Bishop Clive to retire

Our Bishop, (of Cyprus and the Gulf) the Most Reverend Clive Handford has announced that he is to retire on 17th April 2007. This news set in motion a series of events beginning with the calling the Vacancy In See Committee elected annually at the diocesan synod to begin the process of finding the next bishop. The ‘See’ referred to here is the area over which a bishop has authority and jurisdiction in the Anglican Church, in our case Cyprus and the Gulf. Letters have already been sent to every diocese and institution in the worldwide Anglican Church inviting names of suitable candidates. The first full meeting of the Vacancy In See Committee takes place in Nicosia on October 10th. Please pray for them as they undertake this crucially important work of finding our next ‘chief pastor’ for the people of this diocese, particularly at this troubled time here in the Middle East. Please remember that Iraq is one of the chaplaincies in the bishop’s care and serves to underline the importance of this process.