Church of England Head set for Historic Pakistan Tour
The Church of England head, Rev Dr Rowan Williams is to undertake an historic visit of Pakistan next week, in what he says is a vital period for the devastated country.
Posted: Sunday, November 20 , 2005, 17:17 (UK)

The Church of England head, Rev Dr Rowan Williams is to undertake an historic visit of Pakistan next week, in what he says is a vital period for the devastated country.

Having just closed the eighth Church of England General Synod this week, the Archbishop of Canterbury will immediately begin preparations for his trip to the South Asian country.Dr Williams said, “This is a crucial time to be visiting Pakistan. I know that there are many concerns about those who may have survived the recent earthquake but whose future is still threatened by the onset of extremely cold weather conditions. I hope to learn about the things being done to transfer aid to people in the direst of needs.”

In particular, Dr Williams spoke about the importance of the faith communities in the country during this testing period. He continued, “This is also a very important time for Pakistan's faith communities - the good relations between Christians and Muslims in many parts of the UK and in Pakistan provide a platform for building further and for eradicating mistrust and misunderstanding. I am pleased to be able to visit Muslim students, scholars and leaders in the Islamic University of Islamabad and elsewhere.”

The trip will also be used to share fellowship with other church leaders in the country, allowing them to learn more in depth about one another’s mission strategies and the challenges faced in each country. the rest