Anglican Mainstream

By Emmanuel Kolini, Virtueonline

I give thanks for the leadership and clarity of thought reflected in the Most Reverend Dr. Mouneer Hanna Anis' recent announcement that he is resigning from the Standing Committee of the Anglican Communion [SCAC]. His conviction that his "presence on the current SCAC has no value" and that his "voice is like a useless cry in the wilderness" only underscores the seriousness of the crisis that our Anglican Communion has been struggling with for several decades.

Archbishop Anis' resignation demonstrates, once again, that the leadership of the Global South consists of Godly leaders who possess the clear and incisive judgment necessary in responding to the continued failures of both the SCAC and the ACC.

This resignation is part of the growing evidence that the leaders and the Provinces of the Global South are committed to resolving the current crisis in the Communion and to forge a renewed direction for our common life in the future.

I continue to rejoice in the missionary zeal of Global South leaders and applaud this latest action by Archbishop Anis. I call upon all leaders of the Global South to prayerfully consider following his example in relation to their leadership roles.

I, along with other Global South Primates, unequivocally affirm the primacy of Scripture as the cornerstone of the historic faith, upholding the dynamism of truth as the source of unity and transformation through Christ as the central element of apostolic doctrine, teaching and witness.

It is beyond unfortunate that after prayerful discussions and thoughtful consideration, the affirmation of Lambeth 1.10, now 12 years in existence, continues to be ignored as the guidepost for our future together. This reality has left the GAFCON Primates and their Provinces little choice but to take the road less travelled, which we now hope will be the road travelled by the Global South and all faithful Anglicans.

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By Philip Jenkins, The Christian Century

Christian attitudes toward polygamy are more controversial today than they have been for many years. As Euro-American churches debate the issue of same-sex unions, African Christians attack Westerners for their moral laxity and for caving in to secular hedonism. In response, some Western liberals retort that Africans themselves need to put their own house in order. Do African churches define marriage as a sacrosanct union between one man and one woman? If so, then why do their leaders tolerate polygamous unions?

Such an argument seems to convict the most visible Christian conservatives of hypocrisy, of failing to pluck the beam from their own collective eye. Yet far from convincing Africans, such an argument illustrates a continuing global gulf on issues of sexual morality.

For many societies across Africa, polygamy is far more than a historic vestige. South Africa's president Jacob Zuma has at least four wives, raising etiquette concerns over which one should formally take the role of first lady. So entrenched is plural marriage that Christian churches have long had to make compromises. The ancient Ethiopian church tolerated polygamy in some circumstances, despite periodic reform campaigns. After long encounters with Zulu peoples in southern Africa, the 19th-century Anglican bishop J. W. Colenso concluded that polygamy could not be eliminated in the short term. He decided that polygamy reduced promiscuity and that an official clampdown would only drive plural wives and their children from stable home settings.

Read here

By Bill Bowder, Church Times

THE importance of UK support for the Sudanese Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was urged upon Gordon Brown this week when the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of Sudan, Dr Daniel Deng Bul, met the Prime Minister in Downing Street on Monday.

The UK, with the United States and Norway, is an international guarantor of the CPA, which ended 20 years of warfare between the oil-rich, mainly Christian south and the mainly Muslim north, during which two million people were killed.

At a press conference in Lambeth Palace before the meeting, Dr Williams said that the urgency of the situation in Sudan “has escaped the notice of a large number of com­men­tators here and elsewhere”. Failure to implement the CPA in full could result in the outbreak of war again.

“As an international community, we are in danger of sleepwalking into a situation of real nightmare,” he said. Atrocities in Darfur had drawn attention away from the division between north and south Sudan. Lack of progress on implementing the CPA in the south meant that, for many, it had become “almost meaningless”. There was “grave doubt” that elections, due in the spring, and part of the CPA, would be fair and democratic. The elections were the precursor to the CPA’s referendum next year on whether the South wanted to remain part of Sudan.

Read here

But will tribal rituals be overcome by the Gospel?

By Michael Carl, WorldNetDaily

Africa, the "dark continent" to which American Christians shipped missionary after missionary during the 20th Century, now features 40 percent of the Nigerian population among the rolls of Christians, according to the CIA Factbook.

Patrick Johnstone and Jason Mandryk's Operation World reports Uganda is 88 percent Christian and Kenya is about 78 percent Christian.

Missions analysts at the Free Methodist Church of North America say their African churches are the fastest growing in their denomination and the largest Anglican province in the world is in Nigeria.

But Jonathan Bonk, director of the Overseas Ministries Study Center in New Haven, Conn., says the key is how Christian is defined.

"Self-definition as Christian has a long history, and conversion does not always result in 'fruit in keeping with repentance.' As extraordinarily dynamic as churches in Africa appear to be, the acid test is still the outcome of it all," he said.

He said there are some serious questions that should be asked.

"What relational, social, ethical difference does it make, in a continent filled with the savagery of wars, rape, corruption, despotic leaders (many of whom call themselves 'Christian')? Is there any evidence that Christian conversion is making a difference? Such questions need to be asked, in view of what Jesus himself describes in his judgment day scenario when he separates the sheep from the goats," he said.

Andrew Strom is an evangelist and author who leads the Revival School Ministry. Strom has extensive experience working in Africa and he says the problems in the churches depend on which country.

"There are different problems in different countries. I was in Uganda a couple of months ago and the AIDS epidemic has seriously impacted the population there. There's many AIDS orphans, so you have a huge problem with promiscuity there," Strom said.

"There are reasons why Africa has always been the 'dark continent' spiritually and there's ingrained patterns of sin that go back probably thousands of years and generation upon generation of repeating these patterns. Christianity should be breaking up those patterns, but the church is not strong enough," Strom said.

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By Alex Duval Smith, Independent

Thousands of Zimbabwean Anglicans are being locked out of churches and cathedrals, and forced to hold services in the street, amid a worsening row between two Church factions that mirrors the country's political crisis.

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have condemned Zimbabwean authorities for siding with Nolbert Kunonga, the dismissed former bishop of Harare. Archbishops Rowan Williams and John Sentamu said the "unprovoked intimidation of worshippers" reflected the ongoing oppression of those perceived to be sympathetic to the opposition.

Mr Kunonga, who claims to be a fervent supporter of President Robert Mugabe, was sacked in February 2008 by his superiors in the Church of the Province of Central Africa. He claimed to be unconvinced by the province's stand against Anglican moves to ordain homosexuals.

But critics of Mr Kunonga say he is simply power-hungry and is using the homosexuality issue as an excuse to ingratiate himself with President Mugabe, even though Mr Mugabe is a Catholic. Mr Kunonga has claimed his opponents are supporters of the Movement for Democratic Change, which they deny.

The scene on a recent Sunday on the corner of Baker Avenue and Second Street, where the stone cathedral of St Mary's and All Saints has stolidly stood since 1934, is being replicated at churches all over the country. Congregants, two drummers and members of the choir arrived in dribs and drabs and gathered around the heavy oak doors, waiting for someone to turn up with the key.

"We never know, from one Sunday to the next, whether we are going to gain access,'' said Father Farai Mutamiri. Members of the congregation recalled being tear-gassed last March by riot police loyal to Mr Kunonga who burst into the cathedral during the service. "That is when we took the issue to court,'' said the Rev Phineas Fundira. Mr Kunonga's appointed replacement as head of the diocese of Harare, Bishop Chad Gandiya, has been fighting court battles ever since. "We increasingly don't know what to do. We have some Anglicans in the Zanu-PF politburo so we are going to turn to them for support."

The locked-out Anglicans believe Mr Kunonga's position is hardening and see no let-up in the support he is receiving from elements of the police.

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Theme: “The Gospel of Jesus Christ—Covenant for the People; Light for the Nations.”

The Global South Anglican Primates Steering Committee met in Singapore on 1st to 2nd Dec 2009 to discuss and confirm planning details on the coming Encounter.

This 4th Encounter will build on the ecclesiological vision of the ‘One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ’ we shared at the 3rd “Red Sea” Encounter at El-ein-Suknah, Egypt in 2005. The coming 4th Encounter aims to further develop this in our common life and witness in and for the Gospel. We will explore how we may relate to one another in covenantal and communion autonomy with accountability in matters of faith and order; partnerships and networks in existing and new mission fields; and mutual capacity building for increased self-reliance for greater service.

We aim to affirm the Anglican Covenant as the basis in intensifying the ecclesial life between churches in the Communion, and explore ways churches should stand firm side by side in one spirit and with one mind for the faith of the Gospel of Lord Jesus Christ. The Steering Committeee emphasised that provincial and invited participants should be unequivocally committed to uphold the spirit and intent of the 1998 Lambeth Resolution 1.10 and the proposed Anglican Covenant (full Ridley Draft).

Participation will be on provincial basis. Provinces and Primates have earlier been informed of the 4th Encounter will now be sent more detailed information on the nature of their provincial participation. Associate participants from non-Global South Anglican provinces/dioceses will be on an invitational basis.  In addition, key ecumenical partners will also be invited as observers. As in previous conferences, the 4th Encounter seeks to be a self-financed gathering.

More information will be release later. Please direct inquiries to email: admin@globalsouthanglican.org

Read here 

Letter to the Times, Timesonline

By Ruth Gledhill, Timesonline

One of the most powerful figures in the Anglican Church believes that Africa is under attack from Islam and that Muslims are “mass-producing” children to take over communities on the continent.

Archbishop Nicholas Okoh, 56, was elected Primate of Nigeria last week and his elevation could exacerbate tensions at a time when Anglicans are working to build bridges with Muslims. Dr Michael Nazir-Ali resigned as Bishop of Rochester earlier this year to work in countries where Islam is the majority religion.

Nigeria is split almost half and half between Christianity and Islam. There are about 17 million practising Anglicans in the country, but they face persecution in the north, while the two faiths vie with local religions for supremacy in the rest of the country.

Archbishop Okoh made his controversial comments about Islam in a sermon in Beckenham, Kent, in July. He said that there was a determined Islamic attack in African countries such as Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda.

“They spend a lot of money, even in places where they don’t have congregations, they build mosques, they build hospitals, they build anything.

“They come to Africans and say, ‘Christianity is asking you to marry only one wife. We will give you four!’ ” Archbishop Okoh described this as “evangelism by mass-production”.

He said: “That is the type of evangelism they are doing: mass-production, so if you have four wives, four children, sixteen children, very soon you will be a village.”

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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
 
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!
 
The Bible says that when one member of the body suffers, all suffer; and, when one member of  the body rejoices, all rejoice.  As you know, we have been experiencing drought in Uganda, and  in several regions the drought has been prolonged so as to produce famine. It is particularly acute  in the Teso region of Soroti and Kumi Dioceses.
 
When we made an appeal for famine relief in our suffering, you responded so generously. Now, may we invite you to rejoice with us!  Of our target goal of raising USD 60,000, you have responded very quickly with $20,000! We have been able to deliver more than two lorries of food to people who are literally starving.  Your compassionate response will save lives.
 
I am also pleased to say that locally we have also responded.  Mama Phoebe’s Women of Purpose ministry raised $4,000 and has already delivered food to Soroti Diocese. This past weekend the Bishop of Namirembe accompanied a lorry delivering food from his diocese to the Teso region, and Mukono Diocese was also mobilising a food delivery.
 
Thank you for joining with us in our hour of need. May the Lord restore to you many times over this gift of love and mercy.
 
Yours, in Christ,
 
The Most Rev. Henry Luke Orombi
ARCHBISHOP OF CHURCH OF UGANDA.

AM website note:  support can still be made through donations via Paypal on the AM site or to Anglican Mainstream, 21 High Street, Eynsham, OX29 4HE

By Ali Symons, Anglican Church of Canada

In a kind of high-level pen pal relationship, theologians from six African dioceses are now exchanging essays about sexuality with theologians from four Canadian dioceses. Dr. Kawuki (Isaac) Mukasa, General Synod’s coordinator for dialogue, paired up dioceses during two trips to Africa, including visits to South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda from July 31 to Aug. 21.

From AllAfrica.com

The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) will today in Umuahia elect a new Primate, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) authoritatively learnt.

The incumbent, Archbishop Peter Akinola is due to retire in March 2010 and according to the Church Canons, a successor should emerge at least three months before the retirement of his predecessor.

An official of the Church, who pleaded anonymity, said the Primate would be elected during the Standing Committee meeting of the church scheduled to hold from September 15 to 19.

The Standing Committee is a biannual meeting that brings together all the bishops, delegates from the clergy and laity of the church from all the dioceses under the Nigeria province.

"Election of a new Primate is top on the agenda for the bishops meeting on Tuesday while a meeting of the House of Bishops will hold on Wednesday," the source said.

NAN reports that about 160 bishops are expected to elect the new Primate for the 20-million Anglicans, in Nigeria, inside the Cathedral of St Stephen in the Diocese of Umuahia through secret balloting.

Already, a meeting of the Church of Nigeria Advisory Committee has been summoned on Monday morning in Umuahia for the purpose of advising the House of Bishops, in writing, the qualification and qualities required in the Primate.
 

By Jeff Walton, IRD

Episcopal revisionists and their overseas allies

From iafrica.com

The Anglican Church’s attitude to gay members, including priests, is expected to come under scrutiny at the synod of its diocese of Cape Town, which begins on Thursday evening.

The synod, which is held every three years, is the first under the term of office of current archbishop of Cape Town Thabo Makgoba.

On Saturday the synod is scheduled to consider a motion put forward by representatives of Cape Town’s St George’s Cathedral, the only Anglican parish in the country led by an openly gay clergyman.

The motion proposes that the synod "commends giving serious and prayerful consideration to the acceptance of gays and lesbians in their committed partnerships as valued members of our parishes".

It says this should be done "bearing in mind the long-standing tradition within the Anglican Communion of respect for individual conscience, in seeking to be faithful disciples of Jesus".

It also asks bishops of the church "to provide pastoral guidelines for those of our members who are in such covenanted partnerships as faithful members of our parish families".

Makgoba’s predecessor Njongonkulu Ndungane said in 2006 the church did not regard partnership between two persons of the same sex as a marriage in the eyes of God.

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From Global South Anglican

A historic Memorandum of Understanding between St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Singapore and All Saints’ Cathedral, Cairo, Egypt with St. Mark’s Pro-Cathedral, Alexandria, Egypt was signed on the 1st of August 2009 in Singapore in order to set the pace for cooperation and partnership in a “Twinning Companionship.” The Most Revd Dr Mouneer Anis, the President Bishop of Jerusalem & the Middle East & the Bishop in Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa, was present to sign the documents. He was visiting as the invited Retreat Speaker at the Extra-ordinary Synod of the Province of South East Asia at Kuala Terengganu, West Malaysia called for the election of its new Primate and Archbishop, July 28 to 29, 2009.

Earlier in March this year while the Communion Primates’ Meeting was in progress, St Mark’s Church, Alexandria, Egypt, was dedicated as Pro-Cathedral. Her first Dean, the Very Revd Dr Samy Shehata, was also inducted at the Dedication Service. There, Abp Mouneer announced the official twinning of the Cathedrals. The Associate Vicar of the Cathedral, the Revd Canon D Louis Tay, representing the Dean of St Andrew’s Cathedral, presented a memento featuring the façade of the Cathedral to the new Dean of St Mark’s Pro-Cathedral. It was a historic solemn and joyous moment for two Dioceses. The window into the riches of two most ancient civilizations in the world is now linked through the two most vital waterways of the world, Suez Canal and the Malaccan Straits. It is a relationship of historic significance and strategic importance.
 

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By George Conger, Religious Intelligence

Seventeen days after being ordained to the priesthood by the Bishop of Kensington, the curate of the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Hampton of the Diocese of London has been elected Bishop of Manicaland.

On July 24 the electoral synod of the Zimbabwe diocese elected as bishop the Rev Dr Julius Makoni to succeed his deposed processor the Rt Rev Elson Jakazi. Dr Makoni’s election must now go the House of Bishops of the Church of the Province of Central Africa (CPCA) for confirmation.

An ally of the former Bishop of Harare, on Sept 23, 2007 Bishop Jakazi joined Dr Nolbert Kunonga in writing to Archbishop Bernard Malango saying their dioceses had withdrawn from Central Africa in protest to what they alleged was a pro-gay bias in the Province.

The dean of Central Africa, Bishop Albert Chama of Northern Zambia, responded that it “was impossible for them to withdraw the dioceses” and on Oct 19, 2007 the Central African bishops declared the two “were no longer bishops” of the CPCA.

In April 2008 the former Bishop of Harare, the Rt Rev Peter Hatendi was appointed interim bishop of Manicaland. However, Bishop Jakazi last year retracted his declaration of independence from the CPCA and had sought to block the election of a new bishop for the diocese, claiming he remained the rightful bishop. Litigation is currently underway between the CPCA and Bishop Jakazi over the trusteeship of the Manicaland church properties.

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Women of Purpose Kampala, Uganda, Deliver 8.5 Million Shillings (£2400) of Food to Teso

Women of Purpose Kampala, a women’s ministry begun by Mama Phoebe Orombi, delivered 8.5 million shillings of beans and posho on 26^th July to Kobwin Parish in Soroti Diocese.

Kobwin Parish of Soroti Diocese is located in Amuria District and borders Karamoja. This area has been hardest hit by weather disturbances. In 2007 they lost their crop to floods. In 2008 they lost their harvest to drought, and again in 2009 there has been drought and no harvest. Serious famine has set in.

People have resorted to picking the leaves from a certain tree, cooking them, and eating them for food. Some families were giving away their very young girls in marriage in order to get money to buy food.  More than 30 people have already died from hunger.

The Women of Purpose Kampala Fellowship held their regular monthly meeting on Saturday, 4^th July, and discussed the desperate plight of famine in Teso. They felt convicted to do something. One member said, “Faith without works is dead. We must do something.” 

After reading the story in Luke 9 of the Feeding of the Five Thousand, Mama Phoebe said, “God still works miracles. If each one of us brings the little we have, God will multiply it.”

So, the following Tuesday, the Women of Purpose met for a fund-raising. From within their Fellowship they raised 2.6 million shillings. When they approached one of the clergy at All Saints’ Cathedral, Kampala, about making an appeal in church, they were told that such an appeal would need the approval of the Standing Committee. Read the rest of this entry »

From Global South Anglican

The Standing Committee of the Synod of the Province of the Anglican Church in Southeast Asia, meeting in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia on 29 and 30 July 2009, noted the passing of resolutions DO25 and CO56 of the General Convention of The Episcopal Church (“TEC”) in the United States of America.

We are of the view that the passing of these 2 resolutions, when on a plain and ordinary reading, constitutes an abrogation by TEC of the agreed-to moratorium on the consecration of practising homosexual clergy as bishops and rites of blessing for same-sex unions. This effectively moves TEC irretrievably away from the orthodox position of the rest of the Anglican Communion as a whole on these issues. This is a negative development. It is also a repudiation of the listening and consultation processes put in place in an attempt to resolve these issues.

We reiterate that the basis of the common heritage shared through membership of the worldwide Anglican Communion is best reflected by the proposed Anglican Covenant, which we wholly support. The proposed Anglican Covenant encompasses our basic shared beliefs and traditions. It represents the most basic statement of what we consider to be acceptable for resolving the present predicament facing the Anglican Communion and moving forward. We hope that the Anglican Covenant will be endorsed by the provinces in the Anglican Communion within the next 12 months.

We also wish to re-affirm those orthodox parishes and dioceses within TEC who have chosen to remain within the existing structures. We believe that the Anglican Covenant is appropriately inclusive so as to allow for their continued membership within the Anglican Communion. We would like to assure them of our continued support and prayers.

Grace Mugable, AllAfrica.com

Kigali — The Episcopal Church of Rwanda has elected three new Bishops to serve in one of the provinces of the Anglican Church in North America.

The election took place on Saturday 13 at the Anglican Diocese of Kigali.

The Bishops who were elected are: The Rev. DR. Todd Hunter, The Rev. Canon Doc Loomis and Rev. Silas TAK Yin Ng.

According to the communiqué the first two bishops will serve in US while one Silas TAK Yin Ng will serve in Canada.

The province of the Anglican Church of Rwanda has increased the number of bishops in the Anglican Mission in the Americas (AMIA) from seven to ten.

The Anglican Mission in the Americas was formed on July, 28, 2000 after this segment broke away from the Episcopal Church of America (ECUSA).

The world fellowship has been in an uproar since the liberal-leaning U.S. Episcopal Church, which is the Anglican body in the U.S.A, consecrated its first openly gay bishop, V. Gene.Robinson of New Hampshire.

As a result, Rwandan bishops oversee some Anglican dioceses in North America.

On his part, the Primate of the Church of Rwanda, Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini vowed that Rwanda will continue spreading a message of hope in an attempt to save mankind from falling into satanic pit.

In his message to the Press, Bishop Charles Murphy, the Chairman of AMIA and the Primatial Vicar from America lauded Rwanda for what it has done for his province.

"Rwanda is a beacon of hope. It has saved Americans from a state of quagmire," said, Murphy, and added: "Our churches in America are canonically based in Rwanda; shall therefore remain a missionary out reach of Rwanda in America."
 

From The Living Church

No Fourth Moratorium and No Covenant…Yet

By David Virtue, Virtueonline

Confusion reigned Friday as delegates to the Anglican Consultative Council delayed the release of the Ridley Cambridge Covenant third draft designed to hold the Anglican Communion together.

Frustrated archbishops, bishops, clergy and lay delegates, mostly from the Global South, took to microphones to express their frustration over clauses deemed hurtful to The Episcopal Church. Many of the Global South delegates believe they have been tricked by Western procedural methods designed to fudge and prevaricate on communion breaking issues. The masters of verbal sleights of hand include outgoing deputy secretary general to the ACC Bishop Geoffrey Cameron and ACC leader Kenneth Kearon.

Peru Bishop Bill Godfrey said the roots of what troubled the communion is the perceived treatment of people in North America. "We are not going to stop because ACC says so," (a reference to cross border rescue of orthodox diocese and parishes). Godfrey said he spoke with TEC Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori in an effort to facilitate a listening process that would hear the voices of those who feel justice has been denied them, particularly in North America.

The proposed covenant will not be sent to the provinces until Section 4 – a moratoria on litigation – has been reconsidered by a working party which will send its findings to the Joint Standing committee of the ACC and then back to the provinces for ratification.

Some 18 amendments to resolutions, numerous votes and a plea by President Bishop Mouneer Anis of the Middle East that what was taking place was "illegal" did nothing to slow the liberal juggernaut from passing anything that might skew the ACC’s overall desire to keep the most ultra-liberal American and Canadian Anglican Provinces at the Anglican Communion table.

Canon Kenneth Kearon, secretary general of the ACC, said that the Joint Standing Committee would not meet till the end of the year, but promised a speedy review of the two clauses in Section 4 that have been referred to a small working group appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury for further study. The working group is expected to take six to nine months to do its work. However, the working group has to talk with the provinces;, the provinces then go back to the working group; and, if they are satisfied, it goes to the Joint Standing Committee. Few believe this will happen any time soon.

The controversial Section 4 outlines mechanisms by which a province of the Anglican Communion could be excluded from the Communion. These include support of the blessing of same sex relationships, a moratoria on the ordination of people living in non-celibate homosexual relationships and cross provincial violations. The latter, liberal provinces find particularly egregious.

The Fourth Moratoria, written into the Dar es Salaam communiqué, was taken out by the Windsor Continuation Group, frustrating delegates who wanted it put back. By a vote of 33-30, a five-part resolution was voted on clause by clause, but no one knew, when the delegates broke for dinner, if in fact they had voted on anything at all.

The assumption was that the clauses would be voted on when the Council reconvened. It never happened. Attempts by The Episcopal Church to strip Section 4 from the covenant were defeated by a wide margin after Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and numerous others spoke against it.

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