by Lynn Cox

The Bishop of Rochester, Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, is stepping down to devote the rest of his life to work with Christians in Islamic areas.

The bishop, 59, who is one of the Church of England's most outspoken bishops, will leave in September after almost 15 years in the post.

He is hoping to work with a number of church leaders from areas which are under pressure and intends to use his expertise as an Islamic scholar to work in Pakistan where he was born and in the Middle East to build bridges between Christians and Muslims.

Bishop Michael, who will be 60 in August, is the 106th Bishop of Rochester.
He was the first non-white Diocesan Bishop in the Church of England. He was appointed to Rochester in 1994.

The Dean of Rochester, the Very Revd Adrian Newman, said: "Bishop Michael has exercised an influential and high profile ministry within and well beyond the Diocese of Rochester.

"His passion for making Christ known is matched only by his ability to communicate across cultural divisions, and this has opened doors of influence that he has always been courageous enough to walk through, often at personal cost. It has been a privilege to serve alongside him."

Bishop Michael's farewell service for the Diocese will be held at Rochester Cathedral on Saturday, September 12.

Bishop Michael said: "We thank God for his blessings and for friends we have made in the Diocese in the past 15 years."