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The tasks ahead

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Movement and change, though seemingly no kin to the constitution of retirement, accelerates and expands in particular situations. The widening of our responsibility after reaching retirement age, as suggested and ratified by Provincial and Diocesan Synods, is resulting in as full an involvement as before, if not more. Though we have become old, we are required and hopefully equipped by the Spirit to run as youths!

The big tasks ahead are a) to work towards the reversal of the 'non negotiable' rulings of the Court for the clergy, which has expropriated all Diocesan properties and assets, b) to reactivate the legal status of The Episcopal Church Association of Iran, a body holding all Diocesan possessions, c) to make a plea of innocence in respect of the conviction as apostates by Shariah Law, d) to raise up an equipped leadership to deal with the above issues, as well as the task of education, so that the church may not become an end in itself, e) to seek prayerfully and encourage and nuture a new leader to shoulder these and other issues arising in the course of time through force of circumstance.

Emotion and desperation

Last June, Bishop Mouneer and I attended a conference in Oxford with thirty other bishops and primates. Delegates were from countries where militant religious fundamentalism has become a powerful trend and a universal threat. Being the first of its kind, the conference had been organised by a committee set up by the last Lambeth Conference. Participants initially shared their first-hand experiences, at times charged with emotion and desperation.

The presence and presentations of Bishops Kenneth Cragg and Michael Nazir Ali, and later talks given by the Archbishop of Canterbury elect, kept us on the right path and helped us to enter into and engage in deeper waters of cross-cultural and religious currents, in spite of high tides shifting and pushing us back to the shore.

Leadership problems

Before attending the conference in Oxford, two successive Diocesan Synods were held in Isfahan. In response to a Provincial mandate, Simin Rastan, a lay representative, was elected to meet with and present a questionnaire to all three congregations, asking them to highlight the qualities they seek in their leaders and to help them search for a possible leader to succeed the retiring Bishop.

Another item was the situation in St Paul's Church in Tehran. The congregation had reached the conclusion that Seroj, their pastor, must join his family abroad. Two years of separation had done him harm which humanly speaking was beyond repair.

Minoo and I had to move to Tehran to enable things to go forward as smoothly as possible. Our first role in Tehran was to help and develop a shared ministry in which Ebrahim our deacon could play a part. The second step was to help the congregation to regain a sense of security lost in the past. There was no option but being open to the leading of the Spirit, leaning much on congregational initiative and trustful judgments. We all were blessed and thankful for the way the Spirit led us the whole way.

Two people, mutually accepted, were given authority for the final settlement. What they went through in the course of a three months bargaining period is a long and tragic story, which finally ended in triumph.

Farewell Agape

Last Sunday before Seroj's departure to Vienna, a Communion Service, combined with an agape meal, was held in the Tehran Church. The congregation asked me to present him with a beautiful engraved silver cross prepared by them as a token of their appreciation for what he had done, together with a 77 million rial cheque from the Diocese. Pray for him, as we do, that he may have a right heart for a new start and have the needed will for a family reunion.

While still in Tehran I had a telephone call from Haj Ansari, the head of the International Relations Office of Ayatollah Khamenei. He told me that they had received the Archbishop of Canterbury's letter explaining the difficulties we have had, pleading for justice, and enclosing all the documents I had regarding the expropriation of the Diocesan properties. Pray that they may be open to the ways of God and the leadings of his Spirit.

Baptism and Confirmations

In August 12-16 a conference was held in Isfahan at which forty people attended. It was a lovely time for spiritual refreshment, fellowship, worship and study. Ebrahim spoke on spiritual disciplines - meditation, fasting, confession, etc. I gave three talks on the creed. A combined service was held at the end.

Emanuel, the newborn son to Reza-Andrias and Samereh, was baptised. Raha from Shiraz, who is to marry Kambiz in three weeks time and Fatemeh-Rebecca from Kerman were confirmed. The Lord indeed has been present among us.

Iraj

A saintly soul

Bishop Iraj wrote this tribute to Sedigheh (and her family). She was a long term resident of the former Nurayin School for the Blind in Isfahan

While we were in London we heard the sad news that Sedigheh, a member of the blind family, resident still in Nurayin, had died of a stroke. She was over seventy. In our absence the congregation called on Ebrahim, our deacon in Tehran, to arrange a funeral service in Isfahan. This was the first time he was taking such a service. Though nervous at first, he found the occasion very rewarding and a golden opportunity to glorify God. To his surprise, though Sedigheh was the only Christian in the family, the influential members were very co-operative and insisted everything should go according to what Sedigheh had wished.

St Luke's Church was so packed with her relatives and friends that many had to stand during the service. Later, at the graveyard they were respectful to the end, showing their love with reciting a 'fateheh', a prayer Muslims offer for the dead. All gathered, including the Christians, were invited for lunch.

Sedigheh's longstanding testimony to the love of Christ and her service to the lowliest in Nurayin, had made a deep impression on all who knew her. Many were amazed at what Christ can do with frail human beings, making their lives great.

We have planned to have a memorial service on the fortieth day after her death, by the request of her relatives and friends. They will host those present with tea and cakes.

Sedigheh has given all her belongings to the church. Her immediate family are taking great care that her wishes are carried out.

We thank God for such saintly soul he has given to the church.