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O r t h o d o x -A n g l i c a n
relations have never been
better than they now are,
and in this spirit of the
hope which our common
Gospel brings to us, we
begin 2017 with words of
John the Theologian
“Behold, I make all things
new.”
I spoke to Bishop Christopher
recently about his new role and
he expressed his gratitude at the
privilege of being invited to
become the next Anglican
president of the AECA. He also
paid tribute to the previous
president, the Bishop of London,
and promised to give the AECA
his best endeavours in his new
role. Bishop Christopher
Bishop Richard with Archbishop
commented that the work of the
AECA was of ever greater Gregorios
significance in the contemporary
climate and renewal of interest and concern in the unity of the Church.
Ecumenical words should also be reflected in ecumenical actions, and so
it was, that at Midnight Mass at Southwark Cathedral, Bishop Christopher
welcomed Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church
in the United Kingdom, as an ecumenical canon. Bishop Christopher described
this act as embodying ‘the commitment of this Diocese to the unity of all
Christians and in particular our solidarity with Christians in Egypt and the
Middle East.’
It is such ecumenical acts of welcome, friendship and solidarity that
enable the visible Church on earth to more fully manifest the invisible unity of
the Church in heaven, which we speak of in the Nicene Creed when we call the
Church ‘one, holy, catholic and apostolic.’
May 2017 be a year of ecumenical words and actions for us all.

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