I first want to say thank you to Bishop Nick for a superb and magisterial opening speech with which I agree entirely – and therefore I shall cut back significantly on what I was going to say.Peacemaking, we need to remember, is one of the beatitudes. Peacemaking is of the character of God, which is why peacemakers are called God’s children. They are a chip off the old block.Peacemaking requires humility and sacrifice. We see this in Jesus setting his face towards Jerusalem. It needs confrontation, as he showed with those opposing him. It is the pattern for all humanity. At times peace-making is as hard as a diamond. At others it is the glory of the crucified God, the conquest of evil through self-emptying.Yesterday we saw both as we had the privilege at Lambeth Palace of a visit from Metropolitan Epiphaniy of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which was given autocephaly through a Tomos of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in 2019. It had been under the oversight of the Russian Orthodox Church since 1684.In addition to a previous online call I had with Patriarch Kirill and Metropolitan Hilarion in February, we are seeking opportunities to meet further with the Russian Orthodox Church, but that has not been possible to date.But yesterday over the course of three and a half hours of prayer and discussion we heard the most heart-breaking stories of atrocities against civilians and against Orthodox clergy in occupied territory.Yet amidst it all the Patriarch spoke of love for all, especially enemies.Of course, like all Ukrainians he feels passionately about the terrors and horrors visited on his country. The lies told and the remorseless fear and attack. But the passion is not showing itself in hatred. Nor is it showing itself in weakness, but in faith and determination and a plea for support for the Church in its humanitarian work - and for Ukraine.Let us give that support as a Church as best we can. Let us also be determined in seeking peace, and we are asking the Government to re-return the funding of the unit in the foreign office which has been so seriously cut back and was set up, at church-urging, three years ago to specialise in mediation and peace building.And let us also pray for and support our armed forces – (Bishop) Nick mentioned they were being cut back.And particularly pray for the chaplains the Armed Forces Synod is represented here.Thank you.
Our speaker at Cafe Church on Sunday is Clare Haddap, who is a licensed lay minister at Busbridge Church.Clare has been a popular visitor in the past and we're sure she will be thought-provoking mode this time, too. So come along and join us, and Clare, for breakfast, tea and coffee as well as a lovely service and some rousing hymns. We start at 10am.
On July 10th there is no Zoom link to Cafe Church at the Winn Hall, Dunsfold. However, if you're away or housebound you can join the 10am Holy Communion service at St Peter's Church, Hascombe.Just click on this link.https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86772378343?pwd=a05PYndWMU9lQVpvUFRrV0g4YXJVUT09
The Archbishop of Canterbury has appointed the Revd Ijeoma Ajibade as his next Chief of Staff, taking over from David Porter who will stand down in November.Ijeoma (see photo) is a Church of England priest working in the Diocese of London and the Diocese of Southwark. For the last six years she has been Regional Director, Europe, at the Mission to Seafarers. Ijeoma will start as Chief of Staff at Lambeth Palace in November.Since her ordination in 2010, Ijeoma has combined ordained ministry with secular work, and she has worked in various roles in the UK public sector. She began her career in local government, working in a number of different areas including audit and special investigations, housing advice and homelessness, and welfare benefit administration. Ijeoma also spent twelve years working for the London Assembly on Assembly Scrutiny and working for two previous Mayors of London (Ken Livingstone and Boris Johnson) on economics and business policy.Ijeoma has also spent many years as a community activist working on human rights, and HIV awareness and prevention. She has served on the boards of a number of organisations including NAZ Project London, the Marylebone Project, African Health Policy Network, the Kaleidoscope Trust, the Bisi Alimi Foundation and the Merchant Navy Welfare Board.In her spare time Ijeoma enjoys music, theatre, reading, swimming and experimenting with cooking and baking. To the delight of her friends, she keeps a regular blog of both her successful and unsuccessful cooking exploits.The Revd Ijeoma Ajibade said: “I am deeply honoured and very excited about supporting Archbishop Justin’s ministry and working together with others from the Lambeth Palace community. We face complex and difficult challenges in our world today and the Church has a prophetic responsibility to empower, comfort and encourage people. I hope and pray that I will be able to wisely assist Archbishop Justin as he leads in these complex times. I have really enjoyed working at the Mission to Seafarers and I am leaving there with a deeper thirst to see justice and human flourishing in our world today. Supporting Archbishop Justin will provide new opportunities for me to work towards this.”Archbishop Justin Welby said: “I am delighted that Ijeoma will be joining the senior team at Lambeth Palace. To this vital role she brings remarkable experience and skills from her ordained ministry, charity and local government work, and community activism. In our complex and troubled world, I know we will benefit greatly from Ijeoma’s international perspective, honed while serving with Mission to Seafarers as well as with numerous charities. What connects all these strands for Ijeoma is a deep and abiding love of Jesus Christ – and a passion for the common good based on justice, dignity and human flourishing. I look forward to working with her enormously and I will pray for her in the months ahead as she prepares to join the Lambeth Palace community.”
