On Tuesday 26th January, the Conseil de Dialogue/Dialoograad (the permanent consultation between the Prime Minister, the Minister of Justice and the recognised religions) met by Zoom chaired by Minister Van Quickenborne. This body normally meets every six months, but this meeting was in fact its first since the first Corona lockdown was announced in March 2020. The Chaplain-President represented the Anglican Church. On the agenda were the Covid-19 pandemic, the new charter agreed by the federal government and the recognised religions concerning fiscal transparency and independence, and the recent initiative made jointly by the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of the Interior concerning the physical safety and security of places of worship.
Vaccines against Corona
Since the beginning of the new year, Belgium has begun rolling out its ambitious vaccination plan against Covid-19. Every Belgian and every individual resident in the country will be receiving a personal invitation in the coming weeks and months to present themselves at the appointed vaccination centre. The Central Committee encourages all Anglicans in Belgium to consider getting vaccinated, as this will protect not only ourselves but also our loved ones and all others around us.
Panathlon Wal-Bxl publishes its year book 2020
Panathlon Wallonie-Bruxelles has published its annual revue for 2020. In it you will also find on p. 4 coverage of the installation of the SportsConsilium last October.
Season's greetings
The Central Committee of the Anglican Church wishes everyone a blessed Christmas and a happy New Year!
Meeting with Minister Somers
On Wednesday 16th December the representatives of the religions and humanism were back at the offices of Minister Somers, who this time was able to join the meeting himself. On the agenda was a further discussion on the proposed legislation for the recognition of local faith community. The recognised religions will put their remarks and concerns in writing at the beginning of the new year.
Meeting with the cabinet of Minister Somers
On Friday 11th December, the members of the VILD, the Flemish inter-life stance dialogue, met with the cabinet of the Flemish Minister for Social cohesion, Bart Somers. The meeting took place in light of the Flemish government’s new draft text on the recognistion of local faith communities.
Meeting with the Minister of Justice
On Wednesday 9th December, the heads of the recognised religions and humanism met with the Federal Minister of Justice, Vincent Van Quickenborne. The meeting followed a decision byt he Council of State regarding the Covid-19 measures and public worship.
The Church needs to talk about race
The Black Lives Matter worldwide momevent has also found a voice in the churches, and we need to talk about racial issues in our own faith communities. This is why St Martha and Mary Leuven are organising an online series to talk about the issues involved. Please see the poster below for details. Do join the conversation! Tickets available at The Church needs to talk about race Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite
Photo St Martha & Mary
Advent at HTB
Advent is different this year, however, all our chaplaincies remain committed to offer services during this time. One example is Holy Trinity Brussels, who have put together an online programme (see the poster below). Do go and visit them!
Photo HTB
Covid measures remain in place
The representatives of the federal, regional and community governments in Belgium met last Friday 27th November, and have decided that there will be no changes to the Covid-measures for places of worship at this time.
This means that public in-person worship for Advent and Christmas will not be allowed, most likely until the middle of January. While this is a tough decision for all of us, this will undoubtedly be an especially hard blow for all those in our congregations who will be spending the holidays on their own. Our parishes are encouraged to provide online services and pastoral care if possible, while adhering to the Covid restrictions for live-streaming and recording.
Chaplain-President appointed Living in Love and Faith Advocate
The Church of England's House of Bishops has just published a major report on personal identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage entitled Living in Love and Faith (LLF) (see here: https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/living-love-and-faith ). Each of the 42 dioceses of the Church of England is now asked to discuss the report during the next year and to report back to Dame Sarah Mullally, the Bishop of London, with a view to the General Synod of the Church of England debating the issues covered by the report in 2022. Each diocesan bishop will appoint a part-time LLF Advocate to oversee this process and liaise with the Bishop of London. Bishop Robert Innes has appointed the Chaplain-President as the Diocese in Europe's LLF Advocate. There is more information about this appointment here: https://europe.anglican.org/main/latest-news/post/1624-living-in-love-and-faith-advocate
photo from the House of Bishops
King's Day 2020
15th November marks King’s Day in Belgium, traditionally with a Te Deum at the Cathedral in Brussels and a special session at the Federal Parliament. Unfortunately, due to the Covid restrictions this year the festivities had to be cancelled. The Chaplain-President and other members of the Central Committee would like nonetheless to offer HM the King and the Royal Family their best wishes for the occassion.
Anglican online worship in Belgium during lockdown
In these lockdown times, the Anglican congregations in Belgium are connecting to parisheners and friends in many different ways: live Morning Prayer and Compline, pre-recorded services and Eucharist, Philosophy Café, live Sunday services and midweek services to watch at your leisure, etc. A whole array of options!
Please refer to the CHAPLAINCIES page for the parish websites and news on what they have on offer.
Edith Cavell's final letter before her arrest given to Norwich Cathedral
At one of his regular meetings with fellow canon theologians of Anglican cathedrals (at the moment conducted by Zoom), the Chaplain-President learned from his friend and colleague from Norwich, Canon Dr Peter Doll, that the final letter written by Edith Cavell to her mother before her arrest in August 1915 has been gifted by its private owner to Norwich Cathedral, where Edith Cavell is buried. The full story may be read in this press release. Almost Edith Cavell's last words before being shot were: "Standing as I do in view of God and eternity, I realise that patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness for anyone", words which continue to resonate across history. The Church of England remembers Edith Cavell in our calendar of saints, commemorating her on 12th October, the anniversary of her execution.
102nd anniversary of the end of World War 1
The commemoration of the Armistice of 11:00 on 11th November 1918 has become in Anglican practice an annual opportunity to remember before God and neighbour all those whose lives have been cut short or damaged in human warfare, and to give thanks for all those who have fought and died in the service of peace, freedom, justice and brotherhood. During this time of pandemic, this annual commemoration has taken different forms. Here is the service from Gent, led by Canon Stephen Murray of the Central Committee:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF7qYApgBBc&feature=youtu.be
New Covid-19 Emergency Measures
Following the meeting of the Government's Concertation Committee on 30th October, the National Anglican Protocol and all our parish protocols are suspended until 14th December, and our parishes return to the régime of lockdown we experienced earlier this year, in which all parish worship and activities move on-line (except for funerals). As the pandemic continues, we renew our resolve to face it with strength, mutual support and generosity.
SportsConsilium Belgium
Further to our article of 7th October 2020 below, the SportConsilium website is now up and running. You may consult a page which shows some interviews with Committee members, including the Chaplain-President, here: https://sportconsilium.org/le-comite/
New restrictions and new protocol
The Government's Concertation Committee met on 22nd and 23rd October to discuss the evolution of the covid19 pandemic and to impose stricter measures on the country to combat it. The Central Committee's latest National Anglican Protocol (our 9th since May) was approved by the Concertation Committee and comes into effect from today. It can be found here in French and here in Dutch.
Indisposition of Mrs Sophie Wilmès
The Chaplain-President joins the whole Anglican community in Belgium in prayers and best wishes for our former Prime Minister - the first woman PM in our history - Sophie Wilmès, now our Foreign Minister, who is unfortunately currently in intensive care in hospital with Covid-19. Madame Wilmès has steered our country through the difficult waters of the pandemic with skill, expertise and good humour and we thank her for all that she has done for Belgium. We wish her a speedy and full recovery.
