Chaplain-President nominated as reviewer of theological colleges and courses

On the nomination of Bishop Robert, the National Ministry Team of the Church of England (https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/diocesan-resources/ministry-team ) has appointed the Chaplain-President as a Bishops' Reviewer for Ministerial Training, one of a team of reviewers who ensure that the theological colleges and courses which train Church of England clergy are performing their ministry effectively (https://www.crockford.org.uk/listings-section/theological-education-institutions ). Canon McDonald will serve in this part-time role from 2022-2026.

Covid measures and code yellow

The Overlegcomité/Conseil de Concertation of the various governments in Belgium has announced that from 7th March the country will go into code yellow on the Covid barometer. Most Covid restrictions are being cancelled: for our parishes this means that there are no longer restrictions on mask wearing, social distancing and the number of people allowed in our buildings at one time. The Central Committee does however call on everyone to remain vigilant, Covid has not completely gone yet!

The legal texts from Staatsblad/Le Moniteur can be found here (FR, NL).

Our ED11 can be read here.

Statement by the FIDIF on the Russian invasion of Ukraine

The Central Committee is a member of the FIDIF (Federale Interlevensbeschouwelijke Dialoog/Dialogue Interconvictionnel Fédéral), the informal committee which joins the Recognised Religions and the Laïcité/Vrijzinnigheid in Belgium. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Chaplain-President signed this joint statement on the Anglican Church's behalf:

De erkende levensbeschouwingen in België veroordelen de inval in Oekraïne
De vertegenwoordigers van de federale interlevensbschouwelijke dialoog (FIDIF) zijn geschokt door de ellende en het lijden die aan de Oekraïense bevolking toegebracht worden. Onschuldigen worden het slachtoffer van grove schendingen van het internationaal recht. Democratische fundamenten worden vertrappeld. Minderheden worden het zwijgen opgelegd en vervolgd. Degenen die, in naam van de rechtstaat, deze inval weerstaan, verwachten concrete daden die getuigen van de solidariteit van de internationale gemeenschap.
Als vertegenwoordigers van de erkende levensbeschouwingen in België, mobiliseren we onze gemeenschappen:

- om slachtoffers en vluchtelingen te helpen
- om bij te dragen tot het verspreiden van waarheidsgetrouwe informatie, uit betrouwbare bronnen
- om politieke gezagsdragers ertoe aan te sporen het recht na te leven en dialoog boven geweld te verkiezen.

Les convictions reconnues en Belgique condamnent l’invasion de l’ Ukraine.
Les représentants du dialogue interconvictionnel fédéral (FIDIF) sont choqués par la misère et les souffrances infligées au peuple ukrainien. Des innocents sont victimes de la violation brutale du droit international. Les fondements démocratiques des droits de l’homme sont bafoués. Des minorités sont muselées ou persécutées. Ceux qui, au nom de l’Etat de droit, résistent à l’invasion attendent des gestes forts, manifestant la solidarité de la communauté internationale.
Comme représentants des convictions reconnues en Belgique, nous mobilisons nos communautés :
- pour venir en aide aux victimes et aux réfugiés ;
- pour coopérer aussi à la diffusion d’informations correctes, issues de sources fiables ;
- pour encourager les responsables politiques à faire respecter le droit et à poursuivre le dialogue.

Jack McDonald - Anglicaanse Kerk - Eglise Anglicane
Carlo Luyckx - Boeddhistische Unie - Union Bouddhiste

Véronique De Keyser - Centre d’Action Laïque
Philippe Markiewicz - Israëlitisch Consistorie - Consistoire Israélite
Guy Harpigny - Katholieke kerk - Eglise Catholique
Freddy Mortier - De Mens.nu
Mehmet Ustun - Moslimgemeenschap - Communauté Musulmane
Metropoliet Athenagoras - Orthodoxe Kerk - Eglise Orthodoxe
Steven Fuite & Geert Lorein – Protestants-Evangelische Eredienst – Culte Protestant et Evangélique

Overleg Christelijke Kerken in België/Concertation des Eglises Chrétiennes en Belgique

During 2022 and 2023, the Central Committee presides the Concertation/Overleg, which is in effect the Belgian Council of Churches. On Thursday 3rd March, the Chaplain-President chaired a meeting of the Concertation/Overleg at Holy Trinity Brussels, where one of the observers on the Central Committee, the Revd Sunny Hallanan, was a delegate (along with Canon John Wilkinson from Brussels) and the Secretary took the minutes. The main agenda-item was the response of the Christian Churches in Belgium to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Prayers for peace

The Central Committee shares the widespread revulsion felt at the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces last week. We stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and we pray for peace and security for all. We shall gladly participate in the prayer service for Ukraine being organised by Bishop Robert and the Anglican chaplaincies in Kyiv and Moscow on 1st March at 19:00 CET - details can be found here.

God in heaven, give us peace and make us instruments of your peace.

Anglican Theology course at KU Leuven

On 22nd February, the Chaplain-President taught the first class in the Anglican Theology master's course at KU Leuven (https://onderwijsaanbod.kuleuven.be/syllabi/e/A07L5AE.htm#activetab=doelstellingen_idm6477024 ). This year, students from Belgium, Austria, Greece, Serbia, Russia, Nigeria, India, Taiwan and the USA will have the opportunity to learn more about the Anglican tradition from Thomas Cranmer to Rowan Williams.

Breakfast with Sammy Mahdi

On 2nd February, the Chaplain-President and Bishop Robert attended the annual interfaith breakfast organised in Zaventem by the Roman Catholic charity Sant'Egidio (Home - Sant' Egidio (santegidio.be) ) for the chefs de culte/hoofden erediensten to meet and discuss with a prominent public figure. The guest this year was dhr. Sammy Mahdi, Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration. A full, frank and cordial conversation took place on the issues of migration, integration and creating Belgian identity. The Central Committee is very grateful to our friends in Sant'Egidio for organising and hosting this precious annual event.

Consecration of Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy as Bishop of Willesden, London

On 26th January, Lusa Ngoy was consecrated Bishop of Willesden by Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, in St Paul's Cathedral, London (Bishop of Willesden consecrated at St Paul’s Cathedral - Diocese of London (anglican.org)) Bishop Lusa is a Belgian citizen and a former student at the French-speaking Protestant Faculty in Brussels (FUTP | Faculté Universitaire de Théologie Protestante) where the Chaplain-President is a professor. Indeed, Bishop Lusa's brother Nathan is one of the Chaplain-President's current students there. Bishop Lusa is only the second Belgian to become a bishop in the Church of England - the first being our own Bishop Robert. The Central Committee looks forward to inviting Bishop Lusa to meet us after the pandemic has receded. (In our picture, Bishop Lusa is on the far left and on the far right is Sarah Mullally, the Bishop of London. The picture illustrates the two types of Anglican episcopal vestments: "choir dress" and "cope and mitre".)

Holy Trinity Brussels 14:00 service

On 30th January, it was the Chaplain-President's great pleasure to preach at the 14:00 service at Holy Trinity Brussels (Weekly Services — Holy Trinity Brussels ) for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic. This service has for many years reflected the large African, and especially Rwandan, community who gather at Holy Trinity. The celebrant at the service was one of our prison chaplains, the Revd Charles Kabera.