Churches Support Moment of Silence across Europe for Asian Tsunami Victims

A moment of mourning for the victims of the Asian tsunami started on 5th January. Millions of people in all member states of the European Union observed a three-minute silence at 12:00 (GMT). Prayers were said at churches, cathedrals and other places of worship throughout Europe to support the initiative.

The three-minute silence was suggested by the Luxembourg EU presidency last week.

In the UK, a spokesman for the Church of England responded, "This is a time for people to express, in the quiet of their own heart, their own feelings and their own grief about what has been a cataclysm."

The General Secretary of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), Rev. Dr Keith Clements, stated his support for the moment of silence, "CEC is pleased to hear that many European churches are joining in the public action of remembrance for the victims of the tsunami disaster."

Previously, CEC had written a letter to the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) on 30th December, in which it declared its commitment, "We in the European churches, however, are deeply aware that it is the people of Asia themselves who are not only the primary bearers of the losses here and now, but who in the longer term will face the daunting burden of rebuilding devastated communities and whole societies. We therefore hope, and commit ourselves to work for a continuing long-term response of the European countries to the task of rebuilding the shattered communities."

Just as the head of Anglican Church worldwide, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams has suggested, Rev Clements acknowledged that the terrible results of the tsunami earthquake disaster can be a challenge of faith to many believers.

Responding to this crisis, Rev Clements reminded Christians the humble image of Christ who came as a true light shinning in the darkness of the world and that is the only hope people awaiting in patience.

"Many will now be asking ‘Where is your God?’ We have no answer as Christians to give, other than the manger of Bethlehem and the cross of Calvary, where the God whom we worship is revealed as vulnerable, suffering, self-giving love and precisely as such is the eternal and unconquerable one, the light shining in the darkness which the darkness will never overcome. Perhaps as never before, the words of the Hebrew prophet speak to us with new meaning, ‘The coastlands wait for me, and for my arm they hope’ (Isaiah 51.5)."