner for the faculty and their family of AST at All Saints Cathedral. It was great to pray for the new year and to have fellowship with each other. Ms. Helen Fraser, the AST Development Officer, organized the event and the opening ceremonies. She wrote, “We thank and praise God that He has blessed us with forty five new students, eight new faculty members, predominantly Arabic speaking, and granted us permission to use four air-conditioned furnished classrooms in the building previously occupied by the British International School in Cairo”

The Deaf Unit Graduation

The month of August saw the completion of the teachers training in Sign Languages. The teachers came from all over Egypt. Many churches sent them to be trained so that they could open classes for the deaf children or help in interpretation for the deaf in the churches. It is always a great ecumenical event: Coptic Orthodox, Coptic Catholic, Protestant and Anglican Churches send teachers to this training. 50 teachers graduated. It was a very moving moment when several of them mentioned how much they appreciated the oneness in Christ! Orthodox priests joined us in the event. We thank God for the growing work among the deaf in our church as well as others.

A New Bishop

The Bishop of Egypt, Most Revd Mouneer Anis has announced

“It is with great joy that we announce the formation of a new Episcopal Area in North Africa. We have decided to appoint Rev Canon Dr. Bill Musk (currently Vicar in Tulse Hill London) to be Area Bishop of N Africa and Rector of St. George’s Tunis."

Bishop Muneer goes on to explain that Dr. Bill Musk and his wife Hilary lived in the region for over ten years. He is 59 years old, a well-known Islamist and author of several books: The Unseen Face of Islam, Touching the Soul of Islam, Holy War, and others. He previously served at All Saints Cathedral Cairo for several years in the ’80s. Bishop Muneer concludes “We warmly welcome Bill and Hilary back to the Diocesan family”. The consecration is scheduled to take place in Tunisia on November 22nd at the Roman Catholic cathedral.