From the 14th - 17th February myself and Pam together with Fr. Victor and Ruby took part in the Conference for all the clergy from the churches in the province of Jerusalem and Middle East.  The conference took place at the dreams Beach Resort in Sharm-el-Sheikh in Egypt, presided over by our own Bishop Clive who is the presiding bishop of the Anglican Province which comprises the Dioceses of Iran, Jerusalem, Egypt with North Africa and Cyprus and the Gulf.  For various reasons only clergy from our diocese and Egypt were able to be present but it was nonetheless interesting and stimulating as we learnt from each other how our various chaplaincies differ and the variety of challenges we face.  We all came away having had our horizons widened and relationships deepened and new ones forged.  It reminded us all that the church is much bigger than our own 'back yard' and we are all one family, interdependent and reliant on each other in the complex world of 2005.  The experience helped to re-emphasise and define what it means to be part of the Anglican Communion and the significance of the word 'communion', and also what it means to be part of the catholic church in its proper meaning of 'WORLDWIDE'.

Alan Hayday