Collation service of Reverend Canon Jean Bosco Turahirwa

On Sunday the 21st of September, the newest member of the Central Committee, Grace West, attended the service at Holy Trinity Brussels during which the Reverend Jean Bosco Turahirwa was collated as Canon of the Diocese in Europe by Bishop Andrew Norman, Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese in Europe.

Revd Jean Bosco was appointed as Canon in recognition for his ongoing work in peace and conflict transformation. He is part of the team that offers the Peace and Conflict Transformation course, which helps people deal with conflict in many areas of life and help them in the process of conflict transformation. Registrations for the 2025-2026 course are now open.

Congratulations, Reverend Canon Jean Bosco, and many blessings for this new phase in your ministry!

Centenary Conference on the Malines Conversations articles and reports

Centenary Conference on the Malines Conversations #2

The final two days of the Malines centenary conference were as busy as the first two days. On 20 September, the Chaplain-President led the morning plenary session of conference-papers from the Revd Dr Kirsty Borthwick (Christ Church, University of Oxford) and Prof Sigrid Muller (Universität Wien) on Anglican-Catholic approaches to liturgy and to making moral judgements. Two of the conference rapporteurs were local Anglican clergy: the Revd Evelyn Sweerts (Bishop Robert's chaplain) and the Ven. Sam van Leer (Archdeacon of Benelux). Mgr Terlinden hosted lunch in Mechelen Palace and later in the day the conference dinner was held in a local restaurant. Mgr Terlinden hosted breakfast on 21 September, and many of the Anglican delegates attended mass in Mechelen Cathedral, where the welcome from Father Filip Hacour was effusive (we were invited for coffee and cake afterwards). The Chaplain-President hosted Lord and Lady Halifax for lunch, before an academic session held in Mechelen Cathedral at which Mgr Johan Bonny (Bishop of Antwerpen), Mgr Stephen Cottrell (Archbishop of York), Cardinal Kurt Koch, Lord Halifax and Mgr Terlinden all gave speeches on Anglican-Catholic relations. Mgr Terlinden moved us immensely by inviting the Chaplain-President to advise the Belgian Bishops' Conference on how to introduce more synodality into the Catholic Church in Belgium - this had been a theme of the conference. A commemorative plaque was unveiled by Lord Halifax and Mgr Terlinden in the Mercier Chapel of the cathedral. A festal evensong sung by the choir of Christ's College, University of Cambridge and co-presided by Mgr Terlinden, Mgr Cottrell and Cardinal Koch was the culmination of the conference, with Bishop Robert, Cardinal De Kesel, Mgr Bernard Longley (Catholic Archbishop of Birmingham) and Mgr Bonny also participating. This conference has been an enormous boost to our relations with our Catholic sisters and brothers. We are unreservedly grateful for their hospitality, encouraged by the quality, courage and warmth of the conference papers and grateful for Mgr Terlinden's invitation to share our experiences of synodality in our Christian discipleship.


Katholieken en anglicanen vieren honderd jaar 'Mechelse gesprekken': “Unieke gelegenheid om befaamd koor aan het werk te horen” | GVA

Centenary Conference on the Malines Conversations #1

The centenary conference to celebrate the Malines Conversations, held in Mechelen from 18 to 21 September, is going full-swing. The Chaplain-President, Secretary-General and Second Secretary have joined a large group of Catholic and Anglican theologians to discuss and mark the ground-breaking talks on doctrine between Cardinal Mercier and Viscount Halifax from 1921 to 1926. The Catholic welcome, led by Mgr Terlinden and Cardinal De Kesel, has been flawless, with generous hospitality offered in Mechelen Palace. The conference has been fascinating, with high-level contributions from friends from KU Leuven (Prof Jan De Volder) and UCLouvain (Prof Arnaud Join-Lambert) and from afar (Archbishop Ian Ernest, Prof Paul Murray, Canon Jamie Hawkey and others). Bishop Robert and Bishop Andrew have been constant supportive presences. The choir of Christ's College Cambridge sang a wonderful concert of Anglican church music in Mechelen Cathedral on the evening of 19 September, to huge applause. We are overjoyed that Anglican-Catholic relations can still take on this warmth, quality and energy.

The European Democracy Shield

On 17 September, the Chaplain-President, in his capacity as Bishop Robert's adviser for EU affairs, participated in a seminar at the European Commission on the proposed European Democracy Shield, a combined approach to safeguarding democracy in the EU via both action against hostile online misinformation from outside the EU and supportive action for critical thinking, digital literacy, transparency and encouraging good practice within the EU. Religious and philosophical groups are particularly interested in encouraging critical thinking and transparency within their communities and in wider society.

Requiem for Mgr Noël Treanor

We spoke last year of the untimely death of our great friend Mgr Noël Treanor, Papal Nuncio to the EU. On 15 September, the Chaplain-President represented Lambeth Palace and Bishop Robert at a requiem held for the anniversary of Archbishop Noël's death at Notre-Dame du Sablon de Bruxelles, concelebrated by Mgr Bernadito Auza (Papal Nuncio to the EU), Mgr Franco Coppola (Papal Nuncio to Belgium and Luxembourg), Mgr Lode Aerts (Bishop of Brugge) and Mgr Jean Kockerols (Assistant Bishop in Mechelen-Brussels) and a large group of Catholic clergy. It was a bitter-sweet occasion of confidence in God's eternal plans and many happy memories, together with sadness at the loss of so dear a friend. Requiescat in pace ut in gloria resurgat.

Meeting the new Chair of the Diocese in Europe Board of Finance

On 10 September, the Chaplain-President met the Revd Lord Stephen Green at Bishop Robert's office in Brussels. Lord Green is a priest of the Church of England who has exercised most of his ministry in finance and banking, notably as chairman of HSBC Bank. He received his peerage to work as Minister for Trade and Investment in the UK Coalition Government from 2011 to 2013. Bishop Robert mentioned his appointment as chair of the Diocesan Board of Finance in his address to the Diocesan Synod in June this year. Stephen has a wealth of financial and ethical acumen on which European Anglicans will be able to draw and is a passionate European: Jack was able to discuss with him ways in which his experience could serve the Archbishop of Canterbury's Permanent Representation to the EU, which Bishop Robert chairs.

Anglicans in the European Institutions

On 11 September, Bishop Robert and the Chaplain-President spent the day in meetings with various European personalities: Dr Vincent Depaigne, who heads the European Commission's Article 17 Dialogue with religious and non-confessional bodies; Metropolitan Athenagoras de Belgique, who co-chairs the Anglican Communion's formal dialogue with the Orthodox Churches; Dr Fearghas O'Beara, who heads the European Parliament's Liaison Office in Dublin, and Ms Anne Sherriff, British Ambassador to Belgium. Many topics of pressing importance to the Anglican Churches and to Europe were discussed.

Meeting of the Central Committee

On 10 September, the full Central Committee (members: Jack, Eric, Grace; bureau: Stephen, Rebecca) met online with a very full agenda to discuss and make decisions concerning our parishes, religious education in schools, prison ministry, hospital ministry, the Anglican Institute in Belgium, plans for the Malines Conversations centenary conference this month, plans for the King's visit to Holy Trinity Brussels in November and other relevant matters.

Stuurgroep Thomas More Hoge School professionaliseringstraject lokaal geloofsgemeenschapsbestuur

Op 10 september 2025, de secretaris-generaal heeft het Centraal Comité vertegenwoordigt bij een vergadering van de stuurgroep voor een professionaliseringstraject bij Thomas More hoge school in Mechelen voor bestuurders van lokale geloofsgemeenschappen.

Deze postgraduaat opleiding is een aantal jaar geleden begonnen met de bedoeling om vrijwilligers in lokale geloofsgemeenschappen te ondersteunen met professioneel, actueel en accuraat informatie over hun opdracht als voorzitter, penningmeester of secretaris. De stuurgroep komt regelmatig samen met coördinators van Thomas More en andere stakeholders zoals de Vlaamse overheid en federale ministerie van Justitie om updates te horen en over de toekomst te bespreken.

Preparing for Malines 100 - AIB Anglican Insights lecture

On 3 September 2025, the Chaplain-President led an Anglican Insights session for the Anglican Institute in Belgium (AIB) online under the title "The Malines Conversations: a Fresh Look". Jack outlined the reasons for a dialogue between Anglican and Catholic theologians in Mechelen in 1921 being a surprising and unlikely occurrence, given the climate of mutual suspicion which affected both Churches until the middle of the 20th century. He then spoke of what conclusions the Conversations reached and how they shape current ecumenical conversations. We recommend the centenary international conference of the Malines Conversations, which takes place in Mechelen from 18 to 21 September, as the perfect way to deepen your understanding of what is at stake when the Churches talk together in friendship. The lecture was attended by 20 people from across Europe.


"Well done, thou good and faithful servant"

On 27 August, the Chaplain-President, Secretary-General and Second Secretary entertained Canon Ann Turner from St Boniface Antwerp and Sister Julian OSB from Holy Trinity Brussels to lunch in Antwerp. This was to thank Ann for her years of service to the Comité Anglicaans Godsdienstonderwijs, which she has served since her arrival in Belgium in 1991, latterly as President for many years. Sister Julian is the current Inspecteur-Adviseur of the CAGO. Several generations of schoolchildren in Flemish and Brussels state schools have benefited from Ann's faithful and diligent service to Anglican Religious Education and we are unreservedly grateful for her service.

PARCUM raad van bestuur

Op 18 augustus 2025 heeft de secretaris-generaal de anglicaanse eredienst vertegenwoordigd bij een vergadering van de raad van bestuur van PARCUM. PARCUM is expertise centrum voor religieus kunst en cultuur en tegelijk is het een museum voor alle vormen van religieuze erfgoed. De raad van bestuur komt regelmatig samen in het jaar om verantwoordelijk te zijn met de subsidiëring van deze belangrijke deel onze patrimonium in Vlaanderen.

Celebrating 30 years of faith servant ministry - The Revd Charles Kabera

On Saturday 9 August 2025, the Vice-President of the Central Committee, Eric Sibomana, and the Secretary-General were honoured to attend a celebration in Aalst for The Reverend Charles Kabera who has been ordained for 30 years. On behalf of the Chaplain-President, Jack McDonald, Eric shared words of thanksgiving for Charles’ ministry as a pastor at Holy Trinity, Brussels and as an Anglican Prison Chaplain. Eric gave Charles a book of homilies in French as a gift. It was a truly festive occassion with lots of music, dancing, drumming, speeches and abundant food. We continue to give thanks for Charles’ humble servant ministry with and among us, and wish him many more years of grace and peace.

Le Vice-président du Comité central au Malawi

Cet été, le Vice-président du Comité central, M. Eric Sibomana, a eu le privilège de participer à un voyage missionnaire au Malawi avec Exodus Vision Ministry. Depuis 15 ans, Exodus Vision sert fidèlement les communautés à travers l’Afrique, et cette mission s’inscrivait dans la continuité de ce travail essentiel. Eric est arrivé au Malawi le 11 juin 2025, représentant Exodus Vision Belgium ASBL. Le reste de l’équipe était composé de 12 membres des États-Unis et une autre représentante d’Europe.

La première mission s’est déroulée au camp de réfugiés de Dzaleka, situé à environ une heure de Lilongwe. Ce camp abrite plus de 10 000 réfugiés, dont 70% d’entre-eux sont des jeunes. L’équipe de l’École Biblique de Vacances (EBV), dont Eric faisait partie, a partagé des histoires bibliques, des chants et des jeux pour témoigner de l’amour du Christ aux enfants.

Une grande importance a été accordée au renforcement du leadership dans les églises locales. Les pasteurs ont été formés à l’application des principes bibliques dans leur ministère et leur vie familiale. La soif de la Parole et la transformation des cœurs étaient visibles tout au long de la semaine.

Le 18 juin, l’équipe américaine est partie pour Thyolo, un district rural situé à environ 5 heures de route. À ce moment-là, Eric est rentré en Belgique, mais a resté en contact étroit avec l’équipe.

Eric partage : “Ce voyage missionnaire a été un puissant rappel que l’Évangile dépasse les frontières. Du camp de réfugiés de Dzaleka aux églises rurales de Thyolo, la lumière du Christ continue de briller à travers les efforts des ouvriers fidèles.”

Anglicanism in European Perspective

From 21 to 25 July, the Chaplain-President and the Secretary General participated in the University of Utrecht Summer School course Anglicanism in European Perspective, organised by Bishop Mark in conjunction with the Anglican Institute in Belgium and Virginia Theological Seminary.

The summer school was a five-day introduction to Anglican history and thought, all the way from the beginnings of Christianity in the British Isles to current debates in the Anglican Communion on the proper place of women and LGBT+ people in the life of the church. Jack gave lectures on "Anglicanism and the slave trade", "Anglicanism in Continental Europe" and "Anglican philosophy".

Stephen organised the technical and audio-visual aspects of the course. Each day began with Bible study and closed with worship in the Old Catholic cathedral in Utrecht in a variety of Anglican styles. The professors and the students agreed that the course should continue in future years. For more details and photos, you can see our Facebook or Instagram pages.

Fête Nationale / Nationale Feestdag

On 21 July, the Chaplain-President had the pleasure of representing the Anglicans of Belgium at the ceremonies connected to Belgium's National Day; first at the Te Deum in the presence of the King and Queen in the Catholic cathedral in Brussels, then at the lunch held by Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot at the Palais d'Egmont, where Jack had the opportunity to talk with Ambassador Léopold Bonkoungou of Burkina Faso, Ambassador Thérence Ntahiraja of Burundi and the Chargé d'Affaires at the Embassy of Togo.

Discussions about migration policy

On 14 July, the Chaplain-President, in his capacity as Bishop Robert's adviser for EU affairs, participated in a meeting organised by the Wilfried Martens Centre and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung to discuss EU migration policy. The main speaker was Margaritis Schinas, formerly Vice-President of the European Commission. A full exchange of information and views took place as the European Union implements its Pact on Migration and Asylum with the aim of setting up fair and humane systems for the processing of applications for asylum and the welcome given to asylum-seekers in Europe.