At Epiphany I began my new job as Chief Operating Officer for the Church of England Diocese in Europe. By Easter I will be just over 100 days in. We have 300 congregations from Madeira to Moscow from Tangier to Tallinn. There are over 1.3 million British nationals living in Europe, many of whom were denied a referendum vote and are deeply troubled at present. Our congregations are also made up of a host of other English speaking Christians, many of whom are refugees.
I saw one of the results of the many ‘Brexit Votes’ recently whilst on a train to meet with our Archdeacons and Bishops in Brussels. It amused me to reflect that ‘God certainly doesn’t do Brexit’ though it is clear to me that Brexit makes demands on us as Christians. The Church was in Europe long before any of the political structures and institutions that are the focus for current debate. We will be there long after all the current business is resolved, however it works out. Our role will be ever more significant. The former president of the European Commission Jacques Delors put it thus in 1992:
If in the next ten years we haven’t managed to give a soul to Europe, to give it spirituality and meaning, the game will be up.
None other than Margaret Thatcher clocked this too. In her landmark Bruges speech in 1988 she said:
On the idea of Christendom – Christendom for long synonymous with Europe – with its recognition of the unique and spiritual nature of the individual, on that idea, we still base our belief.
There is so much more that unites us than divides us. So the challenge ahead is one of reconciliation at home and in Europe. The church should naturally embrace that challenge. We can embrace it as individuals too, as our faith gives us values of love, tolerance, generosity and care – which, thankfully, transcend politics.
Andrew Caspari
