Episcopalians becoming more engaged in Anglican Communion; Vacancy – Anglican post in Rome; Kenyan Anglican youth to mobilise a million voters; Archbishop of York on Zimbabwe: “Don’t Give Up Now”; Congolese churches issue a ‘cry of distress’ over war; Christian communicators support better radio service for indigenous people; Opposing gay marriage is not discrimination says Church leader; Evangelist Billy Graham Hospitalized
Episcopalians becoming more engaged in Anglican Communion
ENS – The world’s 80 million Anglicans are much more aware today than they were 10 years ago that they belong to a global communion, a realization that has led to a flourishing of international relationships between the Episcopal Church and other provinces, dioceses and individuals.
The Rev. Canon Kenneth Kearon, secretary general of the Anglican Communion, said that although he did not attend the 77th General Convention in Indianapolis, he is “more than heartened” by the passage of Resolution D008 that reaffirms the Episcopal Church’s commitment to building Anglican Communion partnerships.
Kearon said he also is “very impressed” with the extent to which the Episcopal Church has taken seriously the Anglican Covenant, a document that initially had been intended as a way to bind Anglicans globally across cultural and theological differences.
Through Resolution B005, the Episcopal Church declined to take a position on the Anglican Covenant at this time but committed to remaining a part of the process and to continuing to monitor the ongoing developments.
“What is surprising and very heartening is the extent to which even those opposed [to the covenant] are now talking about the communion in a different way,” Kearon said. “This has been a huge learning experience. People have learned in the process a lot about their identity and what the Anglican Communion is. Irrespective of the outcome, the experience of considering has been a very good learning experience for most Anglicans and has deepened their appreciation of what it is to be an Anglican.”
Of course, the election and ordination of Bishop Gene Robinson has been a key factor in shaping TEC’s current role in the Anglican Communion:
“One of the best things that has happened for the Episcopal Church with respect to our engagement in the Anglican Communion has been the election and ordination of Gene Robinson,” Diocese of Connecticut Bishop Ian Douglas told ENS in a recent interview.
Douglas said that for decades before 2003, if even two people turned up for a hearing on an Anglican Communion-related resolution at General Convention “we in the world mission committee felt like we were doing well … Then after 2003 and the Windsor Report … the hottest ticket in Columbus [at the 75th General Convention in 2006] was the open hearing on the Anglican Communion. More than 3,000 people attended and 92 witnesses testified. That’s a huge change.”
Douglas said that he also sees this change at the local level, in his own diocese, where every year an Anglican mission consultation draws 200 to 300 people from up to 50 parishes, “all of which enjoy direct partnerships in mission with dioceses, parishes, individuals around the Anglican Communion. That is facilitated by the greater awareness at the local level, which we didn’t have a decade ago, and the flatter, digital communication world … That’s all part of the great communion that God is bringing about and it’s the hallmark of the Episcopal Church’s response to the communion.”
Vacancy – Anglican post in Rome
The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Governors of the Anglican Centre in Rome wish to appoint a new Representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Holy See and Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome to succeed the Very Revd Canon David Richardson who is retiring after Easter 2013 after five years in the post.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams paid tribute to David Richardson:
“David has been a quite outstanding Director of the Anglican Centre for the last five years, a period covering both the Lambeth Conference and the Pope’s visit to the UK. He played a significant role in these events and many others. He and Margie have been hugely generous hosts to countless people and have raised the profile of the Centre throughout the Anglican Communion. David has worked imaginatively in Rome with many colleagues in the Vatican – to whom we must also play tribute – and has done a great deal to consolidate a wide range of warm relationships with our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters. His successor will be able to build on his achievements and take forward this vital work.”
Replacing David Richardson involves finding an ordained Anglican with the experience and stature required to be a bishop or cathedral dean.. The post-holder acts as a two way ambassador between the Vatican and both the Archbishop of Canterbury and the wider Anglican Communion. The post-holder is also the Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome and as a consequence the role is multi-layered, binding together ambassadorial, educational, pastoral and interpretive elements. The person needs to be theologically able with good linguistic ability. A knowledge of Italian is preferable and a willingness and ability to learn Italian is essential. Accommodation is provided at the Anglican Centre in Rome, which occupies a large apartment within Palazzo Doria Pamphilj at the heart of historic Rome.
Applications are being invited for the post which is expected to be for a three to five year period.
Further details and an application form are available on request from: Jacqueline Balfour Lambeth Palace London SE1 7JU United Kingdom E-mail: jacqueline.balfour@lambethpalace.org.uk Fax: +44 20 7401 9886
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/news.cfm/2012/8/9/ACNS5173
www.anglicancentreinrome.org/appointment
Kenyan Anglican youth to mobilise a million voters
To mark the 50th anniversary of the Kenya Anglican Youth Organisation (KAYO), its members are launching an initiative aimed at mobilising one million young people in Kenya to vote in the upcoming General Elections.
The youth movement of the Anglican Church in Kenya (ACK), started in 1962 by the late Bishop Obadiah Kariuki, is using its anniversary celebrations to launch the Wajibika Initiative. This youth-led programme aims to reach a million young people across Kenya through extensive diocesan structures and encourage them to register and vote.
The Wajibika Initiative will also conduct other training in dioceses to empower young people to elect capable and trustworthy leaders who will contribute to the growth of a country along the lines of the reform agenda supported by the Church.
The anniversary celebrations will be held during the KAYO conference at Senior Chief Koinange Girls’ High School in Kiambu from 13th to 18th August. The youth conference plans to host at least 1,500 Anglican youth from across the nation majority of whom are aged between 18 and 28 years old.
Archbishop Dr. Eliud Wabukala, Primate of the Anglican Church of Kenya, will be the guest of honour among other key national political leaders and dignitaries as well as ACK mission and development partners.
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/news.cfm/2012/8/9/ACNS5171
Archbishop of York on Zimbabwe: “Don’t Give Up Now”
The Archbishop of York writes in The Times about the situation in Zimbabwe, and the British Government’s decision to relax sanctions against the Mugabe regime. His article follows….
On Sunday 9th December 2007, I took off my clerical collar and cut it up during an interview on the Andrew Marr Show on BBC1. I said I would not wear it again until Robert Mugabe had ceased to be in power in Zimbabwe.
I made this prophetic statement as Robert Mugabe had slowly but surely cut up the identity of the Zimbabwean people into tiny pieces.
It is fair to say that I did not expect still to be collarless five years on. I’m even asked occasionally why I have forgotten to wear one – but my answer remains that this corrupt and oppressive regime has simply been allowed to carry on for too long.
Whilst the British Government seem to be considering easing some sanctions against Mr Mugabe and his personal allies, I am not convinced that the time has come to weaken international opposition to the President of Zimbabwe’s irresponsible, undemocratic, lawless, and at times brutal regime. I certainly won’t be placing an order for a new clerical collar at Wippells just yet.
We cannot allow Robert Mugabe off the hook. When I cut up my clerical collar, I said I would not put it on again until Mr Mugabe had gone from office – we need to stand in solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe and not forget the abuses and exploitation they have suffered at the hands of that administration.
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/news.cfm/2012/8/9/ACNS5172
Congolese churches issue a ‘cry of distress’ over war
ENI – Protestant churches in the Democratic Republic of Congo have issued a “cry of distress” following increased killing and displacement of civilians in the fighting between the army and rebels in the eastern parts of the country – writes Fredrick Nzwili.
The churches, speaking as the Church of Christ of Congo (Église du Christ au Congo-ECC), said more than 30,000 people had been displaced in North Kivu Province in the three months fighting between the March 23 Movement (M23) and the Congolese army, the FADRC (Forces Armees de la Republique Democratique du Congo).
http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16909
Christian communicators support better radio service for indigenous people
ENI – The World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) on 9 August, the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People, called on society and governments to support community radio in an effort to advance the democratic participation and active citizenship of native peoples.
http://www.eni.ch/featured/article.php?
Opposing gay marriage is not discrimination says Church leader
The leader of the Presbyterian Church of Australia has said that Christians are not being discriminatory by wanting to preserve the traditional definition of marriage as the country gets ready to suggest legalising samesex marriage
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/opposing.gay.marriage.is.not.discrimination.says.church.leader/30448.htm
Evangelist Billy Graham Hospitalized
Evangelist Billy Graham has been admitted to a North Carolina hospital for a lung infection, according to a spokesperson.
w.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/08/12/158655097/evangelist-billy-graham-hospitalized?ft=1&f=1016