Biskopen av Rochester, Michael Nazir-Ali, den første asiat i den anglikanske kirke, velger å gå av for å arbeide for forfulgte kristne, også konvertitter fra islam, som ikke har det enkelt i Storbritannia.
Michael Nazir-Ali er av pakistansk avstamning. Han vet hva religiøs intoleranse er. Han står for en helt annen kurs enn den erkebiskop Rowan Willams følger. Hans avgang er derfor også en protest mot dagens politikk.
Nazir-Ali gjorde seg bemerket da han ifjor advarte om at det var områder i Storbritannia som var blitt no-go areas for kristne. For dette mottok han dødstrusler.
Nazir-Ali kommer til å jobbe med kristne minoriteter i Pakistan og Midtøsten, men også situasjonen til kristne omvendt fra islam.
He said he has been inspired by the story of Hannah Shah, an Imam’s daughter who faced being killed by her family for refusing an arranged marriage before becoming a Christian.
“Bishop Michael is hoping to work with a number of church leaders from areas where the church is under pressure, particularly in minority situations, who have asked him to assist them with education and training for their particular situation,” said a spokesman.
In a letter to clergy in his diocese, the bishop said: “I have decided that the time is now right for me to step down as Bishop of Rochester. I have valued my modest part in the life of the Church locally, nationally and globally.
“We take this step of faith ‘not knowing where we are going.’”
Bishop of Rochester resigns to become defender of persecuted Christians
The Bishop of Rochester has surprised the Church of England by announcing that he will stand down this year to become a defender of persecuted Christians.