On Monday 6 July, the Second Secretary was invited to attend a meeting of the Chaplaincy Council of Holy Trinity Brussels to explain to incoming members how the legal and administrative structures required for the effective running of a government-recognised church relate to one another.

While a Chaplaincy Council has no legal standing under Belgian law, the Church of England requires every parish to have one. Rebecca explained the different legal structures that must exist within a recognised parish in Belgium and how these work alongside the governance structures required by the various Anglican canonical authorities. Council members found it very helpful to understand what their role is in considering and promoting the mission and vision of Holy Trinity and how their discussions can inform and support the work of the administrative legal bodies.

This type of session forms part of one of the training pathways offered by the Anglican Institute in Belgium (AIB): to provide training and practical resources to parish administrators. The programme is designed to equip those serving in administrative roles to carry out their responsibilities efficiently and faithfully, while ensuring compliance with Belgian law.