Rotary Club of Shrewsbury GUEST SPEAKER – Rev David Post
Rev David Post with Rotary Club of Shrewsbury President John Siviter and International Chair Paul Pascoe
At the Rotary Club of Shrewsbury’s International Night dinner on 30th September 2015 our speaker was Rev David Post. Life in contemporary Baghdad and the work at St. George’s, the only Anglican church in the country, was the focus of his illustrated talk. Rev. Post told the audience of Rotarians, family and friends about his visit to St. George’s, where he met its charismatic vicar, Canon Andrew White, who established the Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East. In a series of images and case studies, Rev. Post presented a picture of a society under constant threat of violence from insurgent forces. There was scarcely a photograph in the presentation that didn’t contain an image of an armed security guard. Even the congregation at St. George’s has to be brought in by coach, after being security checked before boarding and checked again after alighting. Canon White himself is now in exile, with a £90, 000 bounty on his head should he return. Rev. Post, however, stressed the positive work that continues at St. George’s. He showed photographs of individuals of all faiths and described the work they do in running the first class medical facilities at St. George’s, as well as bravely continuing to relieve the destitute throughout the city. The theme of the evening was encapsulated in the words of a Hamas leader who after talking with Canon White, said, “I came to meet an enemy, but left having met a friend.” The evening raised just over £750 for Canon White’s Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East.
Summary report by Rtn Paul Pascoe. More on online at: www.frrme.org