This year was the most exciting & interesting synod for some time (it must be admitted that I could not go last year, because of having my varicose veins stripped, but even so....)

Our first problem was to sort out what should be done about the post of the Archdeacon: Anthony Wells had been very active in this role for a number of years, but was finding the work too extensive and the pressure too great. He felt he had given as much as he could & considered he was neglecting his own parish (St Michael's, Paris) on this account - although he has coped splendidly up till now. Fatigue was becoming an urgent problem. Should this position be full-time? Could we afford a separate person, in that case? No final decision was made, but the Rev Canon Ken Letts (ask a busy man) is now the temporary acting Archdeacon.

Secondly, we had a most inspiring speaker, Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, of Barnabbas Fund, who talked to us a great length about the beliefs and practices of the religion of Islam, with a view to helping Christians share their faith with Muslim friends and neighbours.

Dr Sookhdeo was brought up in a strict Muslim family in Guyana. It was not until he left home for university that he learnt to know the Lord; when he explained to his dearly loved mother, she was so shocked he had to leave the comfort of his family. This led to much suffering, which he gladly bore - he is now Director of the Institute for the Study of Islam and Christianity, specialising in the status of Christian minorities in the Muslim world.

The Qur'an, the dictated word of Allah, is not written in chronological order: the longest chapters come first, followed by the shorter ones, in diminishing order. This with traditional mores, form the basis of Islamic law; punishment for disobeying is very severe: amputation for theft, stoning for adultery. Forgiveness does no seem to be writ large.

According to the law, a man may easily divorce his wife: he only has to say "I divorce you", three times before a witness - however it is extremely difficult for a woman to divorce her husband. The witness of a woman has only half the value of a man's.

He told us that this law, the Shariah, decrees that an adult apostate Muslim male must be killed and he knows there is a price on his head; he told us that all the same he will continue lecturing and preaching until the Lord sees fit to take him.

Jesus is considered an important prophet, but accepting Him as the son of God is the worst form of (unforgivable) blasphemy, because Allah is one and there is no other God but Allah.

We should tread very warily when discussing our faith with Muslim friends, ignorance may be construed as a terrible insult. I have the book " Christian's Pocket Guide to Islam" - it is quite short and very well worth reading.

PS The "happy ending" is that later on Dr Sookhdeo's mother also converted.

Alison Coulavin.