Indaba process leads to deeper understanding for local Anglicans; New Anglican bishop vows to tackle corruption; Australian Bishops urge persistence on gambling reforms; Anglicans publish their manifesto to fight for environmental justice;Young Anglican Women Scholars meet in Canterbury;US & Canadian 5 year $10.8 million Health Care Program for Africa starts; Commission to Communion: “Tell us your views on next Archbishop of Canterbury’s ministry”; Bishops from Africa, U.S., Canada coming to Toronto
Commission to Communion: “Tell us your views on next Archbishop of Canterbury’s ministry”
ACNS – Members of the Anglican Communion around the world are, for the first time in history, being invited to share their views on the ministry of the next Archbishop of Canterbury. The Crown Nominations Commission of the Church of England—the body that nominates the next Archbishop of Canterbury—traditionally asks for the views of all Primates and Provincial Secretaries of the 38 Provinces of the Anglican Communion. On this occasion, however, not only has a Primate been invited to join the Commission, but a letter has also been sent to Provinces to be read in Anglican Communion churches inviting everyone to share their thoughts about the ministry of the next Archbishop.
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/news.cfm/2012/4/2/ACNS5081
Bishops from Africa, U.S., Canada coming to Toronto
ACNS – This June, close to 20 bishops from Africa, the United States and Canada will converge on Toronto to engage in building better relationships between national churches.
They are part of a gathering called the Consultation of Anglican Bishops in Dialogue, a rather fluid group that had its origins in the 2008 Lambeth Conference.
At the time, there were tensions between the churches over same-sex relationships, and Archbishop Colin Johnson hosted a fringe event for some African and Canadian bishops that focused on mission in a post-colonial world.
From that meeting, relationships between the bishops began to build and more meetings were held in London in 2010 and Dar es Salaam last year.
The Toronto meeting will be the third for the consultation. Attending the gathering will be 12 bishops from the African dioceses of Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, South Africa, Ghana and Sudan. Their number will include the primate of Burundi, Archbishop Bernard Ntahoturi, and the primate of Central Africa, Archbishop Albert Chama.
http://www.aco.org/acns/digest/index.cfm/2012/4/4/Bishops-from-Africa-US-Canada-coming-to-Toronto
Young Anglican Women Scholars meet in Canterbury
ACNS – Emergent Anglican women scholars from the majority world and indigenous women studying theology gathered on March 26 at the International Study Centre at Canterbury Cathedral for a week-long program of mentoring and strategising with the leaders of the Global Anglican Theological Academy (GATA). The unacceptably low numbers of women of any age in leadership roles in theological education and in representative roles across the Commissions and official bodies of the Anglican Communion has long been of concern to the founders of GATA. GATA seeks to nurture an increasing pool of highly qualified younger women from the majority world who are capable of taking their places as leaders of educational institutions and in representative bodies in the Anglican Communion by developing an intentional and focused program of professional mentoring and forming a new community of intellectual theological discourse among the participants.
http://www.aco.org/acns/news.cfm/2012/4/2/ACNS5080
Anglicans publish their manifesto to fight for environmental justice
ACNS – Believing that “creation is in crisis” the Anglican Communion’s Environment Network (ACEN) has published a manifesto committing its members to taking concrete steps in support of Anglican efforts to achieve environmental justice.
At its meeting in Lima, Peru, Provincial representatives from 15 different countries reported accelerating impacts from human-induced climate change and environmental degradation in their regions. Many participants also reported extensive ignorance of the extent of the problem and, in some cases, unwillingness to take action.
In their subsequent publication Crisis and Commitment the group wrote: “Together we discerned an urgent calling to seek environmental justice and to encourage Anglicans everywhere to challenge and transform individuals and systems that spoil the earth, affect local communities adversely, and refuse to imagine a different kind of global community.
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/news.cfm/2012/3/30/ACNS5079
Indaba process leads to deeper understanding for local Anglicans
Diocese of Toronto/ ACNS – Anglicans from the Diocese of Toronto who participated in the Anglican Communion’s one-year indaba process believe it can have a transforming effect upon the church if it is used more broadly.
The indaba process, established by the Anglican Communion office as a pilot project, invited four groups of dioceses from around the world to meet together over the period of a year. They were asked to listen deeply to each other, understand why and how decisions are made, and through this process learn how to build community—or communion—despite differences.
The Diocese of Toronto participated with Jamaica and Hong Kong in three eight-day meetings that took place in Toronto in May, 2011, Hong Kong last September and Jamaica this February. There were three topics for discussion: social justice and advocacy, youth alienation and homosexuality. An important part of the meetings was immersion in the life of the host diocese, so that participants could understand the context for decision-making.
Academics attended the meetings, and at the conclusion of the process, conducted in-depth evaluations with participants. These findings, which will appear in an academic paper, will determine how the Anglican Communion proceeds from this point.
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/news.cfm/2012/3/30/ACNS5077
Australian Bishops urge persistence on gambling reforms
Australia/ACNS – Australia’s Anglican bishops, meeting in Melbourne last month, have urged the Federal Government to persist with reforms to help problem gamblers and their families.
The bishops, who met at St Peter’s Eastern Hill, affirmed their support for the introduction of $1 maximum bets to limit losses to about $120 an hour per person, about 10% of the losses possible on the existing high-impact machines; setting limits on Automatic Telling Machine withdrawals in gambling venues; greater restrictions on online gambling; and restrictions on public advertising of betting, at sports venues, on television and in other places where young people could be socialised into a gambling culture.
The Primate, Archbishop Phillip Aspinall of Brisbane, said in a statement on behalf of the bishops that the evidence from the Productivity Commission Report on Gambling in June 2010 was clear that poker machine problem gamblers accounted for about 40% of total poker machine spending.
“The bishops recognised that problems of addiction in Australia are much wider than the abuse of poker machines, but we were also confronted by the fact that around 95,000 people are addicted to the machines and each lose, on average, around $21,000 per year,” Dr Aspinall said. “For this reason, there was strong support for current proposals for a $1 limit on poker machine bids.
New Anglican bishop vows to tackle corruption
West Indies/ACNS – Newly elected Anglican bishop of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, the Rt Rev Dr Howard Gregory, never had his eyes set on the top position but has gladly accepted the opportunity to serve the people of the diocese.
Gregory has come to the office with a strong agenda in bringing the church forward and addressing some national issues which have been affecting the country’s development.
The 61-year-old was chosen as the 14th bishop last week after a day-long deliberation at a special synod held at St Luke’s Church Hall, Cross Roads.
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/digest/index.cfm/2012/4/2/New-Anglican-bishop-vows-to-tackle-corruption
Anglicans manifesto for environmental justice
ACNS – Believing that “creation is in crisis” the Anglican Communion’s Environment Network (ACEN) has published a manifesto committing its members to taking concrete steps in support of Anglican efforts to achieve environmental justice. At its meeting in Lima, Peru, Provincial representatives from 15 different countries reported accelerating impacts from human-induced climate change and environmental degradation in their regions. Many participants also reported extensive ignorance of the extent of the problem and, in some cases, unwillingness to take action. Released this week,Crisis and Commitment: Final Report, Lima Statement and ActionPlan contains not only an action plan, but also informative and wide-ranging samples of what Anglicans are already doing to address environmental damage and the issue of climate justice. It also contains reflections on the Sabbath as a theological narrative with the capacity to change the behaviour and life style of people of faith, and on what kinds of eco-justice ministry ACEN should be doing and encouraging within the Anglican Communion. In Crisis and Commitment the group wrote: “Together we discerned an urgent calling to seek environmental justice and to encourage Anglicans everywhere to challenge and transform individuals and systems that spoil the earth, affect local communities adversely, and refuse to imagine a different kind of global community.”
For news and information about ACEN see http://acen.anglicancommunion.org.
US & Canadian 5 year $10.8 million Health Care Program for Africa starts
The US Primate’s World Development & Development Fund (PWRDF) has announced a new joint program with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). PWRDF will contribute $2.7 million dollars over five years towards the $10.8 million dollar project that will focus on maternal and child health in 59 villages in Burundi, Mozambique, and Tanzania.
“Through this joint program PWRDF will continue with African partners the work already accomplished with CIDA funding in 2009-2011. The five-year CIDA commitment will allow space and time to build the kind of impact needed for healthier, sustainable communities. With the help of Anglicans across Canada, PWRDF has committed itself to putting half a million dollars a year into this program, knowing that provincial governments in the three countries have acknowledged the value of our partners’ work and want it extended. We also expect PWRDF/CIDA partners will have much to share about development effectiveness and best practices within the Anglican Communion through the capacity-building work of the Anglican Alliance: Relief, Development, Advocacy. This is an exciting opportunity.”
The program will reach about 1.5 million people through awareness-raising about health issues and nutrition, working with local governments to address cultural practices that negatively impact women’s health and participation, and ensuring better access to health care for pregnant women, mothers, and children. 1690 community health workers, HIV and AIDS educators and caregivers will be trained in the villages. 100 bicycle ambulances will help remote villagers to reach clinics and hospitals, and new clinics will be built where they are most needed.
70% of the people in the 59 villages do not have easy access to clean water or regular access to enough food. Farmers will improve their skills and wells will be dug or rehabilitated to increase access to nutritious food and clean water throughout the targeted areas. Model farms will be created to assist in improving agricultural techniques.
PWRDF is proud of its 40 year working relationship with CIDA, and looks forward to continuing to work together with partners including the Anglican Diocese of Bujumbura in Burundi, the Anglican Diocese of Masasi in Tanzania, and the Association of Community Health (EHALE) in Mozambique to improve the lives of mothers and children throughout the region.
http://pwrdf.org/2012/pwrdf-and-cida-begin-5-year-10-8-million-health-care-program/