wfn.org | ACNS3526 Archbishop hears the cries of refugees in the Gambia

["Anglican Communion News Service" <acnslist@anglicancommunion.org>]

ACNS 3526     |     WEST AFRICA     |	  29 JULY 2003 

Archbishop hears the cries of refugees in the Gambia

by J M Rosenthal in The Gambia 

One of the most dramatic moments in Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan
Williams' pastoral visit to the Anglicans in West Africa came on Tuesday
as he visited a refugee centre run by the local diocese. Archbishop
Williams showed signs of being deeply moved at the Centre. He said, 'May
your experience as refugees be a thing of the past.' He then said, 'I
promise these concerns will not be forgotten.' Archbishop Rowan praised
the diocese for 'being at the forefront of the work'. He then said that
he hoped the centre would be 'a challenge and reproach' for concerned
people around the Communion. 

A young man, 27, from Sierra Leone pleaded with Archbishop Rowan to use
his 'high office' to plead the cause of displaced persons. But when
Judah, aged 8, eloquently addressed the Archbishop's party, women - some
carrying babies - began crying and sobbing as the young child told of
her fellow Liberians that had been victims of 'rape, torture and death'.

Later in the morning Archbishop Williams and Mrs Williams, along with
the Archbishop of the Province, the Most Revd Robert Okine, were
received by the President and many Government officials. The President
paid tribute to the work of the Anglican Church in The Gambia with
special reference to the diocesan bishop, the Rt Revd Dr S Tilewa
Johnson. 

The Archbishop received a warm and high profile greeting at his arrival
on Monday night in Sierra Leone . Earlier on Monday, in Freetown , a
busy programme included Mrs Jane Williams greeting over 100 Mothers'
Union members at St George's Cathedral, while at the same time
Archbishop Rowan answered questions from clergy and other lay leaders
from the diocese, as well as from the diocese of Bo. 

In his sermon on Sunday night, during a Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit
with 12 hymns and 5 Anglican chant psalms, the Archbishop spoke of the
work of the Holy Spirit and its power in helping us, in all our
diversity and uniqueness, 'to see the Christ in each other'. 

One of the other most dramatic moments during the Pastoral visit came
when the delegation entered Elmina Castle in Cape Coast and were
immediately confronted with a building that was used as a prison, where
slaves were kept before being sent off to other parts of the world. The
Archbishop called the perpetrators of slavery 'sick' and spoke of 'the
shame of those in Europe ' who were instruments of this terror. 

The visit continues with the dedication of a new church in Serrekunda
and tomorrow with an Interfaith meeting at Bishopscourt. 

At the visit with the President of The Gambia it was emphasised by His
Excellency that this was 'a secular state' where those of different
religious persuasions lived with a high level of 'tolerant and respect
for each other'. Archbishop Williams called the Interfaith co-operation
level here 'a worth-while model'.

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