Companion Links is the commitment made in 2001 by the Syrian Orthodox Diocese of Jerusalem, Jordan and the Holy Lands, the Anglican Diocese of Kaduna, Nigeria, and the Diocese of Coventry, England to enter into a spiritual partnership.
IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, ONE GOD.
TO HIM BE THE GLORY FOREVER. AMEN
A rope made of three cords is hard to break (Ecclesiastes 4:12)
We the undersigned, as bishops of our different dioceses hereby declare our intention to enter into a spiritual partnership. We assert that Companionship is about journeying together. The earliest believers were called followers of the way. As companions we wish to follow our Lord Jesus Christ together in His way.
OUR UNDERSTANDING OF OUR COMMITMENT
We understand partnership to involve listening to each other, praying for each other, learning from each other and challenging each other. We hope to share in each other's spirituality, culture and life and in the mission of God's Kingdom together. We expect to engage in common tasks and to support each other. We look forward to gaining an insight each others' burdens and helping to bear them. We also hope to develop a world-wide understanding of the Kingdom of God.
THE NATURE OF OUR COMMITMENT
We hereby commit ourselves to trust one another, to be honest with one another, to share with one another, and to be ready to learn from one another, and to encourage our dioceses to do likewise.
OUR ACT OF COMMITMENT
As the spiritual leaders of our different dioceses, we commit ourselves and our episcopal areas to the journey of companionship. We as bishops will be primarily responsible for the implementation of this companionship, saving where we delegate the responsibility to suitable officers of our churches. As part of our honesty with each other we shall want to review this partnership together every five years.
Signed in the Year of our Lord 2001 on the 8th day of January in Jerusalem.
Signing Group
Left to right:
Rev'd Dr Petra Heldt (Executive Secretary ETRFI, Jerusalem)
Bishop Colin Bennetts (Bishop of Coventry)
Metropolitan Mar Sewerios Malki Murad (Bishop of Jerusalem, Jordan and the Holy Lands)
Bishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon (Bishop of Kaduna)
Canon Andrew White (Director ICR)
Signed by at that time:
Metropolitan Mar Sewerios Malki Murad (Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate Patriarchal Vicar of Jerusalem, Jordan and the Holy Lands)
Bishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon (Anglican Diocese of Kaduna, Nigeria)
Bishop Colin Bennetts (Diocese of Coventry, England)
Kaduna
Following the establishment of an initial link, by Canon Andrew White, between the dioceses of Coventry and Kaduna, several visits have helped the link to flourish. The only project currently run is the sponsoring of water wells in villages. To date over 50 wells have been dug. To find out more about this link, please click here.
The Syrian Orthodox Diocese of Jerusalem, Jordan and the Holy Lands
The Syrian Orthodox of Jerusalem and the Holy Lands the third part of the Companionship Links set up in 2001. Initially this entailed several exchanges with the Diocese of Coventry.
For many years Syrian Orthodox Christians in Bethlehem dreamed of a school for their children where their traditions,especially the Aramaic language as spoken by Jesus, could be taught. During a Coventry Diocesan pilgrimage to the Holy land in 2000, led by Canon Andrew White, representatives from this diocese witnessed at first hand the plight of this community. On their return a SOCS (Syrian Orthodox Christian School) support group was formed, to raise awareness and funds to help the community realise their dream. For more details please click here.
