Anglican Consultative Council's Director of Ecumenical Affairs to be new Suffragan Bishop
The Revd Canon David Hamid, 47, Director of Ecumenical Affairs and Studies for the Anglican Consultative Council since 1996, is to be the next Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese in Europe. He will take up his duties following his consecration by the Archbishop of Canterbury and other bishops on 17 October in central London.
Born in Scotland to Scottish and Burmese parents, Canon Hamid has spent much of his ministry in Canada, and holds dual Canadian and British citizenship. He was rector of St John's Burlington, Ontario, (1983-87) where he developed a mission congregation into a self-supporting parish.
For nearly ten years (1987-1996) he was one of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada's Regional Mission Co-ordinators. He worked to strengthen relationships between Canadian Anglicans and their Anglican and ecumenical partners in Latin America and the Caribbean. This included collaborating in practical programmes of evangelism, training, and youth ministry, as well as supporting mission partners in the field, developing policy and working on a range of international issues.
Since 1996 he has been the Director of Ecumenical Affairs and Studies for the Anglican Consultative Council, based in London, developing forward-moving relations both between world communions and more localised Church families, and resourcing ecumenical relations in the different dioceses and provinces of the Anglican Communion.
Canon Hamid has been secretary, member or consultant in many international ecumenical dialogues, including those with Baptist, Lutheran, Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches. He has also been a consultant to the World Council of Churches Faith and Order Commission and an ex-officio member of the Church of England's Faith and Order Advisory Group.
He has established good working relationships with many of the Diocese in Europe's partners in Continental Europe. He is a special advisor to the European Provincial Consultation set up at the request of the Lambeth Conference 1998. He is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese and French.
Canon Hamid said of his appointment, "As I look back on my ministry to date, I can see how, in so many ways, it may have been a preparation for what is coming, through my involvement with the Church's ecumenical life, the international and multicultural dimensions of her mission and ministry, developing and nurturing her work in places where Anglicans are clearly in the minority among other Christians. I am looking forward very much to the fresh challenges which this appointment brings, in getting to know the clergy and people of the diocese and to working with Bishop Rowell."
A keen traveller, David is married to Colleen (a research scientist at St Thomas' Hospital London) and has two sons, Jonathan (16) and Michael (12). He is a pianist, and music is one of his principal ways of relaxing.
More information here
NOTES TO EDITORS
The Diocese in Europe comprises some 270 English-speaking chaplaincies in 44 European, Eurasian and North African countries. The Diocese provides pastoral care for Anglicans (and other English-speaking Christians) from many parts of the world who live and work on mainland Europe, and those who visit whether for business or leisure.
The Diocese works closely with the Continental Old Catholic Churches and the Nordic-Baltic Evangelical Lutheran Churches (including the interchange of ministers); and shares in the Church of England's agreements with the German and French Lutheran and Reformed Churches. It is uniquely involved at a local level in the developing ecumenical relationships with the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches in Europe.
Canon Hamid's surname is pronounced Hameed.
The previous suffragan bishop, the Rt Revd Henry Scriven, takes up a new appointment as assistant bishop in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, USA, in September.
Further information from Derek Williams
Tel/Fax: 00 44 (0)1462 743027
Email: dl.williams@btopenworld.com
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