I welcome you all my dear Sisters and Brothers to our 123^rd Annual Diocesan Council Sessions. I am aware of the trouble you have all taken to attend these Sessions. Many have travelled long distances. I thank you all for your efforts and co-operation.

We gather at Council to do God’s business in the name of Christ. Clergy and Lay Representatives have a responsibility to bring the experiences and views of your Congregations to this Council and to then take back the thinking of Council. So let us commit this Council to the triune God and God’s agenda. May we participate in such a way that the promptings of the Holy Spirit may challenge and transform us; and then send us out in Christ to transform the world in which God has placed us.   

At the time of writing, the participation of some of our Clergy and Lay Representatives is uncertain due to the prevailing war in the Vanni. If they are with us their presence will increase our joy. If not, we will be a diminished family, but we will all the more be mindful of their well being and needs. I must at this point thank all Congregations for your prayers and generous financial support for the people of the Vanni.

2. Lambeth Conference 2008

Geetha and I were privileged to participate at the Lambeth Conference for Bishops and spouses at the invitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury and his wife Jane. The first Conference was held in 1867 and has since been convened every ten years. This years Conference brought together around 650 Bishops and their spouses at Canterbury. It began with a retreat conducted by Archbishop Rowan on the theme “The mission of God and the Bishop’s discipleship”. 

Unlike in the past this Conference was shaped around a process of listening. Daily Bible study in groups of eight on the “I am” sayings of our Lord set the tone. As we reflected on the text and listened to the Holy Spirit on the lips of the other we acknowledged our vulnerability and discovered a bonding that was much stronger than our differences. For both Geetha and me, as well as for several of our colleagues, this was the high point of the Conference.

Thereafter the Bishops met in groups of 40 in “Indaba”. “Indaba” is the name of a South African Gathering that seeks consensus in decision making. It was here that the key issues of mission and unity that confront the Communion were addressed. Here too, a sense of belonging and respect for the views of others was discovered and grew.  In our “Indaba’ a consensus slowly and clearly emerged that each was incomplete without the other. Also, respect for the integrity of the other’s stance gradually took precedence over differences.  In one instance I sensed some struggle with certain views on inter-faith dialogue; but I also sensed respect. We disagreed but never argued and never ever thought of separating.   

The post lunch sessions comprised self-select-sessions. Participation was optional and based on ones interests. Several of us and some guest speakers led these sessions. The evenings were more relaxed and offered opportunities to hear prominent speakers as well as voices and experiences on the fringe.  

The Spouses Conference ran parallel with the Bishops Conference but we met at certain points like the daily Eucharist, Morning and Evening prayer and some plenaries. A particularly disturbing plenary was conducted on domestic violence. Our text was the story of the abuse of Tamar in the Old Testament.

The spouses programme balanced the formal with the informal and offered a variety of opportunities such as excursions, keep fit sessions and work shops on wide ranging topics. Since the Conference worked the Bishops harder it was soon jokingly acknowledged that while the Bishops were back at school their spouses were on vacation! And why not!

Around 230 Bishops, mostly from Africa, did not attend the Conference. They kept away as a protest against the presence at Lambeth of some Bishops of the Episcopal Church of the US who had approved the ordination of a practising homo-sexual as a Bishop. This along with the blessing of same sex unions and cross Diocesan interference are the issues that have threatened the unity of the Communion over the past few years.

It was because of this background that this Lambeth Conference made a shift from resolutions, debate and voting towards listening and consensus. It was probably felt that debates and voting would further aggravate our divisions at a time when it was more important to move towards reconciliation through listening and mutual respect. 

This is why the outcome of the Conference is not a report telling us what we all should do, but a “Reflection” summarising the thinking of the Bishops at Indaba. Many approved of the reflection as a document that reasonably focused the attention of the Communion on the critical issues faced by the Church. There were others who were dissatisfied with the Reflection. They felt it prevented decision making on urgent issues without which the Communion would not be able to move forward. However the overall impact of the Conference cannot be reduced to the Reflection.

Apart from the Reflection there were three prominent thrusts that echoed through the Conference. These were first, the recognition that God was at work in and through the Anglican Communion. Stories and experiences that were shared, demonstrated the humble faithfulness of Anglicans in varied challenging contexts. This very positive feature must never ever be forgotten or hidden by the undue publicity that the current controversy receives.

Second, there was the assertion that our common heritage, traditions, spirituality and practices were far more stronger than our differences. While recognising that differences must be addressed, an overwhelming majority of Bishops present, wanted to stay together. We did not see separation or schism as a way forward in Christ.

Finally, there was unanimous acceptance that the crises of the world required our energy and attention over and above our internal disputes. We realised that it was here that faithfulness in our witness and mission would be tested. In fact the call to respond to Gods torn and divided world as a reconciled Body was seen as perhaps the strongest reason for the Communion to heal our divisions and learn to live with our differences.

The Conference Reflection is now before our Diocese for study and response. I have shared copies with the Secretary, Registrar and Archdeacons and several other persons and groups engaged in the Mission in our Diocese. I have asked that Clergy and Congregations be provided with an opportunity to participate in this process. This is a sacred task and we must approach it prayerfully, collectively and seriously. There is much in the reflection that under the guidance of the Holy Spirit will bring renewal to our Diocese.

3. Ecumenism

On the 30^th of November this year our Diocese will join a Confederation of Churches along with several Churches affiliated with the NCC. On the two previous occasions that we met at Council we voted almost unanimously to do so. This is now a decision that we are committed to. I once again remind all our Clergy and Congregations to study the changes this will bring and to enter this new relationship with humility and hope.

Confederation will require us to deliberate and act together with our sister Churches in our common witness for Christ in Sri Lanka today.  Our choice for Confederation will from now on deprive us of the right to refrain from joint action in certain agreed areas. We will be called to discover our place in a wider fellowship and process and this will take time. There could also be set-backs.  But if we are prepared to work hard and move with humility and discernment, the common witness of our churches will be enhanced and Christ honoured. So may we rise up, pick up the basin and be prepared to wash one another’s feet.  

If we give this step and the process that follows our best effort in Christ there is every possibility that we will grow together into a United Church under Christ for Sri Lanka. I call the Diocese to study, prayer and commitment and urge as many as possible to attend the services on the 30^th of November in Colombo and elsewhere.

4. Inter-faith solidarity

Important as Confederation is I would like to place this step in the context of a much wider calling.  Denominational ecumenism should always be a step in the direction of wider ecumenism and National Integration. Our coming together in Christian Confederation must foster greater understanding among the faiths and communities of our beloved Sri Lanka.

This is necessary for several good reasons; but let me mention two. We are a Nation of world religions and we are a Nation in turmoil. We are therefore compelled to live with mutual respect for each other and to harness our collective spiritualities and resources to bring stability and dignity for all our people.

I am immensely grateful for all initiatives taken by our Clergy and Congregations in building inter-faith solidarity leading to social trust in various parts of the Country. My Pastoral visit in early September to Vavuniya ended with a Dana given by the Chief Incumbent of Vavuniya. The local Christian leaders who participated were all Tamils. Our conversation around the table centered on our role as religious leaders in the current National crises.  Here then, is just one example of how inter faith solidarity contributes to social trust in a very tense part of the Country.  

This excellent work must go on but there is now a new emphasis that is required. These friendships of solidarity need to be directed towards the interaction between the gospel/dhama and our socio-political context. Sadly for some, perhaps many, the context leads to a compromised redefinition of the gospel/dhamma. This is not a stance that faithful adherents of any religion are expected to adopt. The better way and indeed the only way of faithfulness is that the gospel/dhamma should highlight the discrepancies in the context and then offer a vision of hope and steps towards peace.

So it is imperative that the gospel/dhamma should compel us to speak and respond to situations of war, poverty, corruption, human rights violations, injustice, oppression, intimidation, discrimination and so on. We must never grow weary of striving in this direction. We must never imagine that evil will triumph over our shared spiritualities. We must never be silent even if all around us voices grow dim.  We must repeatedly reclaim our right to intervene on behalf of the people and refuse to allow this to be the sole domain of the politician. The promise of transformation and hope for all our people is adequate to sustain this journey.  

It is with this vital thrust in mind that I am taking steps to set up a Desk for Inter Faith solidarity under the guidance of Fr Adrian Aaron a Clergyperson with the calling and gifts for this crucial ministry. The decision to place this Desk in conjunction with the RAP Desk makes the point. Interfaith solidarity in this country today makes most sense if its drive is in the direction of justice, reconciliation and peace for all. You will hear more on this initiative in due course.

Another important part of the work of this Desk will be to engage in theological reflection on the nature of religion and the revelation of God in the context of the solidarity we seek. We will be required to work on the uniqueness of Christ in relation to our belief in God as creator and Liberator of all through history. This will have missiological implications as we will need to understand how and with whom God transforms the world.

5. Inter-Religious tensions

Certain small Christian Churches have been violently targeted by extremists in several parts of the Country over the past months. These aggressive acts contradict the teachings of all our religions. The authorities must ensure impartial investigations and protection for minority religions. As citizens we enjoy the right to worship and organise our religious activity and the State must provide the necessary safeguards for this. In past instances our Diocese and the NCC have set up dialogues to discuss such misunderstandings and tensions so that our religions can co-exist in harmony. The time is right for a return to a much more focused dialogue.  The Inter-faith Desk will be called upon to undertake tasks like this as well.

We must also be concerned about the recent spate of violence against Christians in several States in India. The worst violence was witnessed in Orissa but it has also spread to Karnataka. As part of a wider campaign I wrote to the Indian Prime Minister and several other Officials calling for the protection of Christians and their freedom of worship. I am also in touch with some Bishops of the Indian Church.

6. Our Nation.

The tragedy of our Nation is the rapid deterioration of universal human values. People’s rights and needs are being systematically disregarded. This trend is compounded with the absence of a constructive opposition and civil society intervention.  The triumph of corruption, intimidation, divisiveness, violence and lawlessness is dangerously gaining social endorsement.  Correspondingly, the drive for good governance, social integration and law and order has ceased to motivate the people. Many are either too frightened or pessimistic to attempt change.  

To make matters worse the population is being suffocated by the unprecedented high cost of living. While world economic trends make some impact on the cost of living, corruption and the lack of financial vision and planning aggravates the local situation. We often hear of allegations of the abuse of public office for personal gain, and financial extravagance and waste by those holding responsible office. As at present little is being done to arrest this trend which hits the poorest segments of our society, hardest.

The deterioration of law and order continues to be worrying. Brazen and violent acts of crime occur frequently. Media personnel in particular have been subject to assassinations harassment and intimidation. After arrest and a long period of detention without charges, the Sunday Times Columnist Tissanayagam’s case continues to drag.  Lawyers who intervene in human rights cases are subject to acts of violence and threats. The attack on Mr Weliamuna’s house is a current case in point. In-spite of the rhetoric hardly any detections are made by an otherwise alert intelligence service.  The net result is that the natural course of justice is seriously impeded and the people increasingly lose confidence in the law enforcement authorities.

The Tamil community continues to undergo severe hardship in all parts of the Country. Many are trapped in the struggle for military supremacy and the divisive political agendas of the warring sides. Tamils are also treated with growing suspicion and are subject to harassment as the anti terrorist propaganda taints them all as threats to National security. The recent requirement for Tamils only, from the North and East to register with the police, sent out signals that Tamils particularly must be kept under surveillance. Little thought was given to the hostility that these equal citizens consequently encounter in their neighbourhoods.  

The inability of the majority of sensible peace loving Sri Lankans to discern the signs of the times contributes to this worsening situation.  We today breathe the political air we have helped to create. What we are now experiencing is; ‘anomie’ a word coined by the early 20^th Century sociologist Durkheim to describe a society influenced by the absence of norms.  For Durkheim the way out of ‘anomie’ was through education; both formal and non formal. We however need a much more comprehensive counter-trend to return to a value based society.   

What this Country needs immediately is an ethos of democratic pluralism in which dissent will be welcome, diversity respected and minorities treated as equals.  Visionary and inclusive leaders and multi cultural schooling will be indispensable for this process. It is as we stop demonising the other and our children associate with each other that we will learn to co-exist.

Our violent approach to resolving conflict and historic grievance must also change.  Security is a requirement in a modern State. But war, the recognition that our own will be killed in confrontation, even out of provocation or desperation, is never the answer. Time tested methods of dealing with conflict such as negotiations, dialogue, consensus and compromise need to be affirmed and pursued instead.  From here we will grow to understand that the devolution of political power within an united Nation is the path that an enlightened people travel. Our numerous peace conversations and agreements of the past and the experiences of other countries are resources that need to be harnessed with humility.

A substantial answer to the erosion of law and order is the implementation of the 17^th amendment. This will ensure impartiality and accountability in the sectors that maintain law and order and lead to the reduction of corruption and crime. It will also enable Civil Society, the Media and the several democratic institutions to impact on the process of good governance. 

The Church, like all religions has a part to play in this transformation. A particular contribution that the Church can offer towards the healing of the Nation is restorative justice. This demanding but rewarding shift will enable forgiveness and reconciliation and bring healing to both victim and perpetrator. It breaks the cycle of revenge.

We should however bear in mind that Christians are just as much to blame for what our Nation has become. So we are called to demonstrate both repentance and faithfulness in Christ. We must be converted and take on the role of servants, pastors and prophets. It is only then that we will become useful instruments of peace, justice and reconciliation in the Nation.

7. Congregational renewal

The Church exists for mission. If we are to be faithful in mission we must strive to be a renewed community. While no one description can capture the fullness of Christian renewal the following signs seem to indicate a community that is moving towards renewal.

i. A community in which there is a well planned cycle of participatory worship, bible study and prayer. Those who participate will be spiritually nourished. They in turn will take on the role of “evangelist “and spontaneously invite others. “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight O Lord my rock and my Redeemer.”  Ps 19.14

ii. A community in which unity is more a quality of life than a formal institution. This quality of life will stem from communion with the Divine unity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This quality of life will include mutual care and seek to overcome self interest. Leadership will be seen as service to the community and not as the mere holding of office. “Finally, all of you have unity of spirit, sympathy, love of the brethren, a tender heart and a humble mind.”

1 Pet 3. 8

iii. A community in which all are encouraged to discover and offer their gifts for the mission of God. This will be facilitated by a responsible ministry of teaching and preaching.  Such a community will witness to abundant life in Christ and respond to human need beginning with its immediate surroundings. It will share the Gospel through it’s values, deeds and words and stand with the helpless and harassed in particular. It will be called to take risks but will be sustained by the presence of Christ. This witness and mission will be understood as the central work of the Church and it will redefine the Churches agenda. “Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given to you by prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands upon you.” 

1 Tim 4.14

iv. A community in which conflict will still be real but dealt with locally. Differences and even jealousies and rivalry will be addressed first by the persons concerned and then through mediation by others sensitive to what’s happening. Hurt will not be allowed to continue to become nasty and divisive. Provision will be made for self examination. Forgiveness and reconciliation will be real.  “leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother and then come and offer your gift.”  Matt 5.24

v. A community that is welcoming. This will be influenced by all the above and will include invitations. But it will more importantly convey an ethos of who we are and how we do things. Those within will feel a sense of contentment, self worth and belonging. Those who visit will sense an integrated community and feel drawn to become part of its fellowship. “And day by day attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they partook of food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” Acts 2. 46,47

vi. A community which acknowledges that all it is and does and is becoming is because of the grace of God. It will understand it has been called and equipped by God so that the whole life of the whole community would communicate the whole Gospel to the whole world. It will recognise that there are others also engaged in the mission of God and respect and work with them. It will be open to change and new insights and move forward with courage and humility. “Through Him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God”.  Rom 5. 2

8. My gratitude

Neranjala Manuel and Lanka Nesiah left Bishops Office during the course of the year. Neranjala has found employment elsewhere and Lanka has retired. I thank them both for the immense help they were to me. They gave of their best at all times; Neranjala offering a high degree of disciplined efficiency and Lanka contributing wise counsel and drafting skills. They were always courteous and kind and I shall miss them. I wish them every blessing in God for the future.

Ranjan Seevaratnam our Diocesan Treasurer came to us at a time of crisis soon after St. Elmo Gunesekera’s death.  He left us at the end of September. It was understood that his service with us would be an interim arrangement and he has fulfilled this task admirably. The financial vision and planning of the Diocese was considerably streamlined under his care.  I thank him for his soothing presence as well as his professional expertise and wish him fulfilment in the years ahead. 

The past year brought challenges of ill-health. I had to consequently re-schedule some of my commitments and pastoral visits and thank you all for your patience and understanding. I also thank all those of you who prayed for me during my illness and expressed your love in so many different ways. To receive kindness and know that you are being prayed for hastens the healing process. The surreptitious Chicken-gunya virus has now left me and I am able to attend to my several responsibilities.  

I am grateful to all Clergypersons, Lay Workers and the Laity of our Churches for your faithfulness in Christ. You are the Body of Christ and your witness and mission in so many daunting contexts is a source of inspiration to me.  

My thanks are also due to all Heads of our Schools and Institutions. Yours is very often a lonely task and I thank you most sincerely for your energy and leadership that enable our schools to offer integrated education of a very high standard.   

I thank Ven. Dhilo who stands in for me as Commissary whenever I am away from the Diocese and all the Archdeacons who share much of the pastoral work of the Church with me.  I am most grateful to Thanja, the Secretary of the Diocese and Sriyanganie our Honorary Registrar, both of whom carry very heavy responsibility so willingly and gently. Our Staff at Bishop’s Office and the Diocesan Office give of themselves un-stintedly in return for very modest wages and I thank them for their  commitment.

God’s grace has always been sufficient for our every need. He journeys with us from the lesser known to the unknown. His continuing presence leads, corrects, transforms and reassures us in very daunting times. His only requirement of us is that we remain faithful. May we pursue this calling with thankful hearts.    

With peace and blessings to all

Duleep de Chickera

Bishop of Colombo