Trust and obey...?

 Today was a rather different day. I met with Bishop Mouneer this morning, along with Karim, his assistant and Leith, an Episcopal student from the U.S. with Egyptian heritage, who is spending some of his Sophomore year here working with the Diocese.

We had a rather interesting discussion about Anglicanism in the developing world and its difficulties in disassociating itself from its colonial past, even with the advent of Independence.

Many Anglican churches in the developing world have forged relationships with churches in the Western World, and while these relationships provide much needed financial, training, and pastoral support, often with that support comers an expectation, whether spoken or not. 

In other words, the beneficiary church feels an obligation to support its support the financing church dogmatically.

Now this is a problem for many reasons.

Often there are major cultural differences, and because of the connection, it is almost impossible for that church to develop its own identity, resulting in an almost neo-colonial situation.

Conform, or else funds and support might evaporate!

Hardly an ideal situation for a faith organization that is trying to find its own unique place in the global church community!

I was able to discuss the Irish situation, pre-independence, and the drive towards disestablishment from the British state in 1869/70, long before Ireland became an independent state in itself.

Disestablishment was a bold, brave, and often times uncertain process which led the Church of Ireland to become a church that represented not a privileged minority, but a minority with a deep moral sense, an independent voice, and a drive towards a fair, just, and equitable society.

Disestablishment led to many ground-breaking initiatives, such as women's ordination, the growth of lay participation in an Episcopal, Synodal framework, and eventually to the election of the first female Bishop in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Yes, there are certainly risks involved, but the rewards are manifest and plentiful.

On another note, Bishop Mouneer told me the story behind the two frescoes which adorn the Cathedral nave.

They were a gift on his retirement as Archbishop from a dear friend, and represent the journey of the Holy Family into Egypt, and the martyrdom of St. Mark, a Diocesan patron.

They are stunning works in themselves.

Now, after a nice supper of pasta, I'm off to prepare a paper for the Bishop on post-colonialism!