wfn.org | ACNS St George's Baghdad praises response, continued support

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

ACNS 3941     |     MIDDLE EAST      |	   15 FEBRUARY 2005

Photographs for this item can be found here:

http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/articles/39/00/acns3941.cfm

St George's Baghdad praises response, continued support necessary

By Michael Craske

The last remaining Anglican church in Iraq has praised the level of
support it has received from the Anglican Communion and wider faith
communities and has appealed for further assistance to meet its
immediate needs and future goals.

St George's Memorial Church in Baghdad, part of the Anglican
Congregation of the American Embassy Chapel, is an important centre for
the Iraqi Christian community - with some 300 regular worshippers - and
has become a focus for the work of the wider church in meeting the
humanitarian needs of the parish. In a letter to the Anglican Communion
Office, the church staff have reported that their initial appeal,
started in November of last year, has greatly enhanced the church, which
was founded in 1936 but forcibly closed for 10 years under Saddam
Hussein

Since the appeal, the church has been able to buy a power generator - to
enable the use of air-conditioning units - and has put up 75 perimeter
security barriers around the church, as parishioners had been concerned
about safety. In addition, deliveries of relief goods have now started
to arrive via the US Army Chaplain's Office and are being distributed to
the community, both Christian and Muslim. Also, one parishioner, a young
boy named Yousef, has been able to get medical treatment in Amman and
return to Baghdad with medical supplies through the church's work.
Before re-opening, St George's was looted in 2003, with all its
furniture, including the church organ, stolen. It was also badly damaged
by rocket fire and still currently lacks plumbing, pews, a constant
budget, and a full-time rector.

"Without you, St George's would not have been able to meet any of those
critical needs," said the letter to those who had donated. "But as you
can imagine, there is much more to be done...the most critical
requirements are those which address the needs of the parish (security
and medical care), the habitability of the church building (heaters) and
other recurring costs..."

The ongoing project has been overseen by the Most Revd Clive Handford,
the Primate of Jerusalem and the Middle East and Bishop of Cyprus and
the Gulf - in whose province St George's is located. The Revd Canon
Andrew White, the Director of the International Centre for
Reconciliation at Coventry Cathedral in the UK, has played a leading
role in the project and in raising the Church's vital profile in Iraq
and beyond.

"For our brothers and sisters in Christ, regardless of denomination, we
appeal to you to come to the aid of an embattled congregation," the
letter continued. "Our shared mission is to spread and sustain Christ's
message of love and reconciliation, in showing our brothers and sisters
that we acknowledge their suffering and want them to succeed

"For all who seek to work for peace and harmony amongst people of all
faiths....the seeds of hope can be planted here."

To send financial assistance to St George's, cheques made payable to
Coventry Cathedral ICR (IRAQ), can be sent to St George's Baghdad Relief
Fund, c/o The International Centre for Reconciliation, Coventry
Cathedral, England CV1 5AB, UK

For those wishing to donate via the US, cheques should be made payable
to St John's Church, and sent to St George's Baghdad Relief Fund, c/o St
John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square, 1525 H Street, NW, Washington
DC 20005, USA

All donations are being processed and sent to St George's without
overhead.

The Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East covers Jerusalem,
Iran, Egypt, Cyprus, and the Gulf. The Jerusalem bishopric was founded
in 1841 and became an archbishopric in 1957. Reorganization in January
1976 combined the Dioceses of Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria with the
Jerusalem bishopric after a nineteen-year separation. Around the same
time, the new Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf was formed and the Diocese
of Egypt was revived to create the province as it is now known.

For more information please contact either Canon White on
andrew.white@coventrycathedral.org.uk or Ms Betsy Heine on
betsy.heine@stjohns-dc.org

www.cyprusgulf.anglican.org
www.coventrycathedral.org.uk
www.stjohns-dc.org

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