Meeting at Supreme Court Spotlights Commitment

to Minority Rights in Pakistan

A delegation of Church and Community Leaders in the leadership of The Most Rev Dr Azad Marshall, Moderator/President Bishop Church of Pakistan and Bishop of Raiwind and President National Council of Churches in Pakistan (NCCP) in partnership with The Implementation Minority Rights Forum (IMRF), convened a momentous meeting with the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Pakistan on March 5, 2024.

 

The diverse delegation, meticulously curated to represent various perspectives, included The Most Rev Dr Azad Marshall, Moderator Bishop Church of Pakistan, Mr. Samuel Payara, Chairman of the Implementation Minorities Rights Forum, Mr Emmanuel Pervaiz, Advisor to Chairman IMRF, Mrs Michelle Samuel, Mr Shazar Shoukat, Rev Shahzad Gill, Senior Chaplain to Moderator Bishop, Father Khalid Mukhtar, Parish Priest Jarranwala, Father Abid Tanveer, Vicar General, Faisalabad Diocese and Mr Pervaiz Masih.

 

In a symbolic gesture, the delegation presented an ancient relic, a copy of the Holy Bible, King James version, dating back to 1611 — and a replica of the cross of Saint Thomas, which was found in Taxila by a farmer and was adopted by Church of Pakistan at the time of its Union in 1970. These artifacts, steeped in religious and historical significance, served as a testament to centuries of faith and the enduring legacy of Saint Thomas’s impact on Pakistan’s cultural tapestry.

 

Acknowledging the importance of these artifacts, the Registrar graciously accepted them, recognizing their historical and cultural value. Subsequently, they were enshrined within the Supreme Court Museum, serving as enduring symbols of unity, diversity, and the sacred principle of minority rights.

 

This meeting underscores the commitment of the Implementation Minority Rights Forum and its delegation to fostering inclusivity, understanding, and respect for religious diversity within Pakistani society.

 

 

 

The Most Rev Dr Azad Marshall, Moderator/President Bishop Chruch of Pakistan and Bishop of Raiwind 

The Most Rev Dr. Azad Marshall is currently serving as the Moderator Bishop of the Church of Pakistan. Earlier, Bishop Marshall was the sixth Bishop of the Anglican Church in the Islamic Republic of Iran, a Diocese of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem, and the Middle East in the Anglican Communion, since 2007. Bishop Marshall was educated at the University of Punjab, in Pakistan. He studied at the Ramsey House Theological College in Cambridge, England. He holds a Master of Divinity Degree from Gujranwala Theological Seminary in Pakistan and a Master of Theology Degree from the London School of Theology.

Nashotah House conferred upon Bishop Azad Marshall the degree of Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa. In 1976, Bishop Marshall served with the "Send the Light Trust" in Iran and then served on two ships as part of their International team for promoting "Good books" and providing humanitarian aid around the world.

In 1980, he founded Church Foundation Seminars, a Church-related teaching and training ministry to strengthen pastors and leaders. in 1985, he founded the Institute for Basic Adult Development and Training, a literacy and vocational training program. At present it operates 250 Centers to bring about more than 100,000 students. Bishop Azad also founded the Prince of Peace Library and Center to bring about reconciliation among the Christian and Muslim communities of Shanti Nagar, Pakistan, and to promote peace.

Ordained as a Deacon in 1987 and a Presbyter in 1988, in the Church of Pakistan, Marshall served as the Vicar of St. Andrew's Church, Lahore. In 1994 he was consecrated Bishop by the Church of Pakistan to serve the Urdu-speaking congregations in the Gulf States. The following year he was made an Associate Bishop in the Province of the Middle East.

In 2003, Bishop Azad was appointed Vicar General in the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East to have Episcopal oversight of the Church in Iran. In 2007, he was appointed as Sixth Bishop in Iran and, in 2009, he was also made Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf for Urdu-speaking Congregations. That same year he was elected as a member of the Standing Committee of the Anglican Consultative Council and also President of the National Council of Churches in Pakistan. On 8 January 2016. Bishop Azad was elected Coadjutor Bishop of Raiwind Diocese, at the Church of Pakistan. He was enthroned as Bishop of Raiwind on 20 August 2017. In the 16th Triennial Meeting of the Church of Pakistan Synod, held on 14 May 2021, Azad Marshall was elected as the Moderator Bishop, a position in United Protestant Churches held by a bishop who oversees a denomination. Bishop Azad Marshall is married to Mrs. Lesley Marshall, who directs a ministry to underprivileged women in Pakistan. They have two children.

 

 

 

 

 

The Most Rev and Rt Hon'ble Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterury's Visit to Pakistan 

The Church of Pakistan is a Protestant Christian Denomination that was formed in 1970 as a result of a Union between various Protestant Denominations in Pakistan. It is a member of the Anglican Communion, Methodist World Council, World Council of Churches and World Communion of Reformed Churches. 

The Church of Pakistan was established with the merger of The Anglican Church, The Methodist Church in Pakistan, The Lutheren Church and The United Presbyterian Church in Pakistan. The Union aimed to promote unity among Protestant Christians in Pakistan an foster cooperation in worship, mission and service.

The Synod is the supreme legislative body of the Church of Pakistan. The Church of Pakistan is goverened by the Synod which is authorized by the Constitution of the Church of Pakistan. At the time of the Union all the Churches agreed and went into a Covenant of union which was decided to be irrevokable. 

The Synod, Church of Pakistan meets every three years as mentioned in the Constitution of The Church of Pakistan and elects its Moderator, Deputy Moderator, Secretary and Treasurer. It also consitutes an Executive Committee of The Synod Church of Pakistan. 

The current Moderator/President Bishop of The Church of Pakistan is The Most Rev. Dr. Azad Marshall who was unnanimoulsy elected. The Deputy Moderator of The Synod, Church of Pakistan is Bishop Kaleem John who is the Bishop of Hyderabad Diocese. The Secretary of The Synod, Church of Pakistan is Mr. Shahzad Khurram from the Diocese of Sialkot. The Treasurer of The Synod Church of Pakistan is Mrs. Honey Sadaf from the Diocese of Multan. 

The Church of Pakistan has its central office based in Lahore which is named as The Coordinating Office, Church of Pakistan. The Coordinating Office acts as an important organ of The Church of Pakistan. The Coordinating Office is headed by The Moderator, Church of Pakistan. In collaboration with national and international organizations, The Coordinating Office focuses on different aspects of mission and service.

 

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