Dean Samy Fawzy Shehata, center, presides at a Palm Sunday service at All Saints’, Stanley Bay, Alexandria • Diocese of Egypt |
Adapted from Gavin Drake, ACNS
The dean of St. Mark’s Pro-Cathedral in Alexandria, Egypt, has joined the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Task Group, set up in response to the Primates Gathering and Meeting in January.
The Very Rev. Canon Samy Fawzy Shehata, who is also the principal of the Alexandria School of Theology, replaces the Moderator of the Church of South India, the Rt. Rev. Govada Dyvasirvadam. The task group, which the primates asked Archbishop Justin Welby to organize, is charged with restoring relationships, rebuilding mutual trust, healing the legacy of hurt, and exploring deep differences that exist within the Anglican Communion.
The group held its first meeting at the Anglican Communion Office in September, and agreed to meet in person annually, supplemented by video conferences.
The other members of the task group are:
- The Most Rev. Richard Clarke, Church of Ireland
- The Most Rev. Michael Curry, Episcopal Church
- The Most Rev. Ian Ernest, Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean
- The Most Rev. Philip Freier, Anglican Church of Australia
- The Most Rev. Ng Moon Hing, Province of South East Asia
- The Rev. Canon Rosemary Mbogo, Anglican Church of Kenya
- The Rt. Rev. Linda Nicholls, Anglican Church of Canada
- Canon Elizabeth Paver, Church of England
- The Rt. Rev. Paul Sarker, Church of Bangladesh
“I am delighted that Dr. Shehata has accepted the invitation to join the Task Group,” said the Most Rev. Josiah Idowu-Fearon, secretary general of the Anglican Communion and the group’s secretary. “His experience and insight make him a valuable addition to the group. I look forward to him joining our discussions in the new year.”
