Norman Kember given standing ovation at 2006 Baptist Assembly
-12/05/06
The 2006 Briti
Norman Kember given standing ovation at 2006 Baptist Assembly
-12/05/06
The 2006 British Baptist Assembly has given a special reception to Christian peacemaker Norman Kember, who was freed in March after four months captivity in Iraq.
Dr Kemberís wife Pat and the minister of their church, Harrow Baptist, the Rev Bob Gardiner were also on the platform.
It was a touching moment, according to the Baptist Times Newspaper, and the Kembers were greeted with a standing ovation as they reached the stage.
ìI feel embarrassed because Iíve achieved fame not for something I have done but because of a mistakeîí said Mr Kember in a short address.
He added: ìMy misfortune has resulted in many wonderful things, in many people getting together and an opportunity for everybody to talk about the true meaning of Christian Peacemaking.î
All three paid tribute to the support and prayers of the Baptist denomination and beyond during Mr Kemberís captivity.
ìWe discovered what it is to be in this family,î said Mr Gardiner. ìI know that there are times when we in Baptist churches feel that we are independent churches, but let me say that we are also inter-dependent Baptist churches.î
Dr Kember has been the subject of considerable criticism since he was freed by SAS soldiers in an operation which turned out to be non-violent. He has said publicly that it was a mistake for his small delegation to go to a remote mosque, but has affirmed the importance of CPTís work.
This was the first major incident confronting the Christian pacemakers since their arrival in the country in October 2002, six months before the US-led invasion.
Dr Kember was wrongly accused of lack of gratitude, and the work of Christian Peacemaker Teams ñ which has brought Sunnis and Shias together, exposed prisoner abuse, and counteracted Muslim images of ëcrusaderí Christianity ñ has been exposed to much criticism, a good deal of it ill-informed say supporters.
Norman Kember given standing ovation at 2006 Baptist Assembly
-12/05/06
The 2006 British Baptist Assembly has given a special reception to Christian peacemaker Norman Kember, who was freed in March after four months captivity in Iraq.
Dr Kemberís wife Pat and the minister of their church, Harrow Baptist, the Rev Bob Gardiner were also on the platform.
It was a touching moment, according to the Baptist Times Newspaper, and the Kembers were greeted with a standing ovation as they reached the stage.
ìI feel embarrassed because Iíve achieved fame not for something I have done but because of a mistakeîí said Mr Kember in a short address.
He added: ìMy misfortune has resulted in many wonderful things, in many people getting together and an opportunity for everybody to talk about the true meaning of Christian Peacemaking.î
All three paid tribute to the support and prayers of the Baptist denomination and beyond during Mr Kemberís captivity.
ìWe discovered what it is to be in this family,î said Mr Gardiner. ìI know that there are times when we in Baptist churches feel that we are independent churches, but let me say that we are also inter-dependent Baptist churches.î
Dr Kember has been the subject of considerable criticism since he was freed by SAS soldiers in an operation which turned out to be non-violent. He has said publicly that it was a mistake for his small delegation to go to a remote mosque, but has affirmed the importance of CPTís work.
This was the first major incident confronting the Christian pacemakers since their arrival in the country in October 2002, six months before the US-led invasion.
Dr Kember was wrongly accused of lack of gratitude, and the work of Christian Peacemaker Teams ñ which has brought Sunnis and Shias together, exposed prisoner abuse, and counteracted Muslim images of ëcrusaderí Christianity ñ has been exposed to much criticism, a good deal of it ill-informed say supporters.