Archbishop Andrew Hutchison, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada has written to the Primates of churches affected by the recent disasters in south Asia to assure them of Canadian Anglicans’ prayers and support.
“The earthquake and tidal wave have worldwide implications and the world must take action,” he wrote.
The churches affected by last Sunday’s disaster are the Church of Bangladesh, the Church of Ceylon, the Church of North India, the Church of South India, the Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean, the Church of the Province of Myanmar (Burma), the Church of the Province of South East Asia, the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, the Anglican Church of Tanzania and the Anglican Church of Kenya.
The Canadian Anglican church’s financial response is coming through The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund, which is working through the ecumenical group Action by Churches Together (ACT).
The PWRDF web site (www.pwrdf.org) has instructions on how Canadians can assist in the relief effort.
The text of the Primate’s letter follows:
“My brother in Christ
I write to you on behalf of the Anglican Church of Canada to express our grief and sorrow at the devastation that you have experienced as a result of the tsunami.
I, along with all Canadians, have viewed the horror, destruction and loss of life in the past few days and find the amount of suffering and human tragedy that you are experiencing almost beyond comprehension. I have greatly admired the tireless efforts of so many who are risking their own health and lives to bring comfort and relief to those in need.
The earthquake and tidal wave have worldwide implications and the world must take action. Our church’s response will come through The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund. I know that all Anglicans will react with a spirit of generosity to bring a message of comfort and relief to your people.
This tragedy occurred on the feast of St. Stephen. In The Acts of the Apostles, we read that as Stephen was dying, he saw a vision of Christ and the heavens opening. My prayer is that those who died so swiftly last Sunday many now be experiencing the peace and joy of that kingdom and that families and friends will find that their faith sustains them through the sorrow and heartache.
Our response will continue, as do our prayers for all who are suffering and in need, for we are all part of one family under God within our Anglican Communion.
Yours faithfully
+Andrew, The Most Reverend Andrew S. Hutchison, Archbishop and Primate
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