THE central committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) has condemned Russia’s “armed aggression” and “illegal invasion” of Ukraine, and has invited the Ukraine’s independent Orthodox Church to attend its meetings as an observer. But the way has also been cleared for Russian Orthodox leaders to attend the WCC Assembly this summer.“Our hearts grieve that, after eight years of unresolved crisis and conflict in the eastern regions of Ukraine, the Russian Federation launched an illegal invasion of its neighbour, a sovereign state — this tragic development represents a terrible failure of diplomacy, responsibility, and accountability to international law,” the committee said.“We declare that war, with the killing and all the other miserable consequences it entails, is incompatible with God’s very nature and will for humanity and against our fundamental Christian and ecumenical principles, and we reject any misuse of religious language and authority to justify armed aggression.”The statement was published at the close of a four-day meeting to prepare an agenda for the 11th WCC plenary, which opens in Karlsruhe on 31 August on the theme “Reconciliation and Unity”.The Revd Professor Jerry Pillay, a theologian from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa, has been elected as the WCC’s new secretary-general.The central committee’s statement said that Russia’s invasion on 24 February had inflicted “an appalling toll of death, destruction and displacement” on the people of Ukraine, where thousands of civilians had been killed, cities reduced to ruins, and more than 14 million people — a quarter of the population — forced to flee their homes.There had been “many reports of atrocities which may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity”, the statement continued, including “sexual and gender-based violence” and a “heightened vulnerability to human trafficking”. The conflict had also led to a “massive proliferation of weapons”.“The effects threaten to tip many millions of already food-insecure people into famine around the world, to provoke widespread social and political instability, to destroy the post-World War IIinternational security architecture, to provoke a new global arms race, and to accelerate our trajectory towards climate catastrophe,” the central committee said.“We acknowledge and welcome the commitment of the Moscow Patriarchate — representing the WCC’s constituency in both Russia and Ukraine — to engage in encounter and dialogue under WCC auspices. . . Dialogue remains an obvious urgent necessity to address such a critical situation for the people of Ukraine, the future of the world and the ecumenical movement.”Calls have mounted for the Russian Orthodox Church to be barred from WCC meetings, after unsuccessful appeals for Patriarch Kirill to condemn the invasion and urge a ceasefire and negotiations.In March, the Church named a 23-member delegation team for the Karlsruhe plenary, headed by its foreign-relations director, Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev), although its final composition remains unclear after Hilarion’s demotion in early June by the Church’s Holy Synod (News, 17 June).In May, the Moscow Patriarchate welcomed the outcome of an inter-Orthodox consultation in Cyprus, in preparation for the WCC plenary, after its final report urged peace in Ukraine but made no mention of Russia’s invasion.On 22-26 May, a team from the WCC and Geneva-based ACT Alliance, grouping more than 140 faith-based member-organisations, visited the Russian-Ukrainian border area around Rostov-on-Don, at the Moscow Patriarchate’s invitation, to view the Russian Church’s work with refugees from the war.In an opening report to the central committee on 15 June, the WCC’s Orthodox acting secretary-general, the Revd Professor Ioan Sauca, said that the WCC, whose 352 member-Churches represent about 580 million Christians worldwide, had consistently denounced the conflict, while also maintaining contact and dialogue with Churches in Russia and Ukraine.He said that the WCC had been asked in letters and messages to expel the Russian Orthodox Church because of its wartime stance, and said that he understood how anger and frustration could impel “immediate radical decisions”.The WCC was created, however, as an “open platform for dialogue encounter, for discussion, and challenging one another”, Professor Sauca told the committee. “If we exclude those we do not like or agree with, with whom are we going to speak, and how can we advance to reconciliation and a lasting just peace?“It would be very easy to use the language of politicians, but we are called to use the language of our faith. It is easy to exclude, excommunicate, and demonise, but we are called as the WCC to meet and listen, even if and when we disagree.”
The Archbishop of Canterbury has presented HM The Queen with a special 'Canterbury Cross' for Her Majesty's 'unstinting' service to the Church of England over seventy years. The Archbishop made the presentation during an audience with Her Majesty at Windsor Castle today.The Canterbury Cross was given to The Queen in recognition and gratitude for Her Majesty’s “unstinting support of the Church throughout her reign” and to mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year.Archbishop Justin Welby gave the Cross as “a heartfelt symbol of the love, loyalty and affection in which the Church of England holds Her Majesty”.In the citation for the Cross, which was presented to Her Majesty as a framed piece of calligraphy, the Archbishop wrote:“Throughout her reign, Her Majesty has duly upheld both the Christian religion and the Church of England in her roles as Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England. Whether in the formality of opening sessions of General Synod or the more intimate context of her personal addresses to the nation and Commonwealth at Christmas, Her Majesty has made manifest her own deep faith and its relevance to all that she undertakes.“Her subtle understanding of the changing position of the Established Church in England has sustained and encouraged laity and clergy alike. Her care for the unity of her people and the welfare of the least fortunate have been a constant inspiration to the whole Church. Hers is an example of the Christian life well led.“This presentation of the Canterbury Cross is a heartfelt symbol of the love, loyalty and affection in which the Church of England holds Her Majesty and it represents the recognition and gratitude of her whole Church for her seventy years of unstinting service. God Save The Queen!”The Canterbury Cross is presented by the Archbishop of Canterbury for service to the Church of England. The cross is made of silver; a specially cast version was made for Her Majesty with platinum inserts in honour of the Platinum Jubilee.As Supreme Governor of the Church of England and ‘Defender of the Faith’, Her Majesty has regularly opened sessions of the General Synod of the Church of England.In 2012, The Queen paid tribute to “the particular mission of Christianity and the general value of faith in this country” during a speech at Lambeth Palace. Her Majesty’s Christmas addresses to the nation and the Commonwealth have often included wisdom from her understanding of Scripture and the Christian faith.
‘Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without even knowing it’ Hebrews 13.1The crisis in Ukraine has once again reminded us of the needs of the many people who are displaced across the world, unable to stay in their homes for fear of war, torture, famine, persecution or the lack of basic human rights.Through the Homes for Ukraine scheme there are many Ukrainians now living with host families across the diocese. Several parishes and areas have set up hubs for Ukrainians and hosts to meet and chat. There are very many more Ukrainians than we have homes for, so if you know of anyone who would consider being a host, please let us know diane.peters@cofeguildford.org.uk Refugees are not just coming from Ukraine - The Community Sponsorship programme welcomes refugees from refugee camps into the UK. Several families from a variety of nationalities have come into Surrey by this route. Sponsor groups take responsibility for the refugee family for two years, ensuring they have a home in an independent property and helping them to resettle here. It is great that a group from the Roman Catholic Refugee support group in Guildford have linked with the Mission Group in the Anglican parish of Shere, alongside the Refugee Support Adviser in the diocese to bring in a new refugee family. What a privilege to have these new families join us; do let us know if you would like more details of this scheme.The new Nationality and Borders Act is a source of concern for many of us, especially the outsourcing of people seeking asylum. Many bishops, including Bishop Andrew, have signed a letter of concern about these new plans.This diocese now has several bridging hotels for people seeking asylum. These can be places of great need and it is with gratitude that we welcome the good neighbourliness and support of local churches and voluntary groups.This year Refugee Tales are walking from Merstham to Winchester from July 2nd to 6th and will be walking through Guildford Diocese. Day 2 takes them from Dorking to Guildford with an evening event in Holy Trinity Church, Guildford with Prologue of the Time Traveller’s Tale by Shami Chakrabarti. Day 3 is going from Guildford to Farnham with an evening event at Farnham Maltings hosted by Niamh Cusack. https://www.refugeetales.org/the-walk-of-2022-1
A team of dedicated sports ambassadors in the diocese continue to make the important connection between community sport events and faith.Set up in 2018, the team headed by the Revd John McCabe, Rector of Byfleet, are working quietly behind the scenes using sport to connect with the wider community. And it’s been growing. The team all have sporting background, and two are in the Archbishop’s FC XI who defeated a team from the Times Newspaper at Meadowbank Stadium, Dorking Stadium recently..Now the Sports Ministry Team have a challenge for us all.On Saturday 17th September they want to empower local church communities to ‘staff up’ their local Park Run with all the volunteers needed to enable the community run to take place.Park Run is a national charity which stages over a thousand free five kilometre (3.2 miles) runs in open spaces and parks across the country every Saturday.John, a World Championship standard, Biathle and Triathle competitor, has been a regular volunteer at the Byfleet event. Once the runners and walkers have completed the course, personalised bar codes are scanned to record times. Each code has a name and so John has taken the opportunity, while scanning, of offering blessing to those taking part. “Each one is named,” he says. “So, I can say, ‘Mark a blessing upon you, a blessing on your day and a blessing on your running.’” Runners have told John they choose his lane for scanning because they like to receive the blessing.“This is something that we can do all over the country,” he says. “It’s really fun, and a privilege to bless people.”So, start pulling your church team together for September 17th.
