The founding fathers of the united Church of Pakistan were visionary leaders who recognised the need for a unified church keeping in view the future challenges facing the community and it’s time that the current leadership resets its vision with the same spirit.
These views were expressed by Bishop of Raiwind Azad Marshall while delivering the main sermon on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the historic union of four church traditions – the Anglican Church in Pakistan, the United Church in Pakistan, the United Methodist Church in Pakistan, and the Pakistan Lutheran Church – 50 years ago, at the Cathedral Church of the Resurrection on Sunday.
The celebration mass was attended by the leadership of the Church of Pakistan including Bishop of Peshawar and Moderator CoP Bishop Humphrey Peter, Bishop of Lahore Irfan Jamil, Bishop of Sialkot Alwin Samuel, Bishop of Hyderabad and Moderator’s Commissary for Karachi Diocese Kaleem John, Bishop of Multan Leo Roderick Paul and Bishop of Faisalabad John Samuel. A large number of members of the clergy and congregation of the CoP were also present at the special service.
In his sermon, Bishop Marshall paid tribute to the founding fathers of the CoP and urged the incumbent church leadership to prepare itself for effectively handling the present and future challenges facing the CoP and the community at large.
“50 years ago, these men of vision realised the need for a unified church keeping in view the changing socio-economic and geopolitical challenges that would deter the growth and impact of the indigenous church in Pakistan. These men of faith and courage boldly set aside their preferences and responded to the prayer that Jesus Christ prayed ‘Make them one as you and I are one’. In that moment of obedience, the Church of Pakistan was born in a bid to form a strong union and orthodox Christian presence in our beloved homeland,” he said.
Bishop Marshall said that the founding fathers of the CoP recognised the fact that the Pakistani Christian community, even though it was relatively smaller in number, was divided by denominations. “They knew that these divisions would only weaken the community further and their fears were not unfounded. In fact, after 70 years of independence we know how many storms we have weathered and how much we have been jostled by the change and challenges that come at us,” he said.
Bishop Marshall said that the Golden Jubilee of the church union provided the leadership an opportunity for introspection. “Let us take this opportunity to recognise where we have blind spots, where our vision fails and where our faith is found wanting. Let us reset our vision so that we are not distracted by the failures of the past, and the challenges of the world around us,” he said.
