Chair’s Report

This has been an active and exciting year for the Fellowship including the settling in at our new base at St.James in Oxford. This and the search for additional staff have involved our Director, Chris Cole, in time and energy but with a satisfactory outcome.

We have been able to welcome two new members of staff with the appointment of Martha Beale as Education and Campaigns Officer and Miri Heatherwick as
International Projects Officer. Both have made a good start; Martha has already helped to set up a conference for young people and Miri has begun approaches to various potential sources for fund raising. Some initial grants have been sent to partners overseas. We thank Roger Payne for his work as our Finance Officer; his tasks have increased with the new staff and the appointment of an Auditor. In order to assist with the extra work load we have recently appointed Margaret Patton as Administrator.

We have also experienced a crisis situation in this year as one of our Trustees, Norman Kember, was taken hostage in Iraq on November 26, together with his companions in a Christian Peacemaker Team. Regular vigils of prayer were held in London and various places across the country. A special vigil was held in Trafalgar Square to mark 100 days since the team were seized. Our prayers were answered after 118 days when Norman was released along with James Loney and Harmeet Sooden. To our great sadness, Tom Fox, the fourth
hostage had been found murdered. We were especially encouraged by the breadth of support from all Christian denominations and many Faiths, and especially appreciate the appeals for release made by Muslim leaders. We assure Norman and Pat Kember of our continuing prayers and support as they recover from the ordeal.

We give thanks for all that has been achieved in the Eirene Centre but after consultation we are proceeding with its sale with a view to purchasing a new centre in a more accessible place, providing at least an office, space for library, resources and a meeting room. This process may take a long time and the purchase is dependent on the sale.

We thank Chris Cole, our Director, together with Martha, Miri, and Roger, for all their work during the year and look forward to Margaret’s contribution to the team. We express our thanks to members and supporters for all their gifts and voluntary work which help to make possible our peace witness and a special word of thanks for the generous legacies which have enabled us to plan boldly for our developing programme.

I express my thanks to the Trustees for their enthusiasm and involvement in many ways. Our commitment is to work for justice and peace inspired by the example of Jesus Christ and as an expression of our faith in God. In these times of conflict, of invasions, wars and threats of war, of terrorist activity and widespread injustice and oppression, our witness is needed as much as
any time before.

To make our witness effectively we need not only dedicated staff but a supportive membership in word and action. To this end we shall engage in a programme of education and outreach, seeking to increase our membership especially amongst younger people so that the work can be continued in the years ahead. In this endeavour we ask for your continuing
encouragement and support.

Rev. John Johansen-Berg, Chair