Companioning Agreement

Between

The Syrian Orthodox Diocese of Jerusalem, Jordan and the Holy Lands
The Anglican Diocese of Kaduna, Nigeria
The Diocese of Coventry, England

IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, ONE GOD.
TO HIM BE THE GLORY FOREVER. AMEN

A rope made of three cords is hard to break (Ecclesiastes 4:12)

We the undersigned, as bishops of our different dioceses hereby declare our intention to enter into a spiritual partnership. We assert that Companionship is about journeying together. The earliest believers were called followers of the way. As companions we wish to follow our Lord Jesus Christ together in His way.

OUR UNDERSTANDING OF OUR COMMITMENT

We understand partnership to involve listening to each other, praying for each other, learning from each other and challenging each other. We hope to share in each other's spirituality, culture and life and in the mission of God's Kingdom together. We expect to engage in common tasks and to support each other. We look forward to gaining an insight each others' burdens and helping to bear them. We also hope to develop a world-wide understanding of the Kingdom of God.

THE NATURE OF OUR COMMITMENT

We hereby commit ourselves to trust one another, to be honest with one another, to share with one another, and to be ready to learn from one another, and to encourage our dioceses to do likewise.

OUR ACT OF COMMITMENT

As the spiritual leaders of our different dioceses, we commit ourselves and our episcopal areas to the journey of companionship. We as bishops will be primarily responsible for the implementation of this companionship, saving where we delegate the responsibility to suitable officers of our churches. As part of our honesty with each other we shall want to review this partnership together every five years.

Signed in the Year of our Lord 2001 on the 8th day of January in Jerusalem.

Left to right: Rev'd Dr Petra Heldt (Executive Secretary ETRFI, Jerusalem) Bishop Colin Bennetts (Coventry) Metropolitan Mar Sewerios Malki Murad (Jerusalem, Jordan and the Holy Lands) Bishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon (Kaduna) Canon Andrew White (Director ICR)

Signed by at that time: Metropolitan Mar Sewerios Malki Murad Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate Patriarchal Vicar of Jerusalem, Jordan and the Holy Lands Bishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon Anglican Diocese of Kaduna, Nigeria Bishop Colin Bennetts Diocese of Coventry, England