Canon Paul Oestreicher, International Consultant at Coventry Cathedral, will be going to Belgrade for a month, 16 July – 12 August, to be the minister at the Anglican Church there.

Belgrade has not had an Anglican minister in residence for more than two years and Paul is going at the invitation of the Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe, the Right Reverend John Hind. An advance party has already gone to Belgrade to prepare for Paul’s arrival. The English-speaking community in Belgrade is of all nationalities.

Paul will be travelling to Serbia on his New Zealand passport, so as not to have NATO connections. He will be travelling as widely as possible throughout Serbia, talking to as many people as he can, beginning to heal the psychological and spiritual damage caused by the recent war. He will also be talking to the local church leaders in Serbia.

Paul will be reporting back to Christian Aid and other aid agencies about the damage that has been sustained in Serbia and what is needed. It may be possible for the Cathedral Community or others in Coventry, to provide for smaller needs, and Paul will be collecting as many contact names as possible in order for this to happen.

Paul will not be going into Kososvo, as he realises that reconciliation with Serbia will be a long process. He is also aware of the dangers of visiting, and that he might find himself in the midst of civil war.