Document
Rt Rev. Samuel Azariah
Moderator
Church of Pakistan
Geneva, 28 November 2008
Dear Bishop Azariah,
Greetings from the World Council of Churches.
It is with great delight that I received the news that the Church of Pakistan has elected you as its new moderator. I take this opportunity to convey our heartfelt congratulations to you and wish you God's richest blessings as you assume your new responsibility as the moderator of the Church of Pakistan.
Your rich experience in the national, regional and international ecumenical arenas - NCC Pakistan, the Christian Conference of Asia and the World Council of Churches - as well as your many other ecclesiastical engagements and ministries at the national and global levels will be added advantages as you assume your new tasks. As a valuable member of the Executive and Central Committees of the World Council of Churches, I am particularly happy that you will now be in a much better position to ensure wider participation and support of the Church of Pakistan in the life and witness of the World Council of Churches in the coming years.
With the difficult situations that your country and people are facing at this time, I know that great responsibilities and challenges will be ahead of you while you lead and guide the Church of Pakistan during your tenure as its moderator. My confidence is that God's abundant grace will sustain and strengthen you to be Christ's ambassador through "making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3).
Once again, I congratulate you and wish you every success in your new role. I pray to the Almighty that he bestow abundant mercy and blessings upon you and the Church of Pakistan, enabling you and your leadership to continue to be His witness and accomplish the mission of the church.
Yours in His Service,
Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia
WCC general secretary
