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I am writing this in Baghdad on Ash Wednesday. Previously visits have been made by road across the desert from Amman. This time, it was by a little eighteen-seat propeller plane, corkscrewing into Baghdad Airport to dodge the missiles. Interesting!

St George's, Baghdad, well used

St George's Church, surrounded by apartment blocks, but still a presence in Baghdad

It was good to see St George’s Church looking clean and bright, the walls cleaned inside and out, a new lighting system and the overhead fans renewed. Every week, at 4 o’clock on Sunday there is a service, usually a Eucharist. On this occasion, two members of the Iraqi Governing Council joined us, one an Assyrian Christian, the other a Shia Muslim. Altogether there were almost two hundred people in Church, including the children who had their own Sunday School during the service, using Hanna the caretaker’s house (which was the church hall).

Bishop Clive at St George's Church, Baghdad

Almost all the members of the congregation are local Iraqi Christians, mostly from the Chaldean Church. Some 500 families live in the area around the Church. In present conditions they find it difficult to get to their own church across the river and so come to St George’s.

The word on everyone’s lips is still ‘security’or rather the lack of it. Electricity remains intermittent but most public buildings have generators, which start up within minutes of a break. For many people, life will be uncomfortable as hotter weather comes. There are good things. Schools are open and hospitals are gradually becoming better equipped. The financial base is much more healthy. But some 70% of people remain unemployed.

Important meetings with religious leaders

On this visit, I met a number of church leaders, including the new Chaldean Patriarch, His Beatitude Emmanuel Delli. Also I saw something of the work of the Middle East Council of Churches in Iraq, meeting with Edmond Adam and Edward Isho, its directors and their staff. They are involved in food distribution, especially in and around Kirkuk, and in water purification projects in the south.

Most significant of all was the opportunity to be part of a conference of leaders of the religious communities in Iraq, held on 24th February. This was notable in that it brought together for the first time leaders of both the Sunni and Shia communities, as well as representatives of minority groups like the Sabeans and Yezidis. After firm but constructive discussion, those present signed a nine-point accord, which included the establishing of the Iraqi Centre for Reconciliation, Dialogue and Peace.

This Conference, and the agreement to establish the Centre, is the result of patient work over the past months of Coventry Cathedral’s International Centre for Reconciliation, through its Co-Director, Canon Andrew White and his small team. They responded to a request by the leaders of the main religious communities in Iraq to help bring about reconciliation. It is important to recognise that the initiative for this came from the Iraqi leaders. In a region where religious communities play a large part in social and political life, a centre with a broad religious base can play an important role for good in the development of the country.

Joy and grief at Synod

The first week of February was very much Synod week. This year, a record number of observers joined us, especially, though by no means exclusively, from the Gulf, since the dates coincided with a public holiday for the main Muslim Festival at the end of the Pilgrimage. Among the visitors and guests it was good to welcome again a number of regulars.

There was sadness, too, because of several absences. Even as she and Nigel were preparing to travel to Cyprus, Margaret Speller died suddenly. She had been much in our prayers during her recent illness and we all hoped she was on the way to recovery. It has been a sad time for the Exeter Liaison Group and their friends in Cyprus and the Gulf.

Earlier we had learned of the death of John Parkinson and the serious stroke suffered by Joy Forsaith. Soon after Synod came the news that Joy had died. All these were devoted servants of the Lord and his Church, enriching us and many others by their lives, devotion and quiet witness. As we give thanks to God for them, rejoicing that they have entered into life, we remember those who feel their loss most keenly. May they rest in peace and rise in glory.

Communications

One of the themes of Synod was communication. We had with us Philip and Janet Whitfield who have recently taken up residence in Cairo, from which base Philip will serve as Communications Officer for the Dioceses of Cyprus and the Gulf, Egypt and Iran. They come to us from and through the Episcopal Church in the USA.

It was stimulating to welcome three persons from British Television, Gillian Greenwood, Naomi Law and Ray Bruce. They are exploring the possibility of making a film series about aspects of the life of the Diocese. A little cautious we may have been, but we were impressed by their sensitivity and professionalism.

During Synod we were able to make some provision for the eventual re-establishment of the Chaplaincy in Baghdad, to pledge assistance to our sister Province of the Sudan, and set aside a sum to help initiate a potential three-way link between the Diocese of Thika in Kenya, the Diocese of Exeter, and ourselves.

A visit to St Andrew's

A highlight of our time together is always the visit we make to the Church in some part of the Island. This year was particularly significant because we went to Kyrenia. The weather was distinctly less than friendly, but the welcome at St Andrew’s, Kyrenia, was very warm. The Church has been significantly enlarged, not only giving more space for the congregation but also providing a hall underneath the Church. All was completed just in time for its re-dedication on St Andrew’s Day, 30th November.

Among visitors to Synod, it was a great joy and privilege to welcome Archdeacon Peter Delaney. He is a long-standing friend of the Diocese, a great supporter from early days, and Bishop’s Senior Commissary. Archdeacon Peter led the Quiet Morning in St Andrew’s, at which it was particularly good to see Arthur and Doris Rider.

Before returning to Larnaca, we celebrated the main Synod Eucharist. The Church was full as members of the Kyrenia congregation joined Synod members and guests. During the Service, I Licensed Chris Edgar, the Presbyter of the Church of Pakistan in Kuwait, as Chaplain also of our Chaplaincy there. He succeeds Steve Wright, whom I Licensed as Chaplain at Jebel Ali in the Dubai, Sharjah and the Northern Emirates Team.

As this issue of ‘Bible Lands’ appears, Anthony and Jane Fletcher will be about to leave Kyrenia. Theirs has been a significant ministry which, among many other things, has seen the renovation of the Hermitage (the Vicarage) and the extension of St Andrew’s Church. We thank them for their fellowship with us and wish them God’s blessing as they take up ministry (again) in Lyneham, in England.

The experience of Synod each year is a mixture of a number of elements, the informal being as important as the formal. There is the opportunity of catching up on news, renewing friendships and making new ones. For many who have been in this over the years it was a pleasure to have Michael and Jean Jones among us. They announced their retirement after last year’s meeting, so this was an opportunity formally to thank them and wish them well. Their friends were delighted to see that their characteristic skills have not deserted them.

All the activities during Synod, formal and informal, are set within the context of prayer and worship. We were again enriched by the sensitive provision of intelligent acts of worship arranged by Archdeacon Ian Young. That he does this year by year in the midst of a very busy ministry, earns the gratitude of us all.

Aden activities

There is space to mention only a few other activities and places in the Diocese out of the many things that are happening. Positive news comes from Aden again. Shipping is increasing and a significant number of ship visits have been possible, especially in the Ma’ala Port.

The two clinics continue to make a distinctive contribution, with a constant stream of patients, sometimes numbering 150 in a day. The Clinic team members work together well. The work of the Ophthalmic Clinic has been assisted by an agreement with the Army, whereby a surgeon from Chile undertakes operations on one day each week. Sadly, the nurse and doctor whom we had hoped would join us under the auspices of CMS have felt it necessary to withdraw. However, at the time of writing this there is the possibility of an ophthalmic surgeon and his GP wife joining us from India.

In terms of ordained ministry, after the move of Colin and Irene Noyce to Limassol, there will be a ‘locum’ ministry, as and when possible. As I write this, Canon Dennis and Naomi Gurney are just coming to the end of a two-month spell of service, characterised as ever by great energy and activity.

Jim and Carole Wakerley's visit

It was good that Jim and Carole Wakerley were able to visit Aden for Remembrance Sunday. It gave them an opportunity to see old haunts and how things have developed since their important involvement in the early days of the Chaplaincy.

Theirs has been very much a pioneering ministry. Not many people would expect to begin ordained ministry out on their own and in a place like Aden. So much of what has developed is the result of their patience and persistence. These qualities have been seen too, with much else, in subsequent service in Ras al Khaimeh, not least in the development of the Prison Ministry, and then latterly at Christ Church, Jebel Ali.

Jim and Carole have now retired to their native New Zealand, with the prayers and good wishes of many people. By the time this issue of ‘Bible Lands’ rolls off the press, they could well be back in Aden for extended locum duty!

News from Oman

The Protestant Church of Oman, in which the Diocese shares with the Reformed Church of America, has been without an Anglican priest in the capital for a long time. Ernest and Lalitha Victor have continued their work in the Interior, but a great responsibility has fallen on Steve Rheingans, the RCA Pastor. There is, therefore, great rejoicing that Mike Clarkson will arrive at the beginning of April as Senior Pastor. Mike and his wife are currently at the Oak Tree Centre in London.

It was particularly good that both Mike and Steve could be at Synod, together with Bruce Goodwin, the Chairman, and Ernest and Lalitha.

Senior Chaplain for Dubai

Amid the changes and chances of Dubai, I hope that by the time this appears we shall have welcomed John Weir as Senior Chaplain. Meanwhile, we have been wonderfully served by a talented succession of locums, Ian Russell (twice), Bruce Duncan, John Tutton and, for an extended time, Ben Chase. All came with their wives, who themselves added an active and much appreciated element.

Derek and Hennie Hamblin are soon to leave Ras al Khaimeh. They have contributed much to the life of the Diocese there and in Larnaca. We look forward to seeing them regularly when they are in their flat in Cyprus.

Area Dean for Cyprus

I have recently appointed Steve Collis, the Dean of the Cathedral in Nicosia, as Area Dean for Cyprus. He will work with Archdeacon Ian in serving the Chaplaincies in the Island.

In Cyprus, the Church in Paphos is active in plans for the purchase of a Vicarage and then the establishment of a new Church, to succeed St Stephen’s. Keith Henshall leaves Paphos in the next few weeks. His ministry there has been valued by many, and we express our thanks to him as he moves to the next stage.

Signs of growth

A number of people, in both parts of the Diocese, are testing a vocation to ministry, either as ordinands or readers. Several will have come to a Selection Conference in March. Please continue to pray for all who feel God’s call to particular ministries in the Church, and for Archdeacon Ian and the two Directors of Ordinands, Robin Brookes and Alan Hayday.

Through all the ups and downs of life, we are continually aware of being upheld by the grace and love of God and the prayers of people in many places. There is so much that is positive and so many opportunities for growth, both in Diocese and Province. May we at all times be open to the promptings of the spirit, to ‘expect great things from God and attempt great things for God’.

Clive