Forsooth!
What is the world coming to? No letters this past
week! So,
I write to commend you all on such an excellent website!
I enjoy the leaders (such variety and all so very
well written and provocative of further thought and
reflection.) As someone else has remarked the links
are especially valuable. I use them to read about
what is happening in other Australian Dioceses. I
find their publications of especial interest because
they help me to gain a picture of life within a specific
Diocese — and they provide
background on the way each Diocese grapples with its
own regional problems, whether is is the aftermath of
bushfires, the influx of refugees, outreach to the young
(and the old), leadership and worship issues etc and
etc. I feel uplifted when I read their local stories.
You get the picture that exciting things are happening
in Australia despite the bad press that The Anglican
Church occasionally attracts across the major cities.
The
welfare arm of the Anglican Church here in Sydney
(Anglicare) is a remarkable organization capable
of consistently excellent delivery of services. In
Australia 3 church organizations have done wonderful
work in addressing the needs of the less fortunate
in our society. The St Vincent de Paul Socity (Roman
Catholic) deserves the highest praise as does the
Salvation Army welfare arm. Supporters of Anglicare
can also be proud of those who represent the welfare
face of the Church.
And
one hears uplifting stories out of local churches.
A few weeks ago I heard of a small Anglican congregation
that has welcomed a Nepalese student into their midst.
They have agreed to sponsor him (and his family)
and everyone from the impressive and energetic Rector
down has been supportive in practical ways. What
is most interesting is that the Rector is in his
early 60's and is so committed to cross-cultural
ministry. Age is certainly no barrier to effective
ministry!
So,
thanks AO — and I write as one who has not given
up letter writing for Lent.
Harry
Pont
St Andrew's Cathedral
Sydney, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
hrbrpnt@gmail.com
2 March 2010
I
write to let you know about the role of the Anglican
Church in education in Belize. Education here is
a Church/State partnership, with all the various
denominations and faiths running schools which in
general serve the whole local community. The government
pays for teachers' salaries, some aspects of training,
primary school textbooks and a small amount of capital
expense. The churches fund the rest.
We
have 22 schools, mainly primary (elementary)and preschool
with one high school and a theological college. We
are considered to be one of the best managements
in the country, with strong quality control and an
excellent teacher training programme.
We
believe in creating schools where children are loved
and respected, but where there are clear guidelines
for behaviour. Many of our children come from disturbed
and chaotic backgrounds, and truly benefit from the
certainty that fair rules offer. Of course, the foundation
of everything is our Christian belief, which we share
with all the children who attend our schools be they
from Anglican backgrounds or not.
Needless
to say, the church here is broke! Continuous calls
on our resources means that any money that comes
in has an immediate use. My role is to beg the funding
we need to bring our schools up to a good level throughout
the country.
We
have special problems in rural schools, where we
are struggling to provide simple necessities like
flushing toilets and clean drinking water. Some of
our city schools are in bad repair, and most of our
schools are in need of basics like suitable furniture,
fans, books, support for feeding programmes, the
list is endless, brothers and sisters.
I
am working on a web site right now which will show
you more of what we are doing here in Belize, www.anglicanschoolsbz.com.
The site is under development, so please bookmark
it and visit from time to time as it grows.
In
these days of really desperate need around the world,
a country like Belize can get forgotten. We aren't
by any means in as bad shape as some of the African
countries, and in our schools, our children have
been collecting their pennies for poor Haiti. But
our beautiful children deserve the best education
that we can give them, intelectual, practical, moral
and spiritual. At the moment, we have a long way
to go before we can say, "Job done!".
Anyone
who can point me to possible sources of funding,
contribute themselves, or offer advice or material
help would be conferring a great blessing on the
Anglican schools of Belize. Thank you for taking
the time to read this, and God bless.
Sue
Harris
St. Stephen's Church
Monkey River, Toledo, Belize (Central America)
anglicanschoolsbz@gmail.com
3 March 2010
