A Church of England bishop is leaving his role in the Diocese of Manchester to take up an important position in the development of Christianity in the Middle East.
The church leader from Southampton, the Rt Rev Michael Lewis, will work with communities in the predominantly Muslim region and surrounding countries.
Bishop Lewis will be based in the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf, and as part of his duties he will be responsible for churches in Iraq where previous church leaders have had to leave due to terrorist threats.
Commenting on his new role, Bishop Lewis said: "Being the Bishop of Cyprus and the Gulf is a unique challenge. It will be a fascinating and humbling ministry covering a part of world where the great questions of our day are focussed.
"It will combine caring for the many people who work in the gulf; those who are in vulnerable situations and those who value the presence of the church," he said according to the This is Hampshire publication.
Bishop Lewis was ordained as Bishop of Middleton in the Diocese of Manchester eight years ago. Having worked in ethnically-diverse Manchester, the Bishop said he was looking forward to working with different cultures and faiths in his new post.
He said, "The role not only includes travelling to Christian communities, but also talking and getting to know the politics of the region. I greatly look forward to carrying on my interest with other faiths, particularly Islam. I also look forward to working with the Eastern Orthodox Church."
The Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf is one of four dioceses in the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East. Bishop Lewis will start his new role in November.
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