by Bishop Barry Jenks
Most Dioceses are in a “companion relationship” with one other Diocese in the Anglican Communion. Through the offices of the Archbishop of Canterbury, these links are established so that we can learn more about others in our global Communion and so that we can pray as we learn.
The Diocese of British Columbia, however, is in a Companion Relationship with not one, but five Dioceses: those of the Church of the Province of Myanmar. They became a Province when all foreigners were expelled from the country and all external relationships with the outside world were severed. The colonial period was over and the expectation was, in some minds, that the Anglican Church in that country would disappear. Obviously this did not happen! A small number of the indigenous Anglican leaders banded together in supportive community and carried on the work of the Gospel and the Church continued to grow. New leaders were trained. New parishes and missions were opened. New initiatives of evangelism among tribal peoples were developed. In isolation from global links, the Church learned to be self sufficient and able to survive on its own minimal resources.
There was, and is, pressure on the Church to reject the Christian Faith and to conform to the state religion of an eclectic form of Buddhism. No Christians are allowed to advance to management levels in the army, civil service, or state-run corporations. There is constant pressure to conform and support the status quo. There is also constant surveillance by the government of gatherings of Church people and travels by priests and bishops. Without warning, planned youth conferences or diocesan conferences can be cancelled by the government just prior to being held. Christians are not allowed to have overnight guests in their homes. Foreigners are generally required to stay in government supported hotels. Everyone is aware that, no matter what the occasion or service of worship, there are amongst those who gather, government informers.
Still, the situation has eased from what it was for the several decades following the colonial period. Thirty years ago a priest from this Diocese was refused entry into the country because his passport picture showed him in a clerical collar. His wife was allowed entry! It wasn’t until 1978 that the Burmese bishops were allowed to leave the country and in 1979 some clergy and lay members of the Church were allowed to travel to participate in the Council of the Church of East Asia. For decades they had been isolated from contact with fellow members of the Anglican Communion. There was great rejoicing at the lessening of these restrictions.
And there is current rejoicing that members of our Diocese have been able to visit and travel in most parts of Burma. Permission was given to three groups of Burmese to visit our Diocese. This has followed on the visits, since 1979 of the last three archbishops of Burma one of whom, before he became a bishop, served for a year in three different parishes of the Diocese.
Companion Relationships usually are for five years but ours has been renewed twice and we are now in the eleventh year of this unique fellowship of prayer, concern, and support.
Through this association we have learned of the crippling poverty of the population. We have become aware of the refusals by the military junta to honour the democratic elections of 1990 and the continuing house arrest of the democratically elected Aung San Suu Kyi. We have been attentive to the fears that are shared by students, activists, and anyone else deemed to be non-supporters of the regime. They and we know of the brutality that is meted out in non-violent protests and the political arrests, detention, and torturing that accompanies such uprisings.
In a country of around 50 million people, there are only around 100,000 Anglicans. Our partners are a tiny minority whose leadership treads cautiously but courageously in seeking justice and peace. In the present crisis, the Archbishop, on behalf of all the Dioceses has said that our Companion Dioceses are and always have been in support of the people and currently wholeheartedly support the recent actions taken by they Buddhist monks in standing up to the government.
Those of us who have visited Burma know of the deep faith and hope that is in the lives of the people. We know of their works of care for the population in their provision of social services and education. We know of their requests to us for our prayers for peace with justice, for relief from suffering and injustice, and for unity and reconciliation among all the peoples of Burma.