On 17 September, the Chaplain-President, in his capacity as Bishop Robert's adviser for EU affairs, participated in a seminar at the European Commission on the proposed European Democracy Shield, a combined approach to safeguarding democracy in the EU via both action against hostile online misinformation from outside the EU and supportive action for critical thinking, digital literacy, transparency and encouraging good practice within the EU. Religious and philosophical groups are particularly interested in encouraging critical thinking and transparency within their communities and in wider society.
Conseil de dialogue / Dialoograad
Le 17 septembre, le chapelain-président McDonald et le vice-présent Sibomana ont représenté le culte anglican au Conseil de dialogue, l'organe de dialogue entre les cultes et convictions reconnus et le gouvernement fédéral. La réunion était présidée par Mme Annelies Verlinden, ministre de la Justice. Un ordre du jour chargé était discuté avant un petit-déjeuner agréable.
Requiem for Mgr Noël Treanor
We spoke last year of the untimely death of our great friend Mgr Noël Treanor, Papal Nuncio to the EU. On 15 September, the Chaplain-President represented Lambeth Palace and Bishop Robert at a requiem held for the anniversary of Archbishop Noël's death at Notre-Dame du Sablon de Bruxelles, concelebrated by Mgr Bernadito Auza (Papal Nuncio to the EU), Mgr Franco Coppola (Papal Nuncio to Belgium and Luxembourg), Mgr Lode Aerts (Bishop of Brugge) and Mgr Jean Kockerols (Assistant Bishop in Mechelen-Brussels) and a large group of Catholic clergy. It was a bitter-sweet occasion of confidence in God's eternal plans and many happy memories, together with sadness at the loss of so dear a friend. Requiescat in pace ut in gloria resurgat.
Meeting the new Chair of the Diocese in Europe Board of Finance
On 10 September, the Chaplain-President met the Revd Lord Stephen Green at Bishop Robert's office in Brussels. Lord Green is a priest of the Church of England who has exercised most of his ministry in finance and banking, notably as chairman of HSBC Bank. He received his peerage to work as Minister for Trade and Investment in the UK Coalition Government from 2011 to 2013. Bishop Robert mentioned his appointment as chair of the Diocesan Board of Finance in his address to the Diocesan Synod in June this year. Stephen has a wealth of financial and ethical acumen on which European Anglicans will be able to draw and is a passionate European: Jack was able to discuss with him ways in which his experience could serve the Archbishop of Canterbury's Permanent Representation to the EU, which Bishop Robert chairs.
Anglicans in the European Institutions
On 11 September, Bishop Robert and the Chaplain-President spent the day in meetings with various European personalities: Dr Vincent Depaigne, who heads the European Commission's Article 17 Dialogue with religious and non-confessional bodies; Metropolitan Athenagoras de Belgique, who co-chairs the Anglican Communion's formal dialogue with the Orthodox Churches; Dr Fearghas O'Beara, who heads the European Parliament's Liaison Office in Dublin, and Ms Anne Sherriff, British Ambassador to Belgium. Many topics of pressing importance to the Anglican Churches and to Europe were discussed.
Meeting of the Central Committee
On 10 September, the full Central Committee (members: Jack, Eric, Grace; bureau: Stephen, Rebecca) met online with a very full agenda to discuss and make decisions concerning our parishes, religious education in schools, prison ministry, hospital ministry, the Anglican Institute in Belgium, plans for the Malines Conversations centenary conference this month, plans for the King's visit to Holy Trinity Brussels in November and other relevant matters.
Stuurgroep Thomas More Hoge School professionaliseringstraject lokaal geloofsgemeenschapsbestuur
Op 10 september 2025, de secretaris-generaal heeft het Centraal Comité vertegenwoordigt bij een vergadering van de stuurgroep voor een professionaliseringstraject bij Thomas More hoge school in Mechelen voor bestuurders van lokale geloofsgemeenschappen.
Deze postgraduaat opleiding is een aantal jaar geleden begonnen met de bedoeling om vrijwilligers in lokale geloofsgemeenschappen te ondersteunen met professioneel, actueel en accuraat informatie over hun opdracht als voorzitter, penningmeester of secretaris. De stuurgroep komt regelmatig samen met coördinators van Thomas More en andere stakeholders zoals de Vlaamse overheid en federale ministerie van Justitie om updates te horen en over de toekomst te bespreken.
Preparing for Malines 100 - AIB Anglican Insights lecture
On 3 September 2025, the Chaplain-President led an Anglican Insights session for the Anglican Institute in Belgium (AIB) online under the title "The Malines Conversations: a Fresh Look". Jack outlined the reasons for a dialogue between Anglican and Catholic theologians in Mechelen in 1921 being a surprising and unlikely occurrence, given the climate of mutual suspicion which affected both Churches until the middle of the 20th century. He then spoke of what conclusions the Conversations reached and how they shape current ecumenical conversations. We recommend the centenary international conference of the Malines Conversations, which takes place in Mechelen from 18 to 21 September, as the perfect way to deepen your understanding of what is at stake when the Churches talk together in friendship. The lecture was attended by 20 people from across Europe.
The rentrée for the Central Committee
1st September was the first day for the whole Central Committee bureau to be back at the office in Holy Trinity Brussels after the summer holidays. A busy day of catch-up meetings allowed Jack, Stephen and Rebecca to work through some of the summer backlog of work, alongside planning for the busy semester ahead.
"Well done, thou good and faithful servant"
On 27 August, the Chaplain-President, Secretary-General and Second Secretary entertained Canon Ann Turner from St Boniface Antwerp and Sister Julian OSB from Holy Trinity Brussels to lunch in Antwerp. This was to thank Ann for her years of service to the Comité Anglicaans Godsdienstonderwijs, which she has served since her arrival in Belgium in 1991, latterly as President for many years. Sister Julian is the current Inspecteur-Adviseur of the CAGO. Several generations of schoolchildren in Flemish and Brussels state schools have benefited from Ann's faithful and diligent service to Anglican Religious Education and we are unreservedly grateful for her service.
PARCUM raad van bestuur
Op 18 augustus 2025 heeft de secretaris-generaal de anglicaanse eredienst vertegenwoordigd bij een vergadering van de raad van bestuur van PARCUM. PARCUM is expertise centrum voor religieus kunst en cultuur en tegelijk is het een museum voor alle vormen van religieuze erfgoed. De raad van bestuur komt regelmatig samen in het jaar om verantwoordelijk te zijn met de subsidiëring van deze belangrijke deel onze patrimonium in Vlaanderen.
Celebrating 30 years of faith servant ministry - The Revd Charles Kabera
On Saturday 9 August 2025, the Vice-President of the Central Committee, Eric Sibomana, and the Secretary-General were honoured to attend a celebration in Aalst for The Reverend Charles Kabera who has been ordained for 30 years. On behalf of the Chaplain-President, Jack McDonald, Eric shared words of thanksgiving for Charles’ ministry as a pastor at Holy Trinity, Brussels and as an Anglican Prison Chaplain. Eric gave Charles a book of homilies in French as a gift. It was a truly festive occassion with lots of music, dancing, drumming, speeches and abundant food. We continue to give thanks for Charles’ humble servant ministry with and among us, and wish him many more years of grace and peace.
Le Vice-président du Comité central au Malawi
Cet été, le Vice-président du Comité central, M. Eric Sibomana, a eu le privilège de participer à un voyage missionnaire au Malawi avec Exodus Vision Ministry. Depuis 15 ans, Exodus Vision sert fidèlement les communautés à travers l’Afrique, et cette mission s’inscrivait dans la continuité de ce travail essentiel. Eric est arrivé au Malawi le 11 juin 2025, représentant Exodus Vision Belgium ASBL. Le reste de l’équipe était composé de 12 membres des États-Unis et une autre représentante d’Europe.
La première mission s’est déroulée au camp de réfugiés de Dzaleka, situé à environ une heure de Lilongwe. Ce camp abrite plus de 10 000 réfugiés, dont 70% d’entre-eux sont des jeunes. L’équipe de l’École Biblique de Vacances (EBV), dont Eric faisait partie, a partagé des histoires bibliques, des chants et des jeux pour témoigner de l’amour du Christ aux enfants.
Une grande importance a été accordée au renforcement du leadership dans les églises locales. Les pasteurs ont été formés à l’application des principes bibliques dans leur ministère et leur vie familiale. La soif de la Parole et la transformation des cœurs étaient visibles tout au long de la semaine.
Le 18 juin, l’équipe américaine est partie pour Thyolo, un district rural situé à environ 5 heures de route. À ce moment-là, Eric est rentré en Belgique, mais a resté en contact étroit avec l’équipe.
Eric partage : “Ce voyage missionnaire a été un puissant rappel que l’Évangile dépasse les frontières. Du camp de réfugiés de Dzaleka aux églises rurales de Thyolo, la lumière du Christ continue de briller à travers les efforts des ouvriers fidèles.”
Anglicanism in European Perspective
From 21 to 25 July, the Chaplain-President and the Secretary General participated in the University of Utrecht Summer School course Anglicanism in European Perspective, organised by Bishop Mark in conjunction with the Anglican Institute in Belgium and Virginia Theological Seminary.
The summer school was a five-day introduction to Anglican history and thought, all the way from the beginnings of Christianity in the British Isles to current debates in the Anglican Communion on the proper place of women and LGBT+ people in the life of the church. Jack gave lectures on "Anglicanism and the slave trade", "Anglicanism in Continental Europe" and "Anglican philosophy".
Stephen organised the technical and audio-visual aspects of the course. Each day began with Bible study and closed with worship in the Old Catholic cathedral in Utrecht in a variety of Anglican styles. The professors and the students agreed that the course should continue in future years. For more details and photos, you can see our Facebook or Instagram pages.
Fête Nationale / Nationale Feestdag
On 21 July, the Chaplain-President had the pleasure of representing the Anglicans of Belgium at the ceremonies connected to Belgium's National Day; first at the Te Deum in the presence of the King and Queen in the Catholic cathedral in Brussels, then at the lunch held by Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot at the Palais d'Egmont, where Jack had the opportunity to talk with Ambassador Léopold Bonkoungou of Burkina Faso, Ambassador Thérence Ntahiraja of Burundi and the Chargé d'Affaires at the Embassy of Togo.
Discussions about migration policy
On 14 July, the Chaplain-President, in his capacity as Bishop Robert's adviser for EU affairs, participated in a meeting organised by the Wilfried Martens Centre and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung to discuss EU migration policy. The main speaker was Margaritis Schinas, formerly Vice-President of the European Commission. A full exchange of information and views took place as the European Union implements its Pact on Migration and Asylum with the aim of setting up fair and humane systems for the processing of applications for asylum and the welcome given to asylum-seekers in Europe.
Feestdag van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap
Op 11 juli 2025 de secretaris-generaal heeft de eer en plezier gehad om de Vlaams nationale feestdag te vieren bij het stadhuis in Brussel. Er werden vertegenwoordigers van alle overheden, alle kleuren van politieke partijen en de erkende levensbeschouwingen. De sfeer was feestelijk met muziek door Wim Opbrouck en toespraken van de burgemeester van de stad Brussel en voorzitter van het Vlaams Parlement, Freya Van den Bossche.
Elk jaar op 11 juli herdenken Vlamingen de Guldensporenslag op 11 juli 1302 en vieren hun autonomie als volk. De toespraken hebben de lessen vanuit het verleden naar het heden gebracht en het belang van autonomie in onze wereld van 2025. De ceremonie eindigt met het nationaal volkslied. Daarna volgde receptie, natuurlijk.
VILD denkt na over de dood
Op maandag 7 juli 2025 hebben de kapelaan-voorzitter, secretaris-generaal en tweede-secretaris van het Centraal Comité een vergadering van de Vlaams Interlevensbeschouwelijke Dialoog (VILD) bijgewoond. Onderzoekers van de Universiteit van Antwerpen hebben hun nieuw project voorgesteld aan de leden van de VILD. Ze kijken naar de veranderingen wat afscheidsrituelen betreft in een steeds meer diverse samenleving. Alle levensbeschouwingen bieden graag troost en steun aan de familie en vrienden van de overledene op het meest kwetsbare moment van het leven. Er kwam ook voorstel voor een verfilming van de verschillende tradities maar tegelijkertijd zijn de levensbeschouwingen unaniem overtuigd dat de planning begint met luisteren naar de wensen en mening van de familie en niet één vorm van een ceremonie die iedereen past.
Op het eind van de vergadering namen twee belangrijke leden afscheid van de VILD. Prof. Remi Baekelmans zal DeMens.Nu niet meer vertegenwoordigen. Hij is al sinds 2014 een van de oprichters van de VILD. Mevrouw Inge Hellemans heeft ook afscheid genomen om les te beginnen geven in september. Mevrouw Hellemans heeft al 5 jaar de notulen van de VILD vergaderingen gedaan namens de Vlaamse overheid. Daarnaast heeft ze hulp aan alle voorzitters gegeven. Het Centraal Comité wenst Prof. Baekelmans en mevr. Hellemans veel succes toe in de toekomst.
Publication of Dutch services for use in Church of England parishes
Bishop Robert has authorised the experimental use for two years, before final versions are submitted to the General Synod for permanent approval, of several Dutch-language services: baptism, marriage, funeral and Holy Communion. These new liturgies, spearheaded by the Revd Dorienke de Vries, Assistant Chaplain in Arnhem and Nijmegen in the Netherlands, are the fruit of 14 years of debate and discussion. The Chaplain-President, when he was chaplain in Leuven, experimented with earlier versions of Dutch services, with advice from Dutch and Flemish students at KU Leuven and ETF Heverlee. The Secretary-General, when he was chaplain in Gent, chaired the Mission Working Party which pressed ahead with this project. The Central Committee rejoices that these services in one of the federal languages of Belgium are now widely available for our Flemish parishes' use. (For Church of England parishes in Wallonia and Brussels, authorised French translations of several services in Common Worship. The Episcopal Church USA recently authorised an entirely new French translation of the Book of Common Prayer)
Petertide ordinations in Brussels
It is traditional in the Anglican tradition for new priests and deacons to be ordained at Petertide, the days before and after St Peter's day on 29 June. On this date in Holy Trinity Brussels, an enormous, overflowing congregation braved the tropical heat to witness the ordination of six deacons and one priest by Bishop Robert, assisted by Bishop Andrew and a great crowd of thirty or so clergy from around the diocese, including the Chaplain-President in his capacity as canon theologian of the Diocese in Europe. Our picture shows Jack with the Revd Annie Bolger and her newly deaconed husband, the Revd Dr Jacob Quick. They both began their discernment process for ordination under Jack's guidance when he was chaplain of St Martha and St Mary Leuven and they were students at KU Leuven. This week, Annie and Jacob leave Belgium for St Edmund's Oslo, where Jacob will serve his curacy and Annie will be assistant chaplain. We wish them every blessing in this new adventure in ministry and service!
