wfn.org | [ENS] Primates begin to meet; international concerns, Anglican covenant to top agenda

["Matthew Davies" <mdavies@episcopalchurch.org>]

>Episcopal Life Online
>February 1, 2009
> 
>Primates begin to meet; international concerns, Anglican covenant to top
>agenda
> 
>In Alexandria, St. Mark's Pro-Cathedral is dedicated
> 
>By Matthew Davies
> 
>[Episcopal News Service ? Alexandria, Egypt] The proposed Anglican  covenant
>and global issues such as Zimbabwe and the financial crisis will be
>addressed by almost all of the 38 Anglican primates meeting February 1-5  at
>the Helnan Palestine Hotel in Alexandria, Egypt.
> 
>The first day of the Primates Meeting began with a quiet morning led by
>Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and culminated in a worship  service
>to dedicate St. Mark's Pro-Cathedral in Alexandria and install its new  dean,
>the Very Rev. Samy Fawzy Shehata.
> 
>"As we dedicate this cathedral we ought to be praying that this is a  place
>where Jesus is alive," Williams said during the sermon, which was
>simultaneously translated into Arabic. "When we step into this church  and
>experience Jesus' life of prayer, it changes the way we see things. If  we
>are faithful to our willingness to join in the prayer of Jesus, God will  be
>faithful to us."
> 
>Williams said it is important to remember that "the person praying next  to
>me is a person in whom Jesus is praying" and to try to see "the force of
>energy of Jesus' life in them. When I diminish them, I am in danger of
>destroying Jesus' voice in them."
> 
>The Most Rev. John Chew, primate of Southeast Asia, spoke during the  service
>about the importance of the companion relationship between the dioceses  of
>Singapore and Egypt.
> 
>"When great civilizations come together a lot can happen," he said,
>"especially when Christ is active in all this."
> 
>The Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, under the  leadership
>of President Bishop Mouneer Hanna Anis, is hosting the primates for  their
>five-day meeting. The province includes four dioceses throughout  Jerusalem,
>Iran, Egypt, Cyprus and the Gulf.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_104596_ENG_HTM.htm