08073
January 30, 2008

Notes about people

by Jerry Van Marter
Presbyterian News Service

ATHENS — Archbishop Christodoulos, who during his almost 10 years as head of the (Orthodox) Church of Greece received Pope John Paul II for an historic visit and sparked controversy with several of his remarks, died Jan. 28 at the age of 69. He was diagnosed with cancer last June.

”He recognized the importance of the Church having a voice on issues which affect the whole of the European Continent and the importance of the Church’s voice being heard within the European institutions,” the general secretary of the Conference of European Churches, Archdeacon Colin Williams.

In 1998 Christodoulos became the youngest-ever Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, and as such head of the Church of Greece. Colleagues said he entered the post with a reputation for being a capable manager, instituting social work and religious education programs, and taking action to combat unemployment, drug abuse and the spread of HIV and AIDS.

In 2001, Christodoulos met Pope John Paul II when the pontiff became the first head of the Catholic Church to visit Greece in 1300 years. The archbishop later paid a reciprocal visit to Rome, meeting John Paul’s successor, Pope Benedict XVI.
 
The archbishop was involved in a number of controversies. In 2000, he opposed Greek government compliance with a European Commission directive to remove the stating of religion on official identity documents. In 2001, he said of the 9/11 attacks on the United States that the attackers had acted “out of despair caused by the injustices of the Great Powers,” sparking ire among those who saw the remarks as offering a justification for the terrorists. He was reported to have retracted the remarks five years later. In 2003, he said that Turkey should not be admitted to the European Union because Turks were “barbarians.”

The Rev. William Browne

HOUSTON — The Medical Benevolence Foundation (MBF) — a validated mission support group related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has announced the appointment of the Rev. William ("Will") Carlton Browne as executive director. 

The son of missionary parents and grandparents, Browne holds an M.Div. from Vanderbilit University Divinity School and a D.Min. from Princeton Theological Seminary. He has served the PC(USA) for 17 years as a pastor, six years as a presbytery executive and nine years on the staff of the former Worldwide Ministries Division in Louisville.

“A great part of what draws me is MBF’s commitment to the support of mission through the PC(USA) and with partners,” Brown said upon his appointment. “Healing was an important part of Jesus’ ministry and has always been a key element in our Presbyterian holistic understanding of the Gospel and of mission. I am eager to join so many others in helping keep this ministry a vital element in our proclamation of God’s love in Jesus Christ.”