Father Michael Harper, who died on January 6 aged 78, was for 30 years leader of the Charismatic movement in the Church of England, and his influence extended to many other parts of the world and to several other Churches.
He left the Anglican Church in 1995 however after its decision to ordain women priests. Received into the Antiochian Orthodox Church, he became Dean of its communities in the United Kingdom and Ireland and held the office of archpriest.
Harper embraced the Anglican evangelical tradition following an intense conversion experience while attending a service in the chapel of King’s College, Cambridge during his first undergraduate year at the university. He decided to seek Holy Orders, and spent six years as a curate at All Souls, Langham Place, in London’s West End; the rector there, John Stott, was leading the revival of evangelicalism in the Church of England.
Martha and I first met Michael Harper at the Church on Fire Conference in Singapore in 1990 where he taught with power. Later he came to Harare in Zimbabwe with his wife to lead us in charismatic teaching and ministry seminars at the Avondale Parish when David Bishop was rector. The article might have mentioned more specifically his role in founding SOMA, sharing of ministries abroad, which has spread the reality of Holy Spirit empowered ministry into many corners of the Anglican world and beyond. Harper’s story significantly counter balances the message of the book reviewed by George Conger posted earlier today on this blog.
Wow — this is such sad news. Michael Harper had a huge impact on my life. As the founder of Sharing of Ministries Abroad International in 1978, he led a ministry that has had global influence and changed countless lives through the power of the Holy Spirit. Recently at the Mere Anglicanism conference, Michael Nazir-Ali referred to the ministry of SOMA in his address to the gathering. When I joined the SOMA USA board in 1997 (under Brian Cox’s leadership) I had the honor of working with the Harpers from time to time. Michael and Jeanne will always be, for me, a symbol of God’s grace and love. Rest in peace. Well done, good and faithful servant.
One may view a video homily at a wedding by Fr. Michael Harper here:
http://www.antiochian-london.org/index.php
it is the second video there.
One may also read a most edifying homily for the Sunday after Theophany (Epiphany), reflecting on Fr. Michael’s death on the feast of Theophany: One Great Baptismal Font
http://www.antiochian-london.org/blog/?p=13
May Fr. Michael’s memory be eternal!
Fr. Yousuf Rassam