1 March 2001
The Parthenon Foundation in Switzerland has awarded a grant of £150,000 to the Anglican Communion Secretariat in London of an endowment for the Communications programme. This presentation was made to the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, the Revd Canon John L. Peterson on a recent visit to Switzerland.
The Revd Canon Samir J. Habiby, the Chaplain of Christ Church, Lausanne (which the Chairman of the Parthenon Trust attends) is an active member of the Anglican Communion's Compass Rose Society, together with his wife, and they have been instrumental and enthusiastic in sharing with both his parishioners and friends the work being carried out in communications on a "Communion level". Canon Habiby said, "I was simply amazed when I realised how much work was being done by such a small staff with very little financial resources. Communications is key to any successful organisation." Canon Peterson has sought support for the Communications programme as he too feels it is such an urgent need for the Communion to be in touch and to be able to tell each others' stories. "Many of the people of our Anglican family are voiceless in the complexity of our world today," Canon Peterson said. "Our work must centre around the needs of people who are making valiant attempts to be agents of mission, healing and reconciliation in this troubled world."
The £150,000 ($220,000) is the first major donation to the endowment which will total US $20,000,000 when complete. Canon Peterson, through the efforts of the Compass Rose Society, who are church people from several countries who share generously of their time, talent and treasure, hopes the endowment will be in place by the end of 2003 when he leaves office. "I am totally committed to seeing the Anglican Communion being a body of loving, caring and giving people. Our focus must never be inward, but on a waiting world eager to hear the message of Christ and His love. Thus what and how we communicate are of the utmost importance".
The Communications work is accomplished almost single-handedly by Lay Canon James Rosenthal, an appointed missionary of the Episcopal Church USA and who has the Diocese in Europe as one of his canonries. Canon Rosenthal works with a secretary and a part time designer for Anglican World magazine and relies on what he calls "unwavering support" of different people who assist in varying ways. He is also responsible for the telecommunications operation, with its costs currently being supported by the Grants Programme of Trinity Church Wall Street, USA. Canon Rosenthal is also editor of the Web based Anglican Communion News Service and a well-known photographer. He often travels with the Archbishop of Canterbury and Canon Peterson on visits around the Communion. It is his task to "tell the story" and his reporting and photos have received acclaim in many parts of the church.
An exciting development in the Communication Office has been a recent attempt at introducing an "Intern" programme for Communications students from around the Communion. Currently Mr. Siphiwe Sithole from the Diocese of Johannesburg is spending six months at the Secretariat. "It is my hope that someone like Siphiwe will be sitting in my seat in the years to come. A blessing for us and for him, yet there is no financial support for this training work to continue" Jim Rosenthal said. Two other Africans have had shorter stays in the office in the last two years.
Anyone interested in the work of the Compass Rose Society and the Endowment Programme can contact Canon Peterson in London. "In this day of instant communication we are only a mobile phone call, fax or e-mail away and I would be eager to talk with anyone about the work we do." Canon Peterson said, "My deep concern is for those whose situation or plight is ignored by the media, places like the Sudan and Cuba. We must be their voice."
The Anglican Communion Secretariat serves the Communion through what are called the Instruments of Unity. These are the Lambeth Conference, the Anglican Consultative Council, the Primates Meeting and the Archbishop of Canterbury in his international and work with the other three instruments.