Set in a garden-like enclosure in a rough section of Tunis sits a really beautiful Anglican Church ”“ St. George’s. Some of the people buried in its cemetery died more than 250 years ago, and its congregation today numbers around 300.
But don’t think this is some colonial outpost where English-speaking ex-pats sip tea or sherry after Matins. This is a vibrant congregation of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, many of whom are Arab-speaking or come from Sub-Sahara Africa. The Arab-speakers are converts ”“ mainly young. The Africans are bank workers from nations far to the South. Services are in both English and Arabic.
On a recent visit to Charleston Archbishop Mouneer Anis waxed eloquent about his vision, and that of the people of this lonely outpost in the middle of Muslim North Africa. They are dreaming of a vibrant center of theology, community outreach and hospitality rising in the very land that produced St. Augustine in the 4th and 5th Century.
While living in Tunis, I worshiped at St George’s. Its stained glass windows illustrate the rich christian heritatge in the region (Carthage is a mere 20 miles away) honoring St. Augustine and Cyprian as well as Perpetua and Felecia.
The two things that i would guard against are: 1) creating a “church” in the image of the Western church as opposed to the natural expression of the local peoples; and 2) creating a dependency on forieign resources for local christians– this has harmed many a poeple .. even with the best of attention.
But I am so greatful to see such attention drawn to the beautiful people and history of Tunisia … most of it out side the walls of St. George’s Church.