Daily Times

On the invitation of the Rt. Rev. Samuel Azariah, Bishop of Raiwind Diocese and the Moderator of the Church of Pakistan, the Bishop of Canterbury visited Pakistan to meet with his local counterparts and Christians of Peshawar and Youhannabad who endured terror attacks in the past two years. According to the Lambeth Palace, the Most Reverend Justin Welby visited Pakistan to express solidarity with Christian communities across the country. Also, he met with Sartaj Aziz, the adviser to the Prime Minister of Pakistan. In his meeting with him, the Bishop of Canterbury discussed the importance of religious freedom and importance of protecting minorities in the country. Before leaving for Bangladesh, during his two days visit, the Bishop of Canterbury attended more than 30 meetings, including Sunday Church service at Christ Church, Youhannabad. In a special service at St. Thomas’s Church Islamabad, the visiting Bishop happened to meet the victims and their families of All Saints Church Peshawar attacks of September 2013. While talking to the survivors of Youhannabad Church bombings, he lauded the faith of all those who faced the satanic attack while they were busy in worship and prayers. The Bishop spoke about the “amazing grace” shown by the survivors of brutal attacks.

The Most Reverend Justin Welby is The Principal Religious Leader of the Church of England (CoE) and the symbolic head of 800 million Protestant Christians around the world. He was enthroned as Bishop of Canterbury on 21 March 2013 as 105th in line that goes back to Augustine of Canterbury, known as “Apostles to the English” sent from Rome in the year 597 by the Catholic Pope, Gregory the Great. Augustine of Canterbury was the founder of the Church of England. Since then, the seat of the Bishop of Canterbury is considered as ‘primus inter pares’ or ‘first among equals.’ The Anglican Communion across the world has always had great respect for the incumbent of the seat of Augustine of Canterbury. Since 1867, the Bishop of Canterbury convenes the decennial meeting (Lambeth Conference) of worldwide Anglican Communion as part of his incumbency. The Bishop of Canterbury is one of the most respected persons and the highest-ranking non-royal in the United Kingdom order of precedence. Because of his high stature, in most of the countries, the Bishop of Canterbury is received as a state guest.

The purpose of the visit of the Bishop of Canterbury is clear in his own words.

“I visited Pakistan this weekend to express my solidarity with the Church of Pakistan and church communities across the country — they are a powerful lesson to the world in hope overcoming hatred. In Lahore and Islamabad, it was deeply moving to pray and worship with church communities who have endured terror attacks in recent years. At a service at St Thomas Church in Islamabad — attended by families and victims of the suicide bombings at All Saints Peshawar in September 2013, including many children — I had the privilege of preaching on the words of Psalm 56:8. I spoke of God knowing our sorrows, and of the Christian belief in the crucified God.

I joined an Ecumenical Sunday service at the Central Cathedral of Praying Hands in Lahore, with the bishops of the Church of Pakistan. There I met a man and his wife, who had been badly injured in the Peshawar attacks, where one of their children also died. The couple is now both in college in Lahore and spoke of the comfort of Jesus the Good Shepherd. Later that day in Youhanabad, I met with bereaved relatives and survivors of last year’s terror bombing at Christ Church.

The Church joins many others in calling for freedom of religion and belief in Pakistan — and for the protection of Christians and other minorities.

Please join me in praying for peace and justice in Pakistan.”

Indeed, his visit is an encouragement not only to the Christian community but all minorities living in the country. But the role of the local Church always remains under question. Talking about Church of Pakistan, there are eight Dioceses in operation from Quetta, Karachi, Peshawar, Lahore to Islamabad. But none of them has ever raised a voice for Pakistani Christians and the blasphemy laws that are being misused against the Christian community. Is it not a fact that Church is receiving unlimited funding from abroad in the name of the development of the Christian community? Every year international institutions invite application for higher education through Bishops’ offices, but they never recommend youth for better education through international exposure. The Church of Pakistan has become a commercial institute earning millions through its educational institutions where Christian children have no access. The Bishops are involved in human trafficking, sending poor Christians to Thailand where they suffer, but the Bishops and their families charge hundreds and thousands of rupees from the persecuted community. The present day Pakistani Church lacks spirituality and service to the poor. During the visit of the Bishop of Canterbury, all Pakistani Bishops showed their great concerns for poor Christians, but this is a fact that no bishop has ever visited victims of terror attacks. There is no accountability in the Church of Pakistan. According to the government census, there are 3 to 4 million Christians in the country. In the absence of Christian commitment and great commandment, the Church of Pakistan has completely failed to help people in need, and to promote brotherhood and equality. A simple comparison of the Church of England and the Church of Pakistan shows the enormous difference of operational commitments. The Church of England is always busy for the welfare of its members. If the Church seeks a real growth in the country, it has to come back to the real teaching of the Gospel to serve all, irrespective of their colour, caste, creed, gender, and religion. There is little hope that the visit of the Bishop of Canterbury will bring change to the Pakistani Church. Let us not lose hope but pray. The Scripture says, “It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant.”

The writer can be reached at Kaleem.dean@mail.com