Angela Murray reports:

More than one hundred delegates and observers – clergy and laity – gathered to attend our annual Diocesan Synod. It is a time to renew old acquaintances and make new ones. This vibrant four-day event focuses on the essential elements of the Diocese’s work – its formal structure and obligations, finances, spiritual enrichment, outreach, inter-active projects, inter-parish communication and, inevitably, concerns which affect its daily life and future direction.

For those who have attended Synod, they will know what Cheryl and I mean, and for those who have not, we can only suggest that to appreciate all of its aspects, one needs to be there to absorb the ambience.

This year, Cheryl Grieve and I were the lay delegates representing the Bahrain chaplaincy. From the outset, we both sensed that the atmosphere was highly-charged. Despite the apparent relaxed fellowship shared at the Welcome Reception, there was a palpable feeling of anxiety. Everyone knew that aside from the usual raft of sessions, some tough decisions lay ahead. Bluntly expressed, the Diocese had reached a watershed. Would Synod be cohesive as a committed group, or would factionalism surface? The two key issues were easy to define.

At the end of April 2007, Bishop Clive retires from office. Hence, should an interim Bishop, or, as Canon Andrew White urged, a “proper” Bishop be appointed?

But before that debate could take place – as it did in an informal forum session led by our Dean and the Archdeacon in the Gulf – an even tougher decision had to be made: should the Diocese remain in its present configuration, or should it be re-structured? This forum did not take place at the outset of Synod, but given its seriousness, it is our “leading story”.


Debate – The Possible Re-Structuring of the Diocese

The criteria were: should Cyprus be re-assigned to the Diocese of Europe and the Gulf integrated with one of the other Dioceses in the Province (Egypt, Jerusalem or Iran)?

Remarkably, the discussion was not long because it was unanimously agreed by acclamation that the Diocese in its present configuration could not afford to break apart. Practically and prayerfully, the diverse expertise of many Diocesan parishes is able to help those in more challenging situations, for example the chaplaincies in Baghdad and Aden. The geographical, political and cultural differences were noted but, in one important respect, it can be argued that the profile of the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf now has one common dynamic: the countries in which it work works and thrives are predominantly Muslim in context. This has always been so in the Gulf region, but it was pointed out that in Cyprus, due to the developing reunification of the Island, the Muslim population is growing. There, the need for inter-faith understanding has widened in scope to beyond that of Anglican and Greek Orthodox perspectives.

By the end of the forum, instead of the palpable anxiety of the previous evening, there was a distinct and very powerful sense of unity and a desire for continuity: clergy and lay delegates were of one accord that we should put aside any differences and work together to become a more bonded and supportive Diocese.

De facto, this led into the second key issue: whether an interim ‘caretaker’ Bishop should be appointed for, say, a period of one to two years; or whether, for the sake of stability and spiritual direction, the Vacancy-in-See Committee should be re-convened to discern the appointment of a Bishop to succeed Bishop Clive. It was with conviction and commitment that Synod chose the second option. Although Bishop Clive did not attend the forum – from diplomatic choice and because his doctor and wife, Jane, insisted that he took periods of rest - he was clearly both relieved and delighted to learn of Synod’s decisions.


Quiet Morning at the Monastery of St. George Mavrovouniou

Set on a hillside near Troulli village, half an hour’s drive from the Lordos Beach hotel, the solitude of this monastery belies its location in the lee of a military outpost at the top of the hill. The cacti, date-palms and wild flowers interspersed among the rocky outcrops behind the monastery are nature’s foil to this man-made imposition, yet also host to the monastery’s hillside chapel (seen in one photo) and a smaller chapel set in a cave. Paradoxically, it was a serene setting for contemplation during the Quiet Morning’s recesses.

Maggie Le-Roy, Facilitator of the Katafiyio Retreat House in Cyprus, together with her colleague Judy Cannan, led the morning’s reflections inside the monastery. Their influence was the spirituality of St. Ignatius, a Spaniard who lived between 1491 and 1556. He chose the name “Company of Jesus” for his followers, its root being in Ignatius’s conviction that he and his companions had been called to live a life of service to God with Christ, through Christ, in Christ, and as Christ. The thrust of the morning’s reflections was: all of us have been invited to be companions of Jesus. But how much do we desire to invite Jesus to be our companion?


Bishop Clive’s Opening Address

Following the Quiet Morning, Bishop Clive presented his final Opening Address at Synod as Bishop of Cyprus and the Gulf. The following is a summary.

Bishop Clive came to the Middle East fifty-one years ago and has spent most of the intervening time either living in the area or pretty much tied up with it. Looking back over forty years of the church in the Middle East, he reflected on a number of factors which have influenced various situations. Among them, more recently, is a change in mixed congregations: they are much less western than they were, and fewer people are involved in the same levels of management compared with before.

Working out what it means to be Anglican in an inclusive way, Bishop Clive said that he is inclined to be a believer in the “church of fuzzy edges”.

This is particularly true throughout the Gulf region. Permanent residents in Cyprus see changes in what is meant by chaplaincy. “This raises new opportunities in our mission. We are on the threshold of a new and positive time in the Province. One of our calls as Christians is that we should be servants of understanding.”

Bishop Clive closed by saying that if he and Jane are not able to be with us in a hands-on situation in the future, they will be in their thoughts and prayers.


Presentation by The Rt. Reverend Kenneth Cragg

Author of many studies in contemporary relations between the Semitic faiths, Bishop Cragg is an Honorary Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford; an Hon. D.D. of the Universities of Leeds and Toronto, of Lambeth, and former Bye-Fellow of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.

Combine these credentials with being bishop in the lands of the Middle East over many years, delegates, guests and observers to Synod were treated to an hour-long presentation – without prompting notes – by a truly remarkable theologian. All the more humbling: Bishop Cragg is a very sprightly 95 year-old gentleman.

Bishop Cragg focused on opportunities for witness in the Middle East during half a century of his experience. As his talk was recorded, it is hoped that a transcript will be available by e-mail for anyone who may wish to read it.

During a subsequent conversation, he explained his definition of an expert: someone who is sometimes in error, but never in doubt! What an honour and privilege it was to have met this undisputed expert.


Chaplaincy Reports – Focus on Iraq

Each chaplaincy is required to give a short, maximum three minute overview of its life during previous twelve months. This year, Bishop Clive made one notable exception. Canon Andrew White, representing Iraq and the chaplaincy of St. George’s Baghdad, was invited to speak for as long as he wished. It was a powerful and persuasive fifty-minute account of the “awfulness” of the situation in that city.

It so happens that Andrew recently wrote an article for the Church of England Times which summarises what he told us at Synod. This will be reproduced in the next edition of TBAN.

Both Cheryl and I were so moved by what Canon Andrew had to say that at the Synod Dinner we asked him: “how can we help in Bahrain?” Andrew replied: “there are two things. You can pray for us. And you can help fund the salary of a school teacher and the purchase of learning aids (books) for children.”  We are working on it. For more details see the 7th June Dinner and Auction preview elsewhere in this edition of TBAN.


Synod Dinner

Never let it be said that Synod is all serious stuff! The finale, a dinner held on the final evening, always features entertainment of some kind. This year was exceptional, a tribute to Jane and Clive, giving many people the chance to show off their thespian and magical talents.