NEWS
Le 22 juin, le chapelain-président a présidé le jury devant lequel son propre étudiant, M. Pacôme Konseibo (Burkina Faso), défendit son mémoire de master intitulé : "La Cène dans les célébrations en virtuel du culte protestant en contexte du covid-19 : sens et pratiques", un sujet très pertinent à la fois pour la recherche académique et pour la vie des Eglises dans notre contexte post-pandémique.
On 16 June, the Chaplain-President, as hoogleraar kerkgeschiedenis, took part in a meeting between the academic staff of FPTR Brussel and representatives of the Institut für Evangelische Theologie, Fakultät für Kulturwissenschaften at the University of Paderborn (Germany), with a view to forging new and deep links in the area of research in religious diversity in modern Europe.
On 16 June, Mr Matt McNicoll, who formerly sat on the parochial church council of St Martha and St Mary Leuven, received a university prize from KU Leuven for his advanced master's dissertation: "François I and Reformation: towards a Theological Paradigm, 1515-1535", which was supervised by the Chaplain-President. The dissertation was judged the best master's or advanced master's thesis in medieval, Renaissance or Reformation studies. Warm congratulations to Matt for this success and the best of luck for his PhD at KU Leuven on Henry VIII, also supervised by the Chaplain-President!
On 17 June, the Chaplain-President attended the annual general meeting of Evadoc, the Protestants-Evangelisch Archief- en Documentatiecentrum, on which he sits in his capacity as president of Belgian Anglicanism (Evadoc | Protestants-Evangelisch Archief- en Documentatiecentrum ). The AGM was held after lunch at ETF Leuven. There is extensive practical contact between Evadoc and the Anglican parishes in Belgium.
Ce 15 juin a eu lieu, au Club Prince Albert, la journée de conclusion de la deuxième édition de l’année d’études organisée par Emouna (https://www.emouna.be/) pour les animateurs spirituels émanant des courants convictionnels reconnus en Belgique. Deux anglicans ont eu l’occasion de présenter leurs travaux, préparés en groupes avec des représentant d’autres convictions et visant l’accompagnement spirituel des citoyens dans leur vie quotidienne ou face aux épreuves de l’existence. Birte Day a contribué à développper un outil d’accompagnement du deuil en pleine pandémie. Egbert van Groesen a quant à lui participé à un projet de livre de recettes culinaires visant à spiritualiser nos vies quotidiennes.
Deze 15 juni vond plaats, in de Club Prince Albert, de slotdag van de tweede editie van het studiejaar georganiseerd door Emoena (https://www.emouna.be/)voor spirituele animatoren die voortkomen uit de erkende erediensten in België. Twee anglicanen kregen de kans om hun werk te presenteren, bereid in groepen met vertegenwoordigers van andere religies en levensbeschouwelijks en gericht op de geestelijke begeleiding van burgers in hun dagelijks leven of in het licht van de beproevingen van het bestaan. Birte Day heeft bijgedragen aan de ontwikkeling van een hulpmiddel voor het ondersteunen van rouwverwerking te midden van een pandemie. Egbert van Groesen heeft voor zijn deel meegewerkt aan een culinair receptenboek project gericht op het vergeestelijken van ons dagelijks leven.
Birte Day
On 15 June, Professor Hector Patmore and the Chaplain-President (who are both Anglican priests) spoke to students at Ripon College Cuddesdon, one of the largest seminaries in the Church of England (Welcome to Cuddesdon | Ripon College Cuddesdon (rcc.ac.uk) ), about their experiences as professors in the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies at KU Leuven (Faculteit Theologie en Religiewetenschappen (kuleuven.be) ). The session was recorded so that other students unable to be present might also explore the idea of doctoral study in Leuven.
For the first time since 2019 (because of the coronavirus pandemic), the diocesan synod of the Diocese in Europe met at the Kardinal-Schultehaus in Cologne in the first week of June (Diocesan Synod - Diocese in Europe (anglican.org) ). The Chaplain-President was present as the diocese's Living in Love and Faith advocate (Living in Love and Faith | The Church of England ). During synod, Bishop Robert commissioned the Revd Dr Catriona Laing (priest-in-charge of St Martha and St Mary Leuven) as assistant dean of women's ministry in the diocese, alongside Canon Debbie Flach (chaplain of Christchurch Lille) as dean of women's ministry (Diocese appoints Dean and Assistant Dean of Women's Ministry - Latest News (anglican.org) ). The synod was a very happy time of friendship and community after the privations and sufferings of the pandemic.
The Central Committee warmly congratulates HM Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Supreme Governor of the Church of England, on her platinum jubilee, recognising her 70 years of unfailing, selfless service to the British and Commonwealth peoples, and her constant friendship with and courtesy to the Belgian people.
On 2 June, the Chaplain-President chaired a meeting of the CECB/OCKB hosted by our Catholic friends in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Koekelberg. The Second Secretary took the notes of the meeting. Among many items for discussion was the practical Christian response in Belgium to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Op 1 mei had de Kapelaan-Voorzitter van het Centraal Comité van de Anglicaanse Eredienst de eer om in de kathedraal van Antwerpen de mis van de katholieke weldadigheid Sant'Egidio bij te wonen, opgedragen door kardinaal Jozef De Kesel (Home - Sant' Egidio (www.santegidio.be)). Op onze foto ziet u eerwaade Ann Babb (Antwerpen) en metropoliet Athenagoras van België, die ook bij de viering aanwezig was.
On 2 May, the Chaplain-President and the other presidents of the Recognised Convictions attended a meeting of the Conseil de dialogue/Dialoograad chaired by Minister Van Quickenborne.
The Central Committee is extremely grateful to Minister Van Quickenborne for granting a stipend for a Second Secretary to help the Chaplain-President and the Secretary in the exercise of their responsibilities towards the Belgian public authorities as well as towards the Anglican canonical authorities and Belgian Anglicans in general. On 3 May, M. Charles Melebeck began work in this role. We wish him a warm welcome!
On 4 May, the Chaplain-President spoke at a special meeting of the Diocesan Synod of the Diocese in Europe (Diocesan Synod - Diocese in Europe (anglican.org)) to discuss the Church of England's report on identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage: Living in Love and Faith (2020): Living in Love and Faith | The Church of England ). The General Synod of the Church of England will debate this report later in 2022.
On 5 May, the Chaplain-President attended a meeting of the Humanitarian Corridors Task Force hosted by Sant'Egidio Belgium (Couloirs humanitaires : Sant’Egidio dresse un premier bilan - Sant' Egidio (santegidio.be) ). In 2019, Humanitarian Corridors Belgium, supported by the Recognised Convictions, brought 150 Syrian refugees, both Christians and Muslims, into safety in Belgium. The Anglican parish in Gent hosted one family. Despite the ongoing refugee crisis for Ukrainians, Humanitarian Corridors hopes to bring 250 Syrian refugees to safety in Belgium during 2022-2023.
Les 5 et 6 mai, le Chapelain-Président et M. Eric Sibomana ont participé au colloque international « Neutralité, religion, entreprise », animé par Louis-Léon Christians et Léopold Vanbellingen à l'UCLouvain (Institut de recherche Religions, Spiritualités, Cultures, Sociétés | UCLouvain ). Ce fut l’occasion de riches échanges sur la place de l'appartenance religieuse des salariés au sein de l'Etat neutre.
Op 10 mei kwam het bestuur van het Anglicaans Comité voor Godsdienstonderwijs (met daarin de voorzitter en vice-voorzitter van het Centraal Comité van de Anglicaanse Eredienst in België) bijeen in de St. Bonifatiuskerk in Antwerpen voor de jaarlijkse algemene vergadering.
On 12 May, Bishop Robert and the Chaplain-President were honoured to be invited, along with the presidents of the Orthodox, Protestant and Evangelical Churches in Belgium, to a special meeting of the Conférence des Evêques de Belgique/Bischoppenconferentie van België at the Archbishop's Palace in Malines/Mechelen. They discussed Pope Francis' plans for a Synod of Catholic Bishops to meet in 2023 to discuss the Church and synodality. The meeting was followed by a delightful supper.
Op 13 mei kwam de Vlaamse Interlevensbeschouwelijjke Dialoog bijeen in de Grote Moskee van Brussel voor een volle agenda van gespreksonderwerpen tussen de Vlaamse Regering en de erkende levensbeschouwingen. De kapelaan-voorzitter vertegenwoordigde de Anglicaanse Kerk.
On 28th April, the Chaplain-President participated in a Zoom meeting of the presidents of the recognised life stances with M. Pierre Verbeeren (the coordinator for Ukraine) and his team from the Brussels Regional Government, to discuss practical options for helping the 20,000 Ukrainian refugees expected to be in Brussels soon, to find meals, housing, education and integration into Belgian society, as well as pastoral and spiritual support.
The website for information for the region is Home page | BPS-BPV (helpukraine.brussels) (set to your language).
Op vrijdag 22 april jl. hielden de kapelaan-voorzitter en de secretaris een online overleg met de mensen van PARCUM over de anglicaanse avondliturgie Evensong als immaterieel erfgoed in Vlaanderen en Brussel. Binnenkort verschijnt een artikeltje hierover op de PARCUM website.
