Emouna Belgique on the Radio

Father Dominique Janthial, on the Collège des fondateurs of Emouna Belgique, has given a long interview to RCF Radio Belgique on the origins and progress seen this year on the interfaith course. The podcast is here:

https://rcf.fr/spiritualite/temoins-de-la-foi/emouna-l-amphi-des-religions

The Chaplain-President also sits on the Collège des fondateurs, and there are two Anglican students on the course this year: Eric Sibomana (one of our prison chaplains) and Rozemarijn Vanwijnsberghe from Holy Trinity Brussels. Emouna Belgique will continue in 2020-2021 and the hope is to set up an Emoena België course in Flanders from autumn 2021.

Bread and Hope

In September 2019 after several months of discussion and exploration, Holy Trinity Brussels started a Community Kitchen project. The aim of this project was to bring people together -- from the church community and beyond -- to cook together, to share fellowship, and to help others. The food cooked was donated to other NGOs supporting people in need across Brussels. The number of volunteers and hours the project ran for and the number of meals slowly increased as autumn rolled into winter. 
And then the virus came. 
The decision was taken to keep the Community Kitchen running, reducing the number of volunteers present, distributing production, and maintaining the high levels of hygiene for this time. And the call went out for people to help. First, it was 300 muffins to be distributed as a healthy breakfast. That call was met, so it was increased. Finally, there was a call for 900 muffins, but 1400 came in! At this time, the Community Kitchen was asked to supply 400 meals for refugees. Dozens of quiches, hundreds of hard-boiled eggs, and more muffins came in. 
During the drop-off time, I met a man who was apparently at Holy Trinity for the first time. He asked, “Is this Holy Trinity? You’re helping people, right?” For me, this was an immensely hopeful statement. This is how we’re becoming known to people in Brussels at this time. Jesus is known in the breaking of bread, in the sharing of bread. 
There is something very much like the ancient faith that the Romans so demeaned being practised again. As long as that is happening, as long as the love of Christ is being shared in tangible ways, I’m reminded to hope. I will hope. The world is changing and suffering, but Christ’s body, the Church, is still reaching out in faith, in love, and in hope. So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, as we wait and hope. And bake muffins.

Jeremy Heuslein

Extension of Covid-19 Emergency Measures

The National Security Council met on 24th April to determine how Belgium would emerge from the current pandemic lockdown.

The decisions of the National Security Council are here: Dutch: https://www.belgium.be/nl/nieuws/2020/coronavirus French: https://www.belgium.be/fr/actualites/2020/coronavirus English: https://www.belgium.be/en/news/2020/coronavirus . The press conference (NL and FR) chaired by Prime Minister Wilmès after the National Security Council may be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Na-u_7X2f7E&feature=youtu.be (the actual press conference begins at 1:29:10)

The Recognised Religions are seeking clarification on the precise way that churches, synagogues, mosques and meeting-houses will be affected by these decisions, whilst recognising that the timetable for lifting of the lockdown may be altered following ongoing expert scientific advice.

Emouna Belgique continues!

On 22nd April, the Chaplain-President was delighted to participate in the Emouna Belgique course (https://emouna.be/) which met via Zoom to discuss the question of "La violence et la non-violence". Father Dominique Janthial (Catholic chaplain at UCLouvain) spoke on the theories of René Girard on mimetic violence and scapegoating, and Mr Carlo Luyckx (president of the Union Bouddhique Belge) replied by speaking on Buddhist theories of non-violence.

Meeting of the Central Committee

On 21st April, the Central Committee met by Zoom to discuss matters pertinent to the Anglican Church. With the limits justifiably set by the National Security Council, the Central Committee, the parishes and the prison chaplains continue to work with faith and determination during the pandemic. We rejoice that in the wider Anglican world in the Diocese in Europe and the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe, this pattern is being repeated throughout Europe.

The photo below is from the Chrism Eucharist in 2017.

Online worship and fellowship in times of Corona

Throughout Belgium, clergy and volunteers have been working tirelessly to provide our parishes with online services and activities, like drop in chats, community coffee space, and quiz nights. They had to learn new technical skills, like recording and editing, and familiarise themselves with the possiblities on social media, but the results have been creative and wonderful. All recording and live streaming is happening according to the measures stipulated by the governement on physical distancing and hygiene.

The photo below comes from the Palm Sunday service (5th April) at Holy Trinity Brussels, led by Heather Roy, a Reader in the Church of England.

Covid-19: Emergency Measures Extended

The National Security Council met today on 15th April and decided that the measures in place to stem the spread of the Coronavirus will be extended until 3rd May. A new meeting has been planned for next week to re-evaluate the situation. Below is the text of the email which was sent out to all Anglican parishes in Belgium.

Dear friends and colleagues,

The National Security Council met this afternoon in Brussels, chaired by Prime Minister Wilmès.

As expected, the National Security Council has extended the current emergency measures until (at least) 3rd May.

Whilst it will now be possible for DIY shops and garden centres in Belgium to open, from the point of view of our parishes the details of the emergency measures are unchanged and the contents of the Central Committee's letter of 2nd April must continue to apply in full until 3 May. A copy of that letter is enclosed.

Details of the decisions of the National Security Council are here:

French: https://www.rtbf.be/info/belgique/detail_le-confinement-prolonge-jusqu-au-3-mai-voici-les-nouvelles-mesures-pour-lutter-contre-le-coronavirus?id=10482568

Dutch: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2020/04/15/liveblog-15-april/

This remains a testing and trying time for all of us. We know that Bishop Robert and Bishop Mark are providing excellent pastoral and liturgical leadership. We will contact you again when there is a sign of the emergency measures being lifted. Meanwhile we continue to pray and to do our best to keep our ministries active and dynamic.

With very sincere best wishes, and mindful with resolute joy that Christ is risen,

Jack

on behalf of the Central Committee

Indisposition of Cardinal Jozef De Kesel

The Central Committee was distressed to learn today that Jozef, Cardinal De Kesel, Archbishop of Mechelen and Brussels and a great friend to the Anglican Church in Belgium, has stepped back from his post whilst undergoing medical treatment unrelated to the coronavirus pandemic. We assure him of our prayers and deep best wishes. Here is the text in Dutch of the letter which the Chaplain-President sent him today.

The presidents of the Recognised Religions issue a communiqué on Covid-19

On Saturday 4 April, the presidents of the Recognised Religions in Belgium - the Catholic Church, the Protestant and Evangelical Churches, the Anglican Church, the Orthodox Church, Judaism and Islam - issued a communiqué arguing for social solidarity during the pandemic and looking forward to new ways of living together in society once the pandemic is past.

The text is here in Dutch.

The text is here in French.

Six of the seven chefs de culte can be seen on this photo: Cardinal De Kesel, Pastor Fuite, Dr Lorein, Mr Marckiewicz, Canon McDonald, Metropolitan Athenagoras. Our apologies to Mr Üstün, who was not present when this photo was taken.

Prime Minister addresses the nation about covid-19

On Sunday 5 April, Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès addressed the nation concerning the coronavirus pandemic, explaining why, although the current emergency measures were seeing a reduction in infections, the country needs to continue with the current rules on business closure and social distancing:

Here is the video in French:

https://www.rtbf.be/info/belgique/detail_sophie-wilmes-s-adresse-aux-belges-il-y-aura-un-avant-et-un-apres-covid-19?id=10476167

Here is the video in Dutch:

https://www.hln.be/nieuws/binnenland/premier-wilmes-roept-in-toespraak-op-om-nog-even-vol-te-houden-en-de-maatregelen-te-respecteren~a88f3490/

Coronavirus - extension of emergency measures until at least 19 April

The current emergency measures in force in Belgium to impede the spread of Covid-19 have been extended by the National Security Council until at least 19 April, and the Central Committee is completely resolved to support the National Security Council in these measures.

Here is a letter to the parishes from the Central Committee:

Here is a letter to the Diocese in Europe from Bishops Robert and David, together with ideas for worship during the pandemic:

Flemish Interconfessional Dialogue comments on Covid-19

The Vlaamse Interlevensbeschouwelijke Dialoog (the permanent dialogue between the Flemish Regional Government and the Recognised Religions and Humanism), of which the Anglican Church is a member, has issued a statement about the current coronavirus pandemic, urging social solidarity and compassion and urging the Flemish Government to pay particular attention to vulnerable groups. You can read the statement (in Dutch) here:

Ecumenical prayer for the world during the coronavirus pandemic

Pope Francis has invited all the Christians of the world to pray the Lord's Prayer together at noon on Wednesday 25 March, Lady Day, the feast of the Annunciation. Archbishop Justin accepted the invitation and the Chaplain-President was delighted to take part in prayer pre-recorded on-line to be broadcast on Belgian media. The denominations represented were Anglican, Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Syriac and Greek Catholic and the languages used were Dutch, French, German, English, Aramaic, Arabic, Greek, Lithuanian, Lingala, Italian, Romanian and Latin. Covid-19 is a global problem which all countries and faiths must address in solidarity together.

Covid-19 measures: week 3

The Central Committee is getting used to working from home, as all face-to-face meetings are cancelled until further notice. Do not hesitate to contact us during the crisis on: secretary@anglican.be.

Here is a message from Bishop Robert (Church of England), who also brings the greetings of Bishop Mark (The Episcopal Church): https://zoom.us/rec/play/75ckJuirqjk3GNCSsgSDBaV5W9Xvev2s0ykbrPpbyh28UHELMFX1ZucWNOJPXlVIi0RKRGqp5fgU1Mh0?continueMode=true&_x_zm_rtaid=1JJDgtvyQkm5_P_D9oe1Sw.1584879622329.43dfcd2797f200d635c1780b0a72ca8a&_x_zm_rhtaid=137

Here are some spiritual resources for the current self-isolation:

Diocese in Europe: https://europe.anglican.org/main/latest-news/post/1555-coronavirus-prayer-reflection

Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe: http://ecf450cdbeb67edb7b8c-db8c75cfc72b416e3c18df97c8a1dcaa.r54.cf2.rackcdn.com/uploaded/c/0e10005896_1584799739_convocationcompanion.pdf

Life during Covid-19: A Message from the Area Dean

More stringent measures bordering on a full lockdown are in effect in Belgium from 18th March noon until 5th April, and during that period congregations are learning new ways to be the Church. We are passing on a message from The Revd Stephen Murray, Chaplain in Ghent and Area Dean for Belgium and Luxembourg, as well as Vice-President of the Central Committee.

“Dear all,

It has been amazing to see such an outpouring of effective and creative ministry across the Deanery. This is truly a moment for us to shine God's light in ways we've never done before.

In Luxembourg, they were able to worship in a park. Hopefully, there was liturgical hand-washing as part of the service?

Tervuren made a slick YouTube video worship.

Liège has seen their bible study numbers increase dramatically by using Zoom, and also posting worship on YouTube.

Gent posted a 'Choose-Your-Own-Bits' worship on a Facebook & YouTube playlist.

MTS Antwerpen has been findings ways to make contact with sailors without visiting on the ships.

Holy Trinity Brussels is offering regular pray on Zoom.

Every weekday morning at 9AM https://zoom.us/j/687886770

And every weekday evening at 9PM, for compline https://zoom.us/j/114667614

They will be using the "Time to Pray" app from the Church of England. Or, you could also use the Church of England's prayer page: https://www.churchofengland.org/…/join-us-service-daily-pra…

Once this disease is finally behind us, we should have a Learning Lab to discuss everything that we've learned and how we might apply that learning in the future.

There is a lot of confusing information going around, but I just want to say thanks to each of you for your ministry in this difficult time.

If there are any new developments we will try to keep you posted. Likewise, please do be in touch if there is anything you need.

Peace & blessings,

Stephen

(go wash your hands!)”

Coronavirus pandemic - temporary closure of Anglican churches in Belgium

The National Security Council met on 12 March 2020 and its decisions are reproduced here:

French: https://www.premier.be/fr/Coronavirus-Phase-2-maintenue-passage-en-phase-federale-et-mesures-additionnelles

Dutch: https://www.premier.be/nl/coronavirus-fase-2-gehandhaafd-overgang-naar-de-federale-fase-en-bijkomende-maatregelen

In response, the Central Committee met digitally this morning, in consultation with Bishop Robert (Church of England) and Bishop Mark (The Episcopal Church). It made the decision to suspend all public worship and parish activities in Anglican and Episcopal churches in Belgium from 14 March until 3 April. This decision was made for the public good as part of the ongoing national and global attempts to limit the ill effects of the coronavirus pandemic. We will post further news when we have further information.

The Central Committee's letter to Anglican parishes is here.

Here is a letter from Bishop Robert.

Coronavirus: Bishops' letter

The Chaplain-President reproduces here with total approval a letter from Bishop Robert and Bishop David which gives advice to the parishes about aspects of the conduct of public worship during the current outbreak of coronavirus.

VILD meeting

On 2 March, the Chaplain-President, Vice-President and Secretary attended a full meeting of the Vlaamse Interlevensbeschouwelijke Dialoog (the official dialogue between the Flemish Government and the recognised faiths), hosted this time by the Protestants and Evangelicals. The main topics for discussion were the process for the official recognition of individual churches, synagogues, mosques and meeting-houses, and the summary of the formal statement on poverty in Flanders being prepared by the VILD for public distribution.

Research groups - FPTR Brussels

The Chaplain-President and the Secretary both attended the research group meeting at FPTR Brussel on 27 February. The Anglican Church in Belgium, with just 24 State stipends, is too small to make founding a separate Anglican theology faculty cost-effective, but we have excellent and close relations with the Catholic faculties in Leuven and Louvain-la-Neuve and the Protestant faculties in Brussels and Heverlee.