7/9/06 2 pages 798 words

Interview of Bishop Alexander by Vivienne Stacey

Interview of Mrs Shamim Malik by Vivienne Stacey

al-mushir Vol. Xx11 Autumn 1980 No. 3 News from the Country. The Christian Community pp. 133-
137.
Hove Vol. XX11 Autumn 1980 No. 3 News from the Country
The Christian Community p. 133 Death of Bishop Inayat Masih. Pp. 133-137
22 Sept Rev Alexander John Malik was elected Bp of Lahore. Consecration and enthronement held on 12
October 1980 in the Cathedral of the Resurrection,
Lahore. The service was conducted by all the Bishops of the Church of Pakistan.
Well attended by many Christians, government officials, clergy and reps of foreign missions. The
ceremony was mostly in Urdu. In his address Bishoip Alexander emphasized that he wanted to be a
pastor and a humble servant. He asked for co-operation and stressed that clergy and laymen are called to
serve together. In his prayer he did not forget the world and prayed for Iraq and Afghanistan in particular.
Alexander Malik, born in Martinpur in Sheikhupura District, in 1943, graduated from Gordon College,
Rawalpindi. He studied theology in Calcutta and earned a BD from Serampore University, India. He was
ordained deacon in 1967 by the 6th Bishop of Lahore, the Rt. Rev. L. Woolmer. Two years later
he was transferred to Christ Church, Rawalpindi, his mother parish. In September 1970 Bishop Inayat
Masih seconded him to The Christian Study Centre as a research scholar specializing in Islamics. After a
year the Study Centre recommended him for higher studies and he was admitted in McGill University,
Canada. There he secured an MA in Comparative Religions. On returning to Pakistan he served as vicar
and chaplain at Christ Church, Rawalpindi, as well as chairman of the Rawalpindi region of Lahore
Diocese. He is well-known in, and outside Pakistan, and has wide ecumenical experience.
p. 134. Bishop Alexander Malik interviewed by J D Kraan.
Q. Generally speaking, what is the task of a bishop?
A. pastoral supervision.
Q. how do you want to give a cocrete form to this pastoral task?
A. I want to keep the Cathedral under my own charge, as vicar. In this way there will be one particular
parish that I will be looking after as pastor. The normal daily work first. As a bishop there is the danger of
becoming an executive. I want to be a pastor in my own parish, and as a bishop looking after other pastor
work in other parishes as well. My major concern is just to do the work of a normal pastor, besides that as
a bishop to look after schools, hospitals and to promote community-development.
Q. Do you have specific plans for community-development?
A. Yes. At present we have a diocesan office but no special secretary to develop policy or see that the
schools are properly run, co-ordinate their programmes etc. 8 or 9 schools in the diocese. A co-ordinator
could make plans,and also pay attention to a community-uplift programme. The programme would have
an urban are and a rural one.. Children should learn trades, go to technical schools like the CTTC in
Gujranwala. Perhaps we have to open new schools. We also need a department for religious education to
look after youth fellowships, Aunday schools and theological training for ordinands.
Q. How many students in your diocese study theology and where do they go?
A. Very few in the past, some now. They like to go abroad but it will be \easier to find scholarships if they
do their basic theol ed here in Karachi if they are grads and their understanding of English is good
enough; otherwise Guj.
Q. Role of laymen? How can you involve those who never had the opportunity to learn anything?
A. Team-ministry very necessary. In the city laymen are often far more educated than the pastors; in the
rural area the pastor may be the only educated man. In the city people for community-development can be
recruited.
Q. How can you involve illiterates?
A. In the finance committee, the parish council, doing everything from building to running Sunday
schools to helping the pastor.
Q. Plans for special lay training?
A. Co-operative farming; use of a communal tractor. Buffalo project for those without land. Carpet-
making.
Educated clergy do not want to go to the villages. Illage pastors paid very little – plan to have a uniform
scale.
Not enough theological literature in Urdu.
Q. Is theological dialogue between Muslims and Christians possible?
A. Yes, through parish work, articles, radio, TV.
Q. What about service and the world?
A. God is the God of history. Salvation cannot be confined to the individual.
Q. The Church of Pakistan and the 4 new dioceses?

Interview of Bishop Alexander by Vivienne Stacey

Interview of Mrs Shamim Malik by Vivienne Stacey