Nairobi (ENI). Kenya's Roman Catholic cardinal-designate, and its Anglican archbishop are both calling for calm, tolerance and respectful electioneering for polls that the Electoral Commission of Kenya announced will be held on 27 December. "We wish to appeal to every Kenyan without exception to maintain and safeguard peace, calm and non-violence. All of us, from whatever part of the country we come, or whatever political views we hold, are children of God," said Archbishop John Njue, whom Pope Benedict XVI named as a cardinal on 17 October. [374 words, ENI-07-0841]
ENI Online - www.eni.ch
Ecumenical News International
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Jackie Bruchi
A Report From The Field From A Delegate To The Upper South Carolina Convention
The Diocese of Upper South Carolina has buckled under to repeated, passionate appeals from Bishop Dorsey Henderson to increase the giving to the national Episcopal Church to the full quota.
The current (2007) budget for the national Church is $272,974 and the diocese is 100% current in payments! The 2008 contribution to the national Church is budgeted to be $412,396. This is an increase of $139,422--51%.
Since the total increase in the budget, known as the "Statement of Mission," is only $75,935, the additional $63,487 will come from cuts in diocese spending (notably from budgeted support of mission churches). It should be added that the gain from selling the property and assets of a failed church-start are earmarked for any future church-starts. No such plans were mentioned in the convention.
The 2008 contribution to the national Church is 14.5% of the total budget. Church members can figure that this percent of what they send to the diocese will pass through to the national church. If I figure right, 2.6% of an individual's local church giving goes through to the national Church.
The Delegates to the annual convention met previously in five regional Convocations to make recommendations on the budget (Statement of Mission). There, they ranked the national Church 4th from the bottom in their "High" votes (not counting votes on individual mission churches) and second from the bottom in the "Low" votes (also not counting votes on individual mission churches). It was fifth from the bottom by total items. The Diocese's summary had the same result of fifth from the bottom out of 75 items. Certainly the support for the national church pledge in the convocation meetings was quite low -- but unfortunately the committee responsible for creating the diocesan budget ignored convocation input on a number of budget matters, including the national church pledge.
The only analysis I can suggest is that people voting in convention with brightly colored yes and no (high-visibility pink) cards under the eye of their clergy caved in to the Bishop's plea to let him take the full quota into his national meetings. The bishop was well aware of the problems that parishioners have with the national church pledge; he approached the microphone himself in a rare plea, to tell the delegates that he would not be well-respected by the national church if the full pledge were not made.
The question now is whether the rank and file members will catch this increase and respond with their checkbooks.
Looks as if some parishioners in Upper South Carolina may wish to check out the Affirmation of Faithful Stewardship.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted October 30, 2007 at 5:13 am
The URL for this article is http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/7228/
©2007 Stand Firm, LLC. All rights reserved. Permission to copy and distribute free of charge is granted, provided this notice, the logo, and the web site address are visible on all copies. For permission for use in for-profit publications, please email contact@standfirminfaith.com.
A Report From The Field From A Delegate To The Upper South Carolina Convention
The Diocese of Upper South Carolina has buckled under to repeated, passionate appeals from Bishop Dorsey Henderson to increase the giving to the national Episcopal Church to the full quota.
The current (2007) budget for the national Church is $272,974 and the diocese is 100% current in payments! The 2008 contribution to the national Church is budgeted to be $412,396. This is an increase of $139,422--51%.
Since the total increase in the budget, known as the "Statement of Mission," is only $75,935, the additional $63,487 will come from cuts in diocese spending (notably from budgeted support of mission churches). It should be added that the gain from selling the property and assets of a failed church-start are earmarked for any future church-starts. No such plans were mentioned in the convention.
The 2008 contribution to the national Church is 14.5% of the total budget. Church members can figure that this percent of what they send to the diocese will pass through to the national church. If I figure right, 2.6% of an individual's local church giving goes through to the national Church.
The Delegates to the annual convention met previously in five regional Convocations to make recommendations on the budget (Statement of Mission). There, they ranked the national Church 4th from the bottom in their "High" votes (not counting votes on individual mission churches) and second from the bottom in the "Low" votes (also not counting votes on individual mission churches). It was fifth from the bottom by total items. The Diocese's summary had the same result of fifth from the bottom out of 75 items. Certainly the support for the national church pledge in the convocation meetings was quite low -- but unfortunately the committee responsible for creating the diocesan budget ignored convocation input on a number of budget matters, including the national church pledge.
The only analysis I can suggest is that people voting in convention with brightly colored yes and no (high-visibility pink) cards under the eye of their clergy caved in to the Bishop's plea to let him take the full quota into his national meetings. The bishop was well aware of the problems that parishioners have with the national church pledge; he approached the microphone himself in a rare plea, to tell the delegates that he would not be well-respected by the national church if the full pledge were not made.
The question now is whether the rank and file members will catch this increase and respond with their checkbooks.
Looks as if some parishioners in Upper South Carolina may wish to check out the Affirmation of Faithful Stewardship.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted October 30, 2007 at 5:13 am
The URL for this article is http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/7228/
©2007 Stand Firm, LLC. All rights reserved. Permission to copy and distribute free of charge is granted, provided this notice, the logo, and the web site address are visible on all copies. For permission for use in for-profit publications, please email contact@standfirminfaith.com.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Traditionally Christian Anglicans Ask to Join Catholic Church En Masse: Homosexuality the flash point
Source URL: http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/oct/07102506.html
LifeSiteNews.com
Thursday October 25, 2007
By Hilary White
PORTSMOUTH, UK, October 25, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The splits in the Worldwide Anglican Communion over the church’s secularising trends and growing enthusiasm for homosexuality has led some to seek reunion with the Catholic Church after nearly 500 years apart.
The bishops of the Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC)are reported to have met in Plenary Session in Portsmouth, England, in the first week of October 2007 and “unanimously agreed” to send a letter to the Pope seeking full, corporate, sacramental union” with the Catholic Church. The group has agreed not to give interviews until the Vatican has responded to their request.
The TAC boasts of some 400,000 members worldwide with at least 100 parishes in the US. It has been estimated that the TAC could have as many as 500 parishes supporting its goals in the UK.
TAC has been seeking for some years to establish some agreement with Rome that would see the entire body into the Catholic Church. In 2005, shortly after the election of Pope Benedict XVI, the head of the TAC, Archbishop John Hepworth of Adelaide, Australia, said, “We are looking at a church which would retain an Anglican liturgy, Anglican spirituality and a married clergy.” The TAC has retained a positive relationship with Pope Benedict since, as Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, he was head of the Vatican’s doctrinal office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
In related news, a group of traditionally minded members of the Church of England has warned Dr. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, that they would continue to resist the slide of the church towards secularisation. The group, called Reform, said that dozens of Anglican parishes in Britain will start ordaining their own clergy in defiance of their bishops who are overwhelmingly in favour of normalising homosexuality in the church.
Reform, a network within the evangelical wing of the Church of England is setting up structures to allow it to operate as a resistance movement within the Church. The Rev. Rod Thomas, Reform's chairman, cited his church’s “increasingly pro-gay” agenda when he told members they must be prepared for “courageous action” in defiance of established systems. The Church of England is the officially established religion in Britain and as such, its head since the 16th century has been appointed by the Crown. A small number of its bishops still retain their seats in the House of Lords, a position that is widely opposed among the British public.
David Virtue, a conservative Anglican in the US who maintains an Anglican news service, wrote that the developments come at a time when the Church of England has made itself “largely irrelevant to British life”.
“A mere 2 million (out of 60 million) consider the church part of their life.” This is roughly the equal of the number of Muslims living and practising their religion in Britain.
Virtue wrote, “The C of E is a pale reflection of a once proud and vigorous church...New laws being implemented are increasingly and stridently anti-Christian and intolerant of any talk about the dangers of sodomy both medically and spiritually.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(c) Copyright: LifeSiteNews.com. Permission to republish is granted (with limitation*) but acknowledgement of source is *REQUIRED* (use LifeSiteNews.com).
NEWS TIPS to lsn@lifesitenews.com or call toll free 1-866-787-9947.
Donate to LifeSiteNews.com at http://www.lifesite.net/contribute/
LifeSiteNews.com
Thursday October 25, 2007
By Hilary White
PORTSMOUTH, UK, October 25, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The splits in the Worldwide Anglican Communion over the church’s secularising trends and growing enthusiasm for homosexuality has led some to seek reunion with the Catholic Church after nearly 500 years apart.
The bishops of the Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC)are reported to have met in Plenary Session in Portsmouth, England, in the first week of October 2007 and “unanimously agreed” to send a letter to the Pope seeking full, corporate, sacramental union” with the Catholic Church. The group has agreed not to give interviews until the Vatican has responded to their request.
The TAC boasts of some 400,000 members worldwide with at least 100 parishes in the US. It has been estimated that the TAC could have as many as 500 parishes supporting its goals in the UK.
TAC has been seeking for some years to establish some agreement with Rome that would see the entire body into the Catholic Church. In 2005, shortly after the election of Pope Benedict XVI, the head of the TAC, Archbishop John Hepworth of Adelaide, Australia, said, “We are looking at a church which would retain an Anglican liturgy, Anglican spirituality and a married clergy.” The TAC has retained a positive relationship with Pope Benedict since, as Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, he was head of the Vatican’s doctrinal office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
In related news, a group of traditionally minded members of the Church of England has warned Dr. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, that they would continue to resist the slide of the church towards secularisation. The group, called Reform, said that dozens of Anglican parishes in Britain will start ordaining their own clergy in defiance of their bishops who are overwhelmingly in favour of normalising homosexuality in the church.
Reform, a network within the evangelical wing of the Church of England is setting up structures to allow it to operate as a resistance movement within the Church. The Rev. Rod Thomas, Reform's chairman, cited his church’s “increasingly pro-gay” agenda when he told members they must be prepared for “courageous action” in defiance of established systems. The Church of England is the officially established religion in Britain and as such, its head since the 16th century has been appointed by the Crown. A small number of its bishops still retain their seats in the House of Lords, a position that is widely opposed among the British public.
David Virtue, a conservative Anglican in the US who maintains an Anglican news service, wrote that the developments come at a time when the Church of England has made itself “largely irrelevant to British life”.
“A mere 2 million (out of 60 million) consider the church part of their life.” This is roughly the equal of the number of Muslims living and practising their religion in Britain.
Virtue wrote, “The C of E is a pale reflection of a once proud and vigorous church...New laws being implemented are increasingly and stridently anti-Christian and intolerant of any talk about the dangers of sodomy both medically and spiritually.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(c) Copyright: LifeSiteNews.com. Permission to republish is granted (with limitation*) but acknowledgement of source is *REQUIRED* (use LifeSiteNews.com).
NEWS TIPS to lsn@lifesitenews.com or call toll free 1-866-787-9947.
Donate to LifeSiteNews.com at http://www.lifesite.net/contribute/
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
FiF Assembly Resolution on TEC
Oct 24, 2007
The FiF National Assembly, having heard Bishop Jack Iker's Report, passed nem. con. the following emergency Resolution on the situation in The Episcopal Church:
Resolution 2007/09
This Assembly notes with concern that the actions of the House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church consistently fail to match its words and assurances. The Assembly cannot agree with the Joint Standing Committee of the Anglican Consultative Council and the Primates’ Meeting that the response to the Windsor Report and the Dar-es-Salaam communiqué was adequate or honourable.
Proposed by the Reverend Dr Geoffrey Kirk
Seconded by the Reverend Prebendary Sam Philpott
The FiF National Assembly, having heard Bishop Jack Iker's Report, passed nem. con. the following emergency Resolution on the situation in The Episcopal Church:
Resolution 2007/09
This Assembly notes with concern that the actions of the House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church consistently fail to match its words and assurances. The Assembly cannot agree with the Joint Standing Committee of the Anglican Consultative Council and the Primates’ Meeting that the response to the Windsor Report and the Dar-es-Salaam communiqué was adequate or honourable.
Proposed by the Reverend Dr Geoffrey Kirk
Seconded by the Reverend Prebendary Sam Philpott
Monday, October 22, 2007
All is Well™ in East Carolina
Greg Griffith
All is Well™ in East Carolina
Globetrotting correspondent Hank Steenstra, last seen at John Guernsey's consecration in Uganda, reports on a mailing from the bishop of East Carolina summarizing 2007 giving and 2008 asking:
1. Support for Congregations and Clergy
2007 Request was $617, 231 and amount funded was $332,433 for a shortfall of $284,798
$96,679 came from Endowment Support.
The 2008 request is for $604,240.
2. Youth, Education, Christian Formation
2007 Request was $113,382 and amount funded was $73,582 for a shortfall of $39,800
$57,900 came from Endowment Support.
The 2008 request is for $184,666
3. Shared Ministries
2007 Request was $234,440 and amount funded was $101,430 for a shortfall of $133,010
This category included a budget of $216,863 for TEC with $89,577 funded
$5,876 came from Endowment Support.
The 2008 request is for $256,064
4. Administration
2007 Request was $347,153 and amount funded was $310,077 for a shortfall of $37,076
$16,619 came from Endowment Support.
The 2008 request is for $367,332
5. The Episcopate
2007 Request was $293,364 and amount funded was $289,364 for a shortfall of only $4,000*
$0 came from Endowment Support.
The 2008 request is for $305,290
SUMMARY FOR 2007
Total 2007 request was for $1,605,570 and amount funded was $1,106,886 for a shortfall of $498,684.
---
So...
A half-million dollar shortfall on a budget of just over a million and half.
Not to worry, say I. Any minute now, East Carolina should see that influx of new gay parishioners just itching to give give give, and the diocese's problems should be gone faster than you can say "let's have a pride parade!"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* It's good to be the king
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted October 22, 2007 at 9:25 pm
The URL for this article is http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/7071/
©2007 Stand Firm, LLC. All rights reserved. Permission to copy and distribute free of charge is granted, provided this notice, the logo, and the web site address are visible on all copies. For permission for use in for-profit publications, please email contact@standfirminfaith.com.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Anglican Crises More About Leadership, Doctrine, Not Homosexuality- African Bishops
Daily Champion (Lagos)
NEWS
21 October 2007
Posted to the web 22 October 2007
By Munawar Namdarkhan
Lagos
The President of the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa(CAPA), Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria, Anglican crises hinge on leadership, doctrine - African bishops have said at a convention in Mauritius that the Anglican Church in Africa had more serious problems to address than its stance on homosexuality.
The Primate of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) was speaking to journalists after the two-day closed-door CAPA meeting that began in the Indian Ocean Island on Oct. 3. While responding to a question from the press, Archbishop Akinola said the church would focus on problems like the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the crises in Darfur and Zimbabwe, which he said threatened the wellbeing of Africa.
"Homosexuality is not our headache," Archbishop Akinola said. "Everything that has to be said has been said. We are not going back to it."
Affirming that unity in the communion was of course crucial, Archbishop Akinola pointed out that every organization has got its own problems.
"When we resolve our problem, we'll let the world know through the media," he said.
Homosexuality has been a contentious and divisive issue among Anglican believers. The crisis reached a climax in 2003 when the U.S. Diocese of New Hampshire elected V. Gene Robinson, an confessed gay, as bishop. The General Convention of the Episcopal Church confirmed him and its presiding bishop participated at Robinson's consecration. In February 2004, 13 Global South primates, including eight from Africa, denounced the actions of the Episcopal Church as a "direct repudiation of the clear teaching of the Holy Scriptures, historic faith and order of the church." In April 2004, CAPA pledged to reject donations from the American dioceses that supported Robinson.
At the conference, Bishop Trevor Mwamba of Botswana read CAPA's statement that in part addressed the division in the church. The report acknowledged that the church had been unable to ignore the current crisis in its communion, but denied that CAPA was to blame.
"The current situation is a two fold crisis for the Anglican Communion: A crisis of doctrine and a crisis of leadership, in which the failure of the instruments of the Communion to exercise discipline had called into question the viability of the Anglican Communion as a united Christian body under a common foundation of faith, as is supposed by the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral," Bishop Mwamba read from the report.
"Due to this breakdown of discipline, we are not sure that we can in good conscience continue to spend our time, our money and our prayers on behalf of a body that proclaims two Gospels: the Gospel of Christ and the Gospel of Sexuality," he added.
Further in the statement Bishop Mwamba expressed CAPA's distress concerning the oppression of Buddhist monks by Myanmar's military junta, and the suffering and devastation that occurred in East, Central and West Africa as a result of recent drought and floods.
"We are also disturbed by accounts of military oppression in Myanmar, political oppression in Zimbabwe and by the conflict between Muslims and Christians in Darfur, Sudan," Bishop Mwamba said.
The Council commended local churches and the wider world community for their response to the disaster.
"We are praying that all those affected will quickly receive the practical aid that is so sorely needed and the abiding comfort of God's Holy Spirit," Bishop Mwamba said.
In the statement CAPA said the church was trying to see how the Zimbabwean issue could be resolved in peace.
Archbishop Akinola added that the problem was of concern to the Southern African Development Community and was no longer confined to Zimbabwe.
CAPA commended Mauritius for its multi-ethnic society, a stable democracy, regular free elections, and a positive human rights record - qualities that the clergymen said not all African nations were blessed with.
However, CAPA acknowledged that there were encouraging signs in Africa.
"After years of devastating war, there are glimmers of hope in Democratic Republic of Congo," the report said. "And the now vibrant economies of Kenya and Ghana have recently drawn plaudits from the World Bank."
This year the theme of the Council's meeting was "Called to a Life of Faithfulness."
In the statement CAPA said obedience and faithful living was important to make progress in the work toward the eradication of HIV/AIDS.
"The disturbing growth in the numbers of new infections reminds us that the battle is far from over. This is especially true for many women in Africa who find themselves increasingly vulnerable to sexual oppression and abuse," the report said.
CAPA also called upon the United Nations and the governments of the G8 nations "to fulfill their commitments so that the suffering of our most vulnerable sisters and brothers can be alleviated."
When asked about the role of women in the communion in fighting back the problem of HIV/AIDS, the program coordinator of the council, Emmanuel Olatunji, said CAPA had a plan.
"The church in Africa has already developed a strategy which includes the involvement of women," Olatunji said.
Concerning the financial support of CAPA, there had been unanimous conviction that all provinces presently in arrears will fulfill their commitments by the end of 2007, according to the report.
"We were also reminded that the number of people living in abject poverty within our provinces continues to grow and is a devastating indictment of poor governance in a continent that has been blessed by God with remarkable resources," Bishop Mwamba said.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Global Media (allAfrica.com)
NEWS
21 October 2007
Posted to the web 22 October 2007
By Munawar Namdarkhan
Lagos
The President of the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa(CAPA), Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria, Anglican crises hinge on leadership, doctrine - African bishops have said at a convention in Mauritius that the Anglican Church in Africa had more serious problems to address than its stance on homosexuality.
The Primate of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) was speaking to journalists after the two-day closed-door CAPA meeting that began in the Indian Ocean Island on Oct. 3. While responding to a question from the press, Archbishop Akinola said the church would focus on problems like the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the crises in Darfur and Zimbabwe, which he said threatened the wellbeing of Africa.
"Homosexuality is not our headache," Archbishop Akinola said. "Everything that has to be said has been said. We are not going back to it."
Affirming that unity in the communion was of course crucial, Archbishop Akinola pointed out that every organization has got its own problems.
"When we resolve our problem, we'll let the world know through the media," he said.
Homosexuality has been a contentious and divisive issue among Anglican believers. The crisis reached a climax in 2003 when the U.S. Diocese of New Hampshire elected V. Gene Robinson, an confessed gay, as bishop. The General Convention of the Episcopal Church confirmed him and its presiding bishop participated at Robinson's consecration. In February 2004, 13 Global South primates, including eight from Africa, denounced the actions of the Episcopal Church as a "direct repudiation of the clear teaching of the Holy Scriptures, historic faith and order of the church." In April 2004, CAPA pledged to reject donations from the American dioceses that supported Robinson.
At the conference, Bishop Trevor Mwamba of Botswana read CAPA's statement that in part addressed the division in the church. The report acknowledged that the church had been unable to ignore the current crisis in its communion, but denied that CAPA was to blame.
"The current situation is a two fold crisis for the Anglican Communion: A crisis of doctrine and a crisis of leadership, in which the failure of the instruments of the Communion to exercise discipline had called into question the viability of the Anglican Communion as a united Christian body under a common foundation of faith, as is supposed by the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral," Bishop Mwamba read from the report.
"Due to this breakdown of discipline, we are not sure that we can in good conscience continue to spend our time, our money and our prayers on behalf of a body that proclaims two Gospels: the Gospel of Christ and the Gospel of Sexuality," he added.
Further in the statement Bishop Mwamba expressed CAPA's distress concerning the oppression of Buddhist monks by Myanmar's military junta, and the suffering and devastation that occurred in East, Central and West Africa as a result of recent drought and floods.
"We are also disturbed by accounts of military oppression in Myanmar, political oppression in Zimbabwe and by the conflict between Muslims and Christians in Darfur, Sudan," Bishop Mwamba said.
The Council commended local churches and the wider world community for their response to the disaster.
"We are praying that all those affected will quickly receive the practical aid that is so sorely needed and the abiding comfort of God's Holy Spirit," Bishop Mwamba said.
In the statement CAPA said the church was trying to see how the Zimbabwean issue could be resolved in peace.
Archbishop Akinola added that the problem was of concern to the Southern African Development Community and was no longer confined to Zimbabwe.
CAPA commended Mauritius for its multi-ethnic society, a stable democracy, regular free elections, and a positive human rights record - qualities that the clergymen said not all African nations were blessed with.
However, CAPA acknowledged that there were encouraging signs in Africa.
"After years of devastating war, there are glimmers of hope in Democratic Republic of Congo," the report said. "And the now vibrant economies of Kenya and Ghana have recently drawn plaudits from the World Bank."
This year the theme of the Council's meeting was "Called to a Life of Faithfulness."
In the statement CAPA said obedience and faithful living was important to make progress in the work toward the eradication of HIV/AIDS.
"The disturbing growth in the numbers of new infections reminds us that the battle is far from over. This is especially true for many women in Africa who find themselves increasingly vulnerable to sexual oppression and abuse," the report said.
CAPA also called upon the United Nations and the governments of the G8 nations "to fulfill their commitments so that the suffering of our most vulnerable sisters and brothers can be alleviated."
When asked about the role of women in the communion in fighting back the problem of HIV/AIDS, the program coordinator of the council, Emmanuel Olatunji, said CAPA had a plan.
"The church in Africa has already developed a strategy which includes the involvement of women," Olatunji said.
Concerning the financial support of CAPA, there had been unanimous conviction that all provinces presently in arrears will fulfill their commitments by the end of 2007, according to the report.
"We were also reminded that the number of people living in abject poverty within our provinces continues to grow and is a devastating indictment of poor governance in a continent that has been blessed by God with remarkable resources," Bishop Mwamba said.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Global Media (allAfrica.com)
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Archbishop of Canterbury - children 'not expendable'
ACNS 4328 | LAMBETH | 10 OCTOBER 2007
In a video address to the Kids Company conference taking place today, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, outlined his support for Kids Company and the work that they do, saying that the greatest priviledge was being able to hear from the children directly: "what they think a real childhood is like, we all need to hear that, they know what they are missing, they know something of the privation that's at the heart of their lives. They know what they need and we need to hear it."
The Archbishop also called on the government to invest in the vulnerable children in our society:
"It's been said sometimes that you can gauge the termperature, the kind of moral climate of a society by looking at the way it treats its most vulnerable people.... What do we do on behalf of those who don't have voices, who don't have leverage, how do we bring their voices into public discussion? Are we a society where people are prepared to advocate for those who don't have voices of their own? Above all, are we prepared to put the necessary resource, skill and commitment, into the nurturing of human beings?"
Archbishop Williams goes on to say:
"Look around at our society and very often it seems as if we're prepared to countenance the fact that a very substantial percentage of our young people are expendable, they're left on the side of the road as we go on".
Ends
Full text of the Archbishop's message is below:
Kids Company video message for 'No bullsh*t - What matters to every child' Conference 10th October 2007
How would you feel if you knew that from the word go your life had been relegated to the too difficult file? The young people that we are thinking about today are people who know what that's like. And if you don't know or can't imagine, then the exhibition Demons and Angels will help you understand. And there are two images from that exhibition which stay with me as summing up some of the deepest aspects of the problems we're facing. The first is that unforgettable picture of empty photograph frames; instead of the photographs that ought to be there, the photographs of a safe and beloved childhood, you just see the scrawls that express the hopes and the pain of children who feel at the centre of their lives a kind of absence. Absent friends you might say, absent parents, and finally the absent person. The person who's never been loved and nurtured and brought into fullness by the presence of others who trust them and affirm them. And related to that the comment made by one of the youngsters whose experiences are recorded in this exhibition, the young whose experience of 19 years is pretty solidly one of being the target of violence and himself getting involved in it - being abused, being shot at, being neglected. And how did he sum up his life? 'always on my own'. Loneliness, absence, these are the terrible inner facts of the lives of so many of our young people. The young people that Kids Company seeks to work with.
It's been said sometimes that you can gauge the temperature, the kind of moral climate of a society by looking at the way it treats its most vulnerable people; whether those are people with disabilities, or with mental health challenges, migrants, the unemployed, prisoners, and of course children. What we do on behalf of those who don't have voices, who don't have leverage, how do we bring their voices into public discussion? Are we a society where people are prepared to advocate for those who don't have voices of their own? And, above all, are we prepared to put the necessary resource, the necessary skill and commitment, into the nurturing of human beings? We rightly put great skill, great commitment, into any kind of activity where we are dealing with vulnerable, unique, distinctive, precious things. How does that apply to how we approach childhood? Look around at our society and very often it seems as if we're not putting that kind of investment, it seems as if we're prepared to countenance the fact that a very substantial percentage of our young people are expendable, they're to be left on the side of the road as we go on. That's not a vision that Kids Co. has ever been prepared to settle with.
For me in the last few years it's been a huge privilege and a real opening of horizons to get to know something about the work of Kids Company, to get to know Camilla, to meet some of the young people involved, to see their work and to hear about their aspirations and their fears and their sense of privation. Above all perhaps, to hear from them what they think a real childhood is like. We all need to hear that, they know what they are missing, they know something of the privation that's at the heart of their lives. They know what they need and we need to hear it.
So I hope that in today's conference there will be some strong words and clear words addressed to government, to statutory organisations, to civil society, to all of us as individuals, challenging us to think about what it is that children need, what kind of skill, resource and faithfulness we owe to our children. So I wish the conference every success, it's got a wonderful line-up of speakers and behind it of course lies that unique experience which Kids Company itself represents, the experience that's laid out so clearly and so very painfully in the Demons and Angels exhibition and its images, an experience which, for the health of our whole society, we need to attend to.
(c) Rowan Williams 2007
___________________________________________________________________
ACNSlist, published by Anglican Communion News Service, London, is distributed to more than 8,000 journalists and other readers around the world.
In a video address to the Kids Company conference taking place today, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, outlined his support for Kids Company and the work that they do, saying that the greatest priviledge was being able to hear from the children directly: "what they think a real childhood is like, we all need to hear that, they know what they are missing, they know something of the privation that's at the heart of their lives. They know what they need and we need to hear it."
The Archbishop also called on the government to invest in the vulnerable children in our society:
"It's been said sometimes that you can gauge the termperature, the kind of moral climate of a society by looking at the way it treats its most vulnerable people.... What do we do on behalf of those who don't have voices, who don't have leverage, how do we bring their voices into public discussion? Are we a society where people are prepared to advocate for those who don't have voices of their own? Above all, are we prepared to put the necessary resource, skill and commitment, into the nurturing of human beings?"
Archbishop Williams goes on to say:
"Look around at our society and very often it seems as if we're prepared to countenance the fact that a very substantial percentage of our young people are expendable, they're left on the side of the road as we go on".
Ends
Full text of the Archbishop's message is below:
Kids Company video message for 'No bullsh*t - What matters to every child' Conference 10th October 2007
How would you feel if you knew that from the word go your life had been relegated to the too difficult file? The young people that we are thinking about today are people who know what that's like. And if you don't know or can't imagine, then the exhibition Demons and Angels will help you understand. And there are two images from that exhibition which stay with me as summing up some of the deepest aspects of the problems we're facing. The first is that unforgettable picture of empty photograph frames; instead of the photographs that ought to be there, the photographs of a safe and beloved childhood, you just see the scrawls that express the hopes and the pain of children who feel at the centre of their lives a kind of absence. Absent friends you might say, absent parents, and finally the absent person. The person who's never been loved and nurtured and brought into fullness by the presence of others who trust them and affirm them. And related to that the comment made by one of the youngsters whose experiences are recorded in this exhibition, the young whose experience of 19 years is pretty solidly one of being the target of violence and himself getting involved in it - being abused, being shot at, being neglected. And how did he sum up his life? 'always on my own'. Loneliness, absence, these are the terrible inner facts of the lives of so many of our young people. The young people that Kids Company seeks to work with.
It's been said sometimes that you can gauge the temperature, the kind of moral climate of a society by looking at the way it treats its most vulnerable people; whether those are people with disabilities, or with mental health challenges, migrants, the unemployed, prisoners, and of course children. What we do on behalf of those who don't have voices, who don't have leverage, how do we bring their voices into public discussion? Are we a society where people are prepared to advocate for those who don't have voices of their own? And, above all, are we prepared to put the necessary resource, the necessary skill and commitment, into the nurturing of human beings? We rightly put great skill, great commitment, into any kind of activity where we are dealing with vulnerable, unique, distinctive, precious things. How does that apply to how we approach childhood? Look around at our society and very often it seems as if we're not putting that kind of investment, it seems as if we're prepared to countenance the fact that a very substantial percentage of our young people are expendable, they're to be left on the side of the road as we go on. That's not a vision that Kids Co. has ever been prepared to settle with.
For me in the last few years it's been a huge privilege and a real opening of horizons to get to know something about the work of Kids Company, to get to know Camilla, to meet some of the young people involved, to see their work and to hear about their aspirations and their fears and their sense of privation. Above all perhaps, to hear from them what they think a real childhood is like. We all need to hear that, they know what they are missing, they know something of the privation that's at the heart of their lives. They know what they need and we need to hear it.
So I hope that in today's conference there will be some strong words and clear words addressed to government, to statutory organisations, to civil society, to all of us as individuals, challenging us to think about what it is that children need, what kind of skill, resource and faithfulness we owe to our children. So I wish the conference every success, it's got a wonderful line-up of speakers and behind it of course lies that unique experience which Kids Company itself represents, the experience that's laid out so clearly and so very painfully in the Demons and Angels exhibition and its images, an experience which, for the health of our whole society, we need to attend to.
(c) Rowan Williams 2007
___________________________________________________________________
ACNSlist, published by Anglican Communion News Service, London, is distributed to more than 8,000 journalists and other readers around the world.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Communique from the Anglican Peace and Justice Network
ACNS 4327 | ACO | 09 OCTOBER 2007
The international Anglican Peace and Justice Network (APJN), has issued a communiqué from its recently concluded triennial meeting in Kigali, Rwanda and Bujumbura, Burundi
Participants included representatives from 17 provinces (list below) of the Anglican Communion. The meeting focused on conflict transformation and exploring the role of violence in societies throughout the world.
Bishop Pie Ntukamazina of the Diocese of Bujumbura, a leader of its steering committee, hosted the APJN on behalf of the Anglican Provinces of Rwanda and Burundi.
The meeting began with a welcome address in Kigali by Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini, primate of the Anglican Church in Rwanda.
APJN's convener, Dr. Jenny Te Paa of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, guided participants through the agenda.
The communiqué says that the Network "sees the critical work for justice and peace in all areas of conflict and violence mentioned in this communiqué and elsewhere as central to the mission of the Church to reconcile all things to Christ."
A primary recommendation noted "our firm conviction that the Anglican Communion increase its presence in the regions and countries in conflict, and to be in solidarity with the affected local Anglican provinces and jurisdictions."
This "increased solidarity" is especially needed, the communiqué says, with the Anglican provinces in the Great Lakes region of eastern Africa. The Great Lakes region includes countries surrounding Lake Kivu, Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Victoria. Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda have a combined population of 107 million people.
"While this solidarity should include a ministry of presence, we encourage the members of the Anglican Communion to strive to partner with the Anglican provinces and dioceses in the Great Lakes region, as well as with other provinces witnessing in the midst of civil strife and war to support all current efforts by those partners seeking to build peace and resolve conflict in their societies," the Network's communiqué says. "One member posed the question: How many resources is the Communion willing to provide to these sister and brother members of the Communion caught up in seemingly endless cycles of violence and its resulting suffering, displacement and poverty?"
The complete text of the communiqué follows.
Anglican Peace and Justice Network Triennial Meeting Rwanda and Burundi 25 September - 3 October 2007
Communiqué
Under the inspired leadership of the Right Reverend Pie Ntukamazina, Bishop of Bujumbura, Burundi, we, the members of the Anglican Peace and Justice Network, representing 17 provinces of the Anglican Communion, were hosted by the Anglican Provinces of Rwanda and Burundi to see and to listen from the 25 September -- 3 October 2007. Bishop Pie has been a leader of the Network since 1994 who had championed a meeting of the Network in the Great Lakes area of Africa.
The meeting began with a welcome address in Kigali by Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini, primate of the Anglican Church in Rwanda. The Archbishop told the APJN members that their gathering "is a sacramental moment," and noted the hope their gathering brings to the Rwandan people in contrast to the "Rwanda of 1994, a time when the world abandoned us."
>From April-July of that year more than a million Rwandans were
slaughtered in what is acknowledged by the international community as genocide.
Our members were deeply sobered by a visit to the Rwandan genocide museum, and were deeply impressed by the careful and often vivid recounting of the root causes of the conflict, which include its colonial past and the role of the Churches. The museum delivers a clear message that this event, and others like it which are also depicted at the museum (including the Holocaust, Armenian, Balkan and Namibian genocides in the 20th century) should never be repeated. The museum also depicts the work of reconciliation being done as part of the rebuilding of the nation and offers a hopeful glimpse of the future.
Our group was also visibly shaken by a visit to a Church to see a site where 5,000 people were slaughtered after taking refuge. The site now serves as a sober memorial to the victims of the genocide. Sudan representative Bishop Micah Dawidi prayed for the victims and their families. Indeed, the entire meeting was enveloped in a spirit of prayer and reverence for the sanctity of life.
In a joint meeting with a Great Lakes delegation of the International Anglican Women's Network, APJN met with two women survivors from Rwanda who told disturbing and moving accounts of their ordeal, including one woman who was hacked by a machete and left for dead. When asked if she forgives those who committed these acts, she replied "The Bible calls us to forgive."
The Church is participating in the hard work of repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation and APJN hopes its visit serves as a measure of solidarity and support for the province and country of Rwanda. We were encouraged to see signs of rebirth in the country among the people, especially in the areas of education and reconciliation and in environmental policy. As a further sign of hope, it was observed that nearly 50% of the parliament is made up of women.
After the Rwanda visit, members of the Network spent six nights in Bujumbura, Burundi under the pastoral care of host Bishop Pie Ntukamazina in a country racked by years of civil strife and conflict. He led the group to a memorial site located on the grounds of a Roman Catholic seminary in the city of Buta. The memorial is dedicated to 40 seminarians and workers who were slaughtered by rebels. The rebels had demanded that the seminarians separate themselves along ethnic lines so that one group would be killed and the other spared. The young men were defiant and refused to be divided, making a courageous witness that they would rather die than be separated. The memorial serves as a sign of hope and victory over evil, to remind the Church and the whole of society that there exists the possibility for people to stand together as one family in God our creator.
As in Rwanda, two other women survivors in Burundi generously shared their pain and suffering with members of the Network. While their near death experiences may be over, they and thousands of other women continue to live in difficult situations of poverty, lack of housing, lack of means to support their children and, for many, the reality of having to live with HIV and AIDS as a result of infection from sexual abusers.
Members of the network were also made aware of the impact of violence and conflict on the extreme conditions, of poverty, HIV and AIDS, malaria, environmental degradation and the abuse of women and children and the resultant the plight of internally displaced people amidst a society traumatized by genocide and conflict in both Rwanda and Burundi, and neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. APJN supports healing through processes of truth telling, repentance and restorative justice. The Anglican Church has a huge and important role to play in these processes of reconciliation.
In many situations, including Burundi, the Church has the difficult and sometimes dangerous task of speaking out against unjust political conditions, where political parties are divided because of personal interest, where violence continues due to the unchecked spread of armaments and where agreements between rebel groups and governments are not being honored. It is therefore even more necessary that a global church lends all its support with the local church to ensure that the world wide Anglican communion is seen to be a prophetic voice in society.
The Anglican Communion as a worldwide church of over 77 million people must increase its voice and its resources and advocate on behalf of those who are seemingly powerless, but most affected by these harsh conditions. We call on the Communion to preach the message of reconciliation by action and to assist in the facilitation of dialogue in situations of need as is happening in some areas. The Network will undertake as one of its projects to identify resources for conflict transformation that can be utilized in provinces and churches in the important work of reconciliation.
The Network encourages programmes in Burundi that seek to support positive post conflict reconciliation, rebuilding and social development such as government programmes that have begun to provide social security and services for primary education and medical care for pregnant woman and children under 5 years. It thankfully acknowledges that in each of the countries where conflict has destroyed communities, the Church is actively engaged in community development programmes that address issues of human development through food security, education, the creation of sustainable livelihoods, health care and many other programmes, and we encourage the Anglican Communion to urge the international Anglican development agencies to support the local churches with additional resources to enhance all social development programmes being implemented by the Church.
This meeting originally planned to include a visit to Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo but at the last minute the Network was advised that it may be too dangerous to travel to Goma from Kigali by road and therefore this component of the visit was cancelled. However, the meeting was fortunate to have one member from the DRC, Bishop Bahati Bali Busane, who made a presentation about the situation there, especially as the conflict affects women and children.
Bishop Micah of Sudan outlined the background to the war in Sudan between north and south, its recent resolution, and the continuing conflict and humanitarian disaster that unfolds in Darfur. The APJN deplores the violence, racism, and inter-religious conflict that continue, especially in Darfur. On the north -- south conflict, we ask that the African Union and United Nations be more assertive in seeking a commitment from the Khartoum government to the implementation of the peace accord without further delay. We also learned that Moslems and Christians of southern Sudan once coexisted in relative harmony. We call on Anglicans who are in dialogue with Muslim leaders around the world to consider with them how best the inter-religious dimensions of the conflict in Sudan can be reduced. We applaud and affirm the local church's efforts to bring warring parties together and provide training in conflict resolution skills and call on the Anglican Communion to support this effort.
In Uganda, there is hope that a 21 year conflict in the north appears to be coming to an end. We are encouraged by the ongoing peace process hosted by the government of southern Sudan. We note that bishops from the north struggled for a long time in isolation -- risking their lives to meet with rebel groups and even sleeping on the streets with abandoned children. When 15 bishops from the south crossed over to the northern conflict zone to see the effects of war first hand and pray alongside their brothers and sisters, they created the possibility for the whole country and church to take full ownership of their role in conflict resolution.
We heard reports of the further deterioration of the tragic situation in Zimbabwe, once the breadbasket of central Africa and now reduced to begging from neighbouring countries for its most basic needs. We acknowledged that this pathetic situation has a twofold cause: (1) political mismanagement of the country, the blocking of any reform and the suppression of voices of opposition and, (2) the failure of the United States and United Kingdom to realize the commitments they made in the Lancaster Agreement of 1978 to assist in redistribution of land.
Poignant accounts of the situation in Panama, DRC and the Philippines reminded us of the complicity of the USA and other countries in perpetrating and perpetuating acts of violence and social and economic destruction. In the Great Lakes the world turned its back on the killing of unprecedented ferocity which might have been prevented. This underlines the importance of strengthening the prophetic mission of the church to hold political powers to account for their actions.
In hearing many reports of horrific acts of violence by gunmen and armed militias, we were led to ask who benefits from the sale of small arms, and reminded of the contribution to all conflicts made by the makers and sellers of arms.
The story of the Anglican Church of Canada's effort to seek healing and truth with Aboriginal peoples reminded us that reconciliation is not only a project in places of visible conflict, but is also called for where ancient divisions have not been addressed.
In addition to the conflict situations mentioned, the meeting also heard concerns about the recent violence in Myanmar and calls for prayers for the people of that tortured land. The Network continues to support a vigorous and urgent peace process in Israel/Palestine as a matter of the highest priority. It further expresses its ongoing concerns for the conflicts in Iraq, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
The Network also expresses support for an international Anglican peace conference after hearing a special report from Dr. Jeremiah Yang on the upcoming Anglican peace conference to be held in Seoul, Korea November 14-21. The theme of the conference will focus on reconciliation and reunification of the Korean peninsula. The conference is being organized and hosted by the Anglican Church of Korea. APJN will send delegates and participate in presentations at the conference. The Network met in Seoul in 1998 and has been a long time advocate for Korean reunification.
A part of the deliberations included a presentation by Canon Delene Mark from the TEAM conference held in March, 2007, in Boksburg, South Africa, which drew 400 participants, representing over 30 provinces and extra provincial churches from around the Anglican Communion on the subject of HIV and AIDS and poverty eradication, especially through the Millennium Development Goals. The discussion focused on the recommendations of the conference, specifically recommendation number 9 on strengthening peace and justice initiatives in areas of conflict and human displacement. APJN sees its meeting as advancing the agenda of the TEAM conference.
Primary among our recommendations to be included in a forthcoming report is our firm conviction that the Anglican Communion increase its presence in the regions and countries in conflict, and to be in solidarity with the affected local Anglican provinces and jurisdictions. We particularly call for increased solidarity with the Anglican provinces in the Great Lakes region. While this solidarity should include a ministry of presence, we encourage the members of the Anglican Communion to strive to partner with the Anglican provinces and dioceses in the Great Lakes region, as well as with other provinces witnessing in the midst of civil strife and war to support all current efforts by those partners seeking to build peace and resolve conflict in their societies. One member posed the question: How many resources is the Communion willing to provide to these sister and brother members of the Communion caught up in seemingly endless cycles of violence and its resulting suffering, displacement and poverty?
APJN sees the critical work for justice and peace in all areas of conflict and violence mentioned in this communiqué and elsewhere as central to the mission of the Church to reconcile all things to Christ.
Submitted by the Provinces represented at the APJN gathering: Aotearoa, New Zealand & Polynesia (Jenny Te Paa), Burundi (Pie Ntukamazina), Canada (Cynthia Patterson and Maylanne Maybee), Central Africa (Eston Pembamoyo), Central America (Roberto Bruneau), The Democratic Republic of Congo (Sylvestre Bahati Bali Busane), England (Simon Keyes), Japan (Samuel Koshiishi), Korea (Jeremiah Yang), Church of North India (Prem Masih), Philippines (Esteban Sabawil), Rwanda (Emmanuel Gatera), Scotland (Alison Simpson), Southern Africa (Delene Mark), Sudan (Micah Dawidi), Uganda (Jessica Nalwoga), and the U.S.-based Episcopal Church (Brian Grieves). Two papers were also submitted from Pakistan (Alexander
Malik) and Jerusalem (Naim Ateek) and regrets were sent at the last moment from Sri Lanka (Duleep de Chickera) and Brazil (Luiz Prado).
___________________________________________________________________
ACNSlist, published by Anglican Communion News Service, London, is distributed to more than 8,000 journalists and other readers around the world.
The international Anglican Peace and Justice Network (APJN), has issued a communiqué from its recently concluded triennial meeting in Kigali, Rwanda and Bujumbura, Burundi
Participants included representatives from 17 provinces (list below) of the Anglican Communion. The meeting focused on conflict transformation and exploring the role of violence in societies throughout the world.
Bishop Pie Ntukamazina of the Diocese of Bujumbura, a leader of its steering committee, hosted the APJN on behalf of the Anglican Provinces of Rwanda and Burundi.
The meeting began with a welcome address in Kigali by Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini, primate of the Anglican Church in Rwanda.
APJN's convener, Dr. Jenny Te Paa of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, guided participants through the agenda.
The communiqué says that the Network "sees the critical work for justice and peace in all areas of conflict and violence mentioned in this communiqué and elsewhere as central to the mission of the Church to reconcile all things to Christ."
A primary recommendation noted "our firm conviction that the Anglican Communion increase its presence in the regions and countries in conflict, and to be in solidarity with the affected local Anglican provinces and jurisdictions."
This "increased solidarity" is especially needed, the communiqué says, with the Anglican provinces in the Great Lakes region of eastern Africa. The Great Lakes region includes countries surrounding Lake Kivu, Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Victoria. Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda have a combined population of 107 million people.
"While this solidarity should include a ministry of presence, we encourage the members of the Anglican Communion to strive to partner with the Anglican provinces and dioceses in the Great Lakes region, as well as with other provinces witnessing in the midst of civil strife and war to support all current efforts by those partners seeking to build peace and resolve conflict in their societies," the Network's communiqué says. "One member posed the question: How many resources is the Communion willing to provide to these sister and brother members of the Communion caught up in seemingly endless cycles of violence and its resulting suffering, displacement and poverty?"
The complete text of the communiqué follows.
Anglican Peace and Justice Network Triennial Meeting Rwanda and Burundi 25 September - 3 October 2007
Communiqué
Under the inspired leadership of the Right Reverend Pie Ntukamazina, Bishop of Bujumbura, Burundi, we, the members of the Anglican Peace and Justice Network, representing 17 provinces of the Anglican Communion, were hosted by the Anglican Provinces of Rwanda and Burundi to see and to listen from the 25 September -- 3 October 2007. Bishop Pie has been a leader of the Network since 1994 who had championed a meeting of the Network in the Great Lakes area of Africa.
The meeting began with a welcome address in Kigali by Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini, primate of the Anglican Church in Rwanda. The Archbishop told the APJN members that their gathering "is a sacramental moment," and noted the hope their gathering brings to the Rwandan people in contrast to the "Rwanda of 1994, a time when the world abandoned us."
>From April-July of that year more than a million Rwandans were
slaughtered in what is acknowledged by the international community as genocide.
Our members were deeply sobered by a visit to the Rwandan genocide museum, and were deeply impressed by the careful and often vivid recounting of the root causes of the conflict, which include its colonial past and the role of the Churches. The museum delivers a clear message that this event, and others like it which are also depicted at the museum (including the Holocaust, Armenian, Balkan and Namibian genocides in the 20th century) should never be repeated. The museum also depicts the work of reconciliation being done as part of the rebuilding of the nation and offers a hopeful glimpse of the future.
Our group was also visibly shaken by a visit to a Church to see a site where 5,000 people were slaughtered after taking refuge. The site now serves as a sober memorial to the victims of the genocide. Sudan representative Bishop Micah Dawidi prayed for the victims and their families. Indeed, the entire meeting was enveloped in a spirit of prayer and reverence for the sanctity of life.
In a joint meeting with a Great Lakes delegation of the International Anglican Women's Network, APJN met with two women survivors from Rwanda who told disturbing and moving accounts of their ordeal, including one woman who was hacked by a machete and left for dead. When asked if she forgives those who committed these acts, she replied "The Bible calls us to forgive."
The Church is participating in the hard work of repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation and APJN hopes its visit serves as a measure of solidarity and support for the province and country of Rwanda. We were encouraged to see signs of rebirth in the country among the people, especially in the areas of education and reconciliation and in environmental policy. As a further sign of hope, it was observed that nearly 50% of the parliament is made up of women.
After the Rwanda visit, members of the Network spent six nights in Bujumbura, Burundi under the pastoral care of host Bishop Pie Ntukamazina in a country racked by years of civil strife and conflict. He led the group to a memorial site located on the grounds of a Roman Catholic seminary in the city of Buta. The memorial is dedicated to 40 seminarians and workers who were slaughtered by rebels. The rebels had demanded that the seminarians separate themselves along ethnic lines so that one group would be killed and the other spared. The young men were defiant and refused to be divided, making a courageous witness that they would rather die than be separated. The memorial serves as a sign of hope and victory over evil, to remind the Church and the whole of society that there exists the possibility for people to stand together as one family in God our creator.
As in Rwanda, two other women survivors in Burundi generously shared their pain and suffering with members of the Network. While their near death experiences may be over, they and thousands of other women continue to live in difficult situations of poverty, lack of housing, lack of means to support their children and, for many, the reality of having to live with HIV and AIDS as a result of infection from sexual abusers.
Members of the network were also made aware of the impact of violence and conflict on the extreme conditions, of poverty, HIV and AIDS, malaria, environmental degradation and the abuse of women and children and the resultant the plight of internally displaced people amidst a society traumatized by genocide and conflict in both Rwanda and Burundi, and neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. APJN supports healing through processes of truth telling, repentance and restorative justice. The Anglican Church has a huge and important role to play in these processes of reconciliation.
In many situations, including Burundi, the Church has the difficult and sometimes dangerous task of speaking out against unjust political conditions, where political parties are divided because of personal interest, where violence continues due to the unchecked spread of armaments and where agreements between rebel groups and governments are not being honored. It is therefore even more necessary that a global church lends all its support with the local church to ensure that the world wide Anglican communion is seen to be a prophetic voice in society.
The Anglican Communion as a worldwide church of over 77 million people must increase its voice and its resources and advocate on behalf of those who are seemingly powerless, but most affected by these harsh conditions. We call on the Communion to preach the message of reconciliation by action and to assist in the facilitation of dialogue in situations of need as is happening in some areas. The Network will undertake as one of its projects to identify resources for conflict transformation that can be utilized in provinces and churches in the important work of reconciliation.
The Network encourages programmes in Burundi that seek to support positive post conflict reconciliation, rebuilding and social development such as government programmes that have begun to provide social security and services for primary education and medical care for pregnant woman and children under 5 years. It thankfully acknowledges that in each of the countries where conflict has destroyed communities, the Church is actively engaged in community development programmes that address issues of human development through food security, education, the creation of sustainable livelihoods, health care and many other programmes, and we encourage the Anglican Communion to urge the international Anglican development agencies to support the local churches with additional resources to enhance all social development programmes being implemented by the Church.
This meeting originally planned to include a visit to Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo but at the last minute the Network was advised that it may be too dangerous to travel to Goma from Kigali by road and therefore this component of the visit was cancelled. However, the meeting was fortunate to have one member from the DRC, Bishop Bahati Bali Busane, who made a presentation about the situation there, especially as the conflict affects women and children.
Bishop Micah of Sudan outlined the background to the war in Sudan between north and south, its recent resolution, and the continuing conflict and humanitarian disaster that unfolds in Darfur. The APJN deplores the violence, racism, and inter-religious conflict that continue, especially in Darfur. On the north -- south conflict, we ask that the African Union and United Nations be more assertive in seeking a commitment from the Khartoum government to the implementation of the peace accord without further delay. We also learned that Moslems and Christians of southern Sudan once coexisted in relative harmony. We call on Anglicans who are in dialogue with Muslim leaders around the world to consider with them how best the inter-religious dimensions of the conflict in Sudan can be reduced. We applaud and affirm the local church's efforts to bring warring parties together and provide training in conflict resolution skills and call on the Anglican Communion to support this effort.
In Uganda, there is hope that a 21 year conflict in the north appears to be coming to an end. We are encouraged by the ongoing peace process hosted by the government of southern Sudan. We note that bishops from the north struggled for a long time in isolation -- risking their lives to meet with rebel groups and even sleeping on the streets with abandoned children. When 15 bishops from the south crossed over to the northern conflict zone to see the effects of war first hand and pray alongside their brothers and sisters, they created the possibility for the whole country and church to take full ownership of their role in conflict resolution.
We heard reports of the further deterioration of the tragic situation in Zimbabwe, once the breadbasket of central Africa and now reduced to begging from neighbouring countries for its most basic needs. We acknowledged that this pathetic situation has a twofold cause: (1) political mismanagement of the country, the blocking of any reform and the suppression of voices of opposition and, (2) the failure of the United States and United Kingdom to realize the commitments they made in the Lancaster Agreement of 1978 to assist in redistribution of land.
Poignant accounts of the situation in Panama, DRC and the Philippines reminded us of the complicity of the USA and other countries in perpetrating and perpetuating acts of violence and social and economic destruction. In the Great Lakes the world turned its back on the killing of unprecedented ferocity which might have been prevented. This underlines the importance of strengthening the prophetic mission of the church to hold political powers to account for their actions.
In hearing many reports of horrific acts of violence by gunmen and armed militias, we were led to ask who benefits from the sale of small arms, and reminded of the contribution to all conflicts made by the makers and sellers of arms.
The story of the Anglican Church of Canada's effort to seek healing and truth with Aboriginal peoples reminded us that reconciliation is not only a project in places of visible conflict, but is also called for where ancient divisions have not been addressed.
In addition to the conflict situations mentioned, the meeting also heard concerns about the recent violence in Myanmar and calls for prayers for the people of that tortured land. The Network continues to support a vigorous and urgent peace process in Israel/Palestine as a matter of the highest priority. It further expresses its ongoing concerns for the conflicts in Iraq, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
The Network also expresses support for an international Anglican peace conference after hearing a special report from Dr. Jeremiah Yang on the upcoming Anglican peace conference to be held in Seoul, Korea November 14-21. The theme of the conference will focus on reconciliation and reunification of the Korean peninsula. The conference is being organized and hosted by the Anglican Church of Korea. APJN will send delegates and participate in presentations at the conference. The Network met in Seoul in 1998 and has been a long time advocate for Korean reunification.
A part of the deliberations included a presentation by Canon Delene Mark from the TEAM conference held in March, 2007, in Boksburg, South Africa, which drew 400 participants, representing over 30 provinces and extra provincial churches from around the Anglican Communion on the subject of HIV and AIDS and poverty eradication, especially through the Millennium Development Goals. The discussion focused on the recommendations of the conference, specifically recommendation number 9 on strengthening peace and justice initiatives in areas of conflict and human displacement. APJN sees its meeting as advancing the agenda of the TEAM conference.
Primary among our recommendations to be included in a forthcoming report is our firm conviction that the Anglican Communion increase its presence in the regions and countries in conflict, and to be in solidarity with the affected local Anglican provinces and jurisdictions. We particularly call for increased solidarity with the Anglican provinces in the Great Lakes region. While this solidarity should include a ministry of presence, we encourage the members of the Anglican Communion to strive to partner with the Anglican provinces and dioceses in the Great Lakes region, as well as with other provinces witnessing in the midst of civil strife and war to support all current efforts by those partners seeking to build peace and resolve conflict in their societies. One member posed the question: How many resources is the Communion willing to provide to these sister and brother members of the Communion caught up in seemingly endless cycles of violence and its resulting suffering, displacement and poverty?
APJN sees the critical work for justice and peace in all areas of conflict and violence mentioned in this communiqué and elsewhere as central to the mission of the Church to reconcile all things to Christ.
Submitted by the Provinces represented at the APJN gathering: Aotearoa, New Zealand & Polynesia (Jenny Te Paa), Burundi (Pie Ntukamazina), Canada (Cynthia Patterson and Maylanne Maybee), Central Africa (Eston Pembamoyo), Central America (Roberto Bruneau), The Democratic Republic of Congo (Sylvestre Bahati Bali Busane), England (Simon Keyes), Japan (Samuel Koshiishi), Korea (Jeremiah Yang), Church of North India (Prem Masih), Philippines (Esteban Sabawil), Rwanda (Emmanuel Gatera), Scotland (Alison Simpson), Southern Africa (Delene Mark), Sudan (Micah Dawidi), Uganda (Jessica Nalwoga), and the U.S.-based Episcopal Church (Brian Grieves). Two papers were also submitted from Pakistan (Alexander
Malik) and Jerusalem (Naim Ateek) and regrets were sent at the last moment from Sri Lanka (Duleep de Chickera) and Brazil (Luiz Prado).
___________________________________________________________________
ACNSlist, published by Anglican Communion News Service, London, is distributed to more than 8,000 journalists and other readers around the world.
CAPA Communique, Mauritius, Indian Ocean, October 2007
ACNS 4326 | AFRICA | 09 OCTOBER 2007
CAPA Communique, Mauritius, Indian Ocean, October 2007
Council of Anglican Provinces in Africa
Tenth CAPA Council Meeting
Mauritius, Indian Ocean, October 2007
Communiqué
1. We, delegates of the Council of Anglican Provinces in Africa, gathered at Hotel El Monaco, Quatre Bornes, Mauritius between the 2nd and 5th October 2007 for the tenth meeting of the Council under the chairmanship of the Most Rev'd Peter J. Akinola. We represent eleven of the twelve Provinces of CAPA* as laity, clergy, bishops and archbishops and we issue this Communiqué from our meeting.
2. We have gathered in Mauritius, a delightful republic that is a bright light of hope for all developing nations after its years as a colonial territory of Great Britain. Mauritius is a diverse multi-ethnic society, with a stable democracy, regular free elections, a positive human rights record and a growing economy that has won world-wide recognition. We have come here to join with our sisters and brothers of the Province of the Indian Ocean to give thanks for their faithfulness as we all bear witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ that is the only hope for eternal transformation.
3. We are extremely grateful for the warm welcome shown to us by the Primate of the Indian Ocean and Bishop of Mauritius, the Most Reverend Ian Ernest, the Acting General Secretary, the Most Rev'd Benjamin Nzimbi, the Provincial Secretary, the Rev'd Samatiana Johnson, and the local support team. We are thankful for the gracious hospitality shown to us by the Prime Minister of Mauritius, the Honourable Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam, the Acting Prime Minister, the Honourable Dr. Rashid Beebeejaun, and the Mayor of Quatre Bornes, Her Worship Regina Maudar. We were also pleased to be able to welcome the Archbishop of York, the Most Rev'd John Sentamu, for part of the meeting.
4. We recognize that not every nation in Africa is blessed with such an open and stable government and a helpful economic environment, but we do rejoice in the encouraging signs that have been shared with us. For example, after years of devastating war there are glimmers of hope in Democratic Republic of the Congo and the now vibrant economies of Kenya and Ghana have recently drawn plaudits from the World Bank.
5. We have met as representatives of the fastest growing part of our beloved Communion and those of us gathered account for more than 37 million Anglicans. We believe that we have "come of age". We, who were once regarded as disobedient to God, are now compelled by the Gospel to declare the Good News of God's liberating love to all those who live in disobedience to God's Word.
6. We have come together recognizing the rich history of the African Church and the gift of faith that it has long given to the world. We are reminded of the saints, fathers and martyrs of the early church such as Augustine of Hippo, Tertullian, Cyprian and Perpetua of Carthage, and Athanasius and Clement of Alexandria; and more recent young martyrs of the Continent.
7. We have been distressed by the reports of the suffering and devastation that has occurred in both East, Central and West Africa as a result of recent environmental crises including both drought and floods. We were also disturbed by accounts of the military oppression in Myanmar, political oppression in Zimbabwe and by the conflict between Muslims and Christians in Darfur, Sudan. We are, however, encouraged by the response from the local churches and wider world community. We are praying that all those affected will quickly receive the practical aid that is so sorely needed and the abiding comfort of God's Holy Spirit.
8. The theme of our meeting was "CALLED TO A LIFE OF FAITHFULNESS" and in his Opening Address, Archbishop Akinola challenged all present to see the importance of our faithfulness to God's call as it applies to obedience to all of God's commands, stewardship of all of God's gifts and mission to all of God's people. Failure in any one of these areas leaves the church impotent to take on the enormous challenges of today.
9. We were especially reminded of the need for obedience and faithful living when we received the report on our work with the HIV/AIDS pandemic. We were encouraged by the good progress made by the CAPA office in Nairobi but the disturbing growth in the numbers and classes of new infections reminded us that the battle is far from over. This is especially true for many women in Africa who find themselves increasingly vulnerable to sexual oppression and abuse. We believe that as a faith community, in addition to our ongoing care for those living with HIV/AIDS, we must issue a renewed call to prevention through abstinence and faithfulness - with particular focus on the men of our communities. We also call on the UN and the Governments of the G8 nations to fulfill their commitments so that the suffering of our most vulnerable sisters and brothers can be alleviated.
10. The acting General Secretary, Archbishop Nzimbi, challenged us to demonstrate faithfulness in all aspects of financial stewardship throughout our various provinces and especially in our financial support of CAPA. There was unanimous conviction that all provinces presently in arrears will fulfill their commitments by the end of 2007. We were also reminded that the number of people living in abject poverty within our provinces continues to grow and is a devastating indictment of poor governance in a continent that has been blessed by God with remarkable resources. We were encouraged by the report of the Global South Economic Empowerment Consultation (see end note ) recently concluded in Accra, Ghana. We support its recommendations, especially in the call for the recruitment of an Economic Empowerment officer in each of our provinces.
11. Faithfulness in mission is at the heart of our call to be disciples of Jesus Christ. We were blessed by the reports of continued growth in mission throughout many of our provinces. We are, however, very much aware of the truth of the saying that "the church is always one generation away from extinction". We urge all churches to reach out to and disciple the youth of our Provinces so that they are empowered to stand against the false promises of materialism that bombard their minds, become mature disciples of Christ and take their full part in the future mission of our church.
12. While we have spent the majority of our time focused on the CALL TO A LIFE OF FAITHFULNESS within our own Continent we have been unable to ignore the current crisis in our Communion. The situation is summarized well in "The Road to Lambeth" the report commissioned by the CAPA Primates, and is noted below . We are united in our conviction that the Lord of the Church is calling upon Africa once again to contend for the "faith once and for all delivered to the saints."
13. We concluded our meeting with a special service for the inauguration of the DORCAS Activity Center at St. Thomas Church, Beau Bassin - an outreach ministry to the underprivileged of the surrounding community. It was a joyful celebration and a reminder that in the middle of all of our struggles God is at work renewing his Church - especially at the local level.
14. We recognize that in the few days that we have shared together we have only been given a glimpse of all that God is doing but it is enough to fill us with hope in God's love, God's power and God's faithfulness. We are grateful for the dedication and commitment shown by the CAPA leadership team over these past four years and look forward to God's continued blessing in the coming years. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Eph. 3:20,21)
* Provinces Represented:
Burundi, Central Africa, Congo, Indian Ocean, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and West Africa.
A Statement from the Most Rev'd Ian Ernest, Bishop of Mauritius, Archbishop of the Indian Ocean
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
I write to you as the newly elected Chairman of CAPA with profound gratitude for the trust shown in me by my brother and sister delegates and also with the sure conviction that I can only serve in this role with the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the mercy of God our Heavenly Father and the power of the Holy Spirit.
We have just completed the CAPA Council Meeting for 2007 with the theme "CALLED TO A LIFE OF FAITHFULNESS" and this, I believe, will be an appropriate theme for my service among you. I do not bring long years of experience nor the resources of a large Province but what I do bring is a confidence in Jesus Christ who has been my Lord, Savior and Friend since childhood. My family members have all been faithful Anglicans for generations and we know what it is to live by His grace and have seen His hand at work in our lives.
I also bring the experience of living in Mauritius, a multi-cultural and multi-religious society that is an example to the world as we live together with a sense of mutual respect and acceptance. I have also seen God's hand at work in the Province of the Indian Ocean as we have confronted enormous challenges both environmental and cultural and yet continue to grow in numbers and faithfulness. My hope is that I will be able to bring this experience to the challenges that confront the various provinces of beloved Communion at this time.
I take the work of reconciliation very seriously and believe that reconciling people to God and to one another is our apostolic call; but the unity that we seek must never be at the expense of the truth of the Holy Scriptures that is the bedrock of our faith. I also know that nothing can be accomplished that is not rooted in prayer and so I call on all believers to pray for the people, clergy and bishops of the Provinces of CAPA, the work to which we have all been called and the leadership of the Anglican Communion.
Be assured of my prayers and commitment, by the grace of God, to live a life of faithfulness among you.
With every blessing,
+Ian Mauritius
To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy - to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. (Jude 1:24,25)
African Archbishops respond to New Orleans (CAPA Primates Communique)
The Communiqué, CAPA Primates' Meeting in Mauritius, October 2007
We, the Primates of the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA) meeting 3rd to 5th October in Mauritius, Province of the Indian Ocean, issue this Communiqué from our meeting:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our one and only Saviour.
1. We have been greatly encouraged by our time together with the CAPA Council that has just completed its General Meeting. A separate Communiqué has been issued from these proceedings and we give thanks to God for the dedication of each of the delegates and the many signs of God's blessing throughout our various provinces.
2. At the conclusion of that meeting we conducted elections for the CAPA leadership team and are pleased to announce that the Most Rev'd Ian Ernest, Bishop of Mauritius and Archbishop of the Province of the Indian Ocean was elected to serve as Chairman with the Most Rev'd Emmanuel Kolini, Bishop of the Diocese of Kigali and Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of Rwanda, elected to serve as Vice-Chairman. We are grateful for their courageous leadership and look forward to the work of CAPA going from strength to strength.
3. We are, however, aware that we live and serve within the context of the wider Anglican Communion and acknowledge that we are profoundly concerned by the current impasse that confronts us. We have spent the last ten years in a series of meetings, issuing numerous communiqués, setting deadlines and yet we have made little progress. As was clearly articulated by our brother bishop, the Most Rev'd Mouneer Anis, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal/Anglican Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East when he addressed the House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church (TEC), "we want unity but not unity at any expense." We have observed that his call for clarity in response to the Dar es Salaam recommendations and his appeal to them to turn back from their current path or acknowledge that TEC has chosen to walk a different way from the rest of the Anglican Communion was ignored. We believe, therefore, that a change of direction from our current trajectory is urgently needed.
4. While meeting in Mauritius we received a copy of the report of the Joint Standing Committee (JSC) of the Primates and the Anglican Consultative Council. On first reading we find it to be unsatisfactory. The assurances made are without credibility and its preparation is severely compromised by numerous conflicts of interest. The report itself appears to be a determined effort to find a way for the full inclusion of The Episcopal Church with no attempt at discipline or change from their prior position.
5. We are convinced that what is at stake in this crisis is the very nature of Anglicanism - to understand it simply in terms of the need for greater inclusivity in the face of changing sexual ethics is a grave mistake. It is not just about sexuality but also about the nature of Christ, the truth of the Gospel and the authority of the Bible. We see a trend that seems to ignore the careful balance of reformed catholicity and missionary endeavor that is our true heritage and replace it with a religion of cultural conformity that offers no transforming power and no eternal hope.
6. In our considered opinion, however, there is a possible way forward. The Anglican Communion Covenant is the one way for us to uphold our common heritage of faith while at the same time holding each one of us accountable to those teachings that have defined our life together and also guide us into the future. We therefore propose the following
actions:
a. Call a special session of the Primates Meeting.
We believe that meeting together is essential if we are prayerfully to allow the Holy Spirit to work through our interactions and bring us to a common mind. We would need to:
i. Review the actual response made by The Episcopal Church - both their words and their actions.
ii. Finalize the Covenant proposal and set a timetable for ratification by individual provinces.
b. Postpone current plans for the Lambeth Conference
We recognize that such an action will be costly, however, we believe that the alternative - a divided conference with several provinces unable to participate and hundreds of bishops absent would be much more costly to our life and witness. It would bring an end to the Communion, as we know it. Postponement will accomplish the following:
i. Allow the current tensions to subside and leave room for the hard work of reconciliation that must be done.
ii. Ensure that those invited to the Lambeth Conference have already endorsed the Covenant and so can come together as witness to our common faith.
7. We make these proposals in good faith believing that they provide an opportunity for us to reunite the Communion consistent with our common heritage and give us a way forward. We also stand ready to work with the various instruments of the Communion to ensure their success.
8. We are very much aware of the plight of faithful Anglicans in North America during these difficult times. We assure them of our prayers, support and full recognition until the underlying concerns are fully resolved.
9. While these current difficulties are challenging for all concerned we do not lose heart because we know that the One we serve is faithful. During our time together we have heard numerous testimonies of God's faithfulness in the face of enormous difficulties and we are confident that we will find a way forward that will bring honour to His Name.
10. We recognize the fellowship and participation of the following Archbishops who have announced their retirement: the Most Rev'd Bernard Malango, The Church of the Province of Central Africa, the Most Rev'd Most Rev'd Njongonkulu Ndungane, Anglican Church of Southern Africa, the Most Rev'd Donald Mtetemela, Anglican Church of Tanzania. We also give thanks to God for the dedicated leadership of our outgoing chairman, the Most Rev'd Peter J. Akinola, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).
11. Finally, we acknowledge with grateful thanksgiving the hospitality of the Most Rev'd Ian Ernest and the opportunity to pay courtesy calls on the President of the Republic of Mauritius, Sir Aneerood Jugnauth, and the Prime Minister, the Honourable Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam.
To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy - to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen
The Most Rev'd Peter J. Akinola, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion)
**The Most Rev'd Justice Akrofi, The Church of the Province of West Africa
The Rt. Rev'd Philip Baji*, The Anglican Church of Tanzania
The Most Rev'd Fidele Dirokpa, Province de L'Eglise Anglicane Du Congo
The Most Revd Ian Ernest, The Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean
The Most Rev'd Emmanuel Kolini, L'Eglise Episcopal au Rwanda
The Most Rev'd Bernard Malango, The Church of the Province of Central Africa
The Rt Rev'd Trevor Mwamba*, The Church of the Province of Central Africa
The Most Rev'd Bernard Ntahoturi, The Anglican Church of Burundi
The Most Rev'd Benjamin Nzimbi, The Anglican Church of Kenya
The Most Rev'd Henry Orombi, The Church of the Province of Uganda
**The Rt Rev'd Johannes Seoka*, The Anglican Church of Southern Africa
The Rev'd Canon Dr. Sami Fawzy Shehata*, Diocese of Egypt
*Representing the Province
** Absent during discussion of Communiqué due to travel schedule
___________________________________________________________________
ACNSlist, published by Anglican Communion News Service, London, is distributed to more than 8,000 journalists and other readers around the world.
CAPA Communique, Mauritius, Indian Ocean, October 2007
Council of Anglican Provinces in Africa
Tenth CAPA Council Meeting
Mauritius, Indian Ocean, October 2007
Communiqué
1. We, delegates of the Council of Anglican Provinces in Africa, gathered at Hotel El Monaco, Quatre Bornes, Mauritius between the 2nd and 5th October 2007 for the tenth meeting of the Council under the chairmanship of the Most Rev'd Peter J. Akinola. We represent eleven of the twelve Provinces of CAPA* as laity, clergy, bishops and archbishops and we issue this Communiqué from our meeting.
2. We have gathered in Mauritius, a delightful republic that is a bright light of hope for all developing nations after its years as a colonial territory of Great Britain. Mauritius is a diverse multi-ethnic society, with a stable democracy, regular free elections, a positive human rights record and a growing economy that has won world-wide recognition. We have come here to join with our sisters and brothers of the Province of the Indian Ocean to give thanks for their faithfulness as we all bear witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ that is the only hope for eternal transformation.
3. We are extremely grateful for the warm welcome shown to us by the Primate of the Indian Ocean and Bishop of Mauritius, the Most Reverend Ian Ernest, the Acting General Secretary, the Most Rev'd Benjamin Nzimbi, the Provincial Secretary, the Rev'd Samatiana Johnson, and the local support team. We are thankful for the gracious hospitality shown to us by the Prime Minister of Mauritius, the Honourable Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam, the Acting Prime Minister, the Honourable Dr. Rashid Beebeejaun, and the Mayor of Quatre Bornes, Her Worship Regina Maudar. We were also pleased to be able to welcome the Archbishop of York, the Most Rev'd John Sentamu, for part of the meeting.
4. We recognize that not every nation in Africa is blessed with such an open and stable government and a helpful economic environment, but we do rejoice in the encouraging signs that have been shared with us. For example, after years of devastating war there are glimmers of hope in Democratic Republic of the Congo and the now vibrant economies of Kenya and Ghana have recently drawn plaudits from the World Bank.
5. We have met as representatives of the fastest growing part of our beloved Communion and those of us gathered account for more than 37 million Anglicans. We believe that we have "come of age". We, who were once regarded as disobedient to God, are now compelled by the Gospel to declare the Good News of God's liberating love to all those who live in disobedience to God's Word.
6. We have come together recognizing the rich history of the African Church and the gift of faith that it has long given to the world. We are reminded of the saints, fathers and martyrs of the early church such as Augustine of Hippo, Tertullian, Cyprian and Perpetua of Carthage, and Athanasius and Clement of Alexandria; and more recent young martyrs of the Continent.
7. We have been distressed by the reports of the suffering and devastation that has occurred in both East, Central and West Africa as a result of recent environmental crises including both drought and floods. We were also disturbed by accounts of the military oppression in Myanmar, political oppression in Zimbabwe and by the conflict between Muslims and Christians in Darfur, Sudan. We are, however, encouraged by the response from the local churches and wider world community. We are praying that all those affected will quickly receive the practical aid that is so sorely needed and the abiding comfort of God's Holy Spirit.
8. The theme of our meeting was "CALLED TO A LIFE OF FAITHFULNESS" and in his Opening Address, Archbishop Akinola challenged all present to see the importance of our faithfulness to God's call as it applies to obedience to all of God's commands, stewardship of all of God's gifts and mission to all of God's people. Failure in any one of these areas leaves the church impotent to take on the enormous challenges of today.
9. We were especially reminded of the need for obedience and faithful living when we received the report on our work with the HIV/AIDS pandemic. We were encouraged by the good progress made by the CAPA office in Nairobi but the disturbing growth in the numbers and classes of new infections reminded us that the battle is far from over. This is especially true for many women in Africa who find themselves increasingly vulnerable to sexual oppression and abuse. We believe that as a faith community, in addition to our ongoing care for those living with HIV/AIDS, we must issue a renewed call to prevention through abstinence and faithfulness - with particular focus on the men of our communities. We also call on the UN and the Governments of the G8 nations to fulfill their commitments so that the suffering of our most vulnerable sisters and brothers can be alleviated.
10. The acting General Secretary, Archbishop Nzimbi, challenged us to demonstrate faithfulness in all aspects of financial stewardship throughout our various provinces and especially in our financial support of CAPA. There was unanimous conviction that all provinces presently in arrears will fulfill their commitments by the end of 2007. We were also reminded that the number of people living in abject poverty within our provinces continues to grow and is a devastating indictment of poor governance in a continent that has been blessed by God with remarkable resources. We were encouraged by the report of the Global South Economic Empowerment Consultation (see end note ) recently concluded in Accra, Ghana. We support its recommendations, especially in the call for the recruitment of an Economic Empowerment officer in each of our provinces.
11. Faithfulness in mission is at the heart of our call to be disciples of Jesus Christ. We were blessed by the reports of continued growth in mission throughout many of our provinces. We are, however, very much aware of the truth of the saying that "the church is always one generation away from extinction". We urge all churches to reach out to and disciple the youth of our Provinces so that they are empowered to stand against the false promises of materialism that bombard their minds, become mature disciples of Christ and take their full part in the future mission of our church.
12. While we have spent the majority of our time focused on the CALL TO A LIFE OF FAITHFULNESS within our own Continent we have been unable to ignore the current crisis in our Communion. The situation is summarized well in "The Road to Lambeth" the report commissioned by the CAPA Primates, and is noted below . We are united in our conviction that the Lord of the Church is calling upon Africa once again to contend for the "faith once and for all delivered to the saints."
13. We concluded our meeting with a special service for the inauguration of the DORCAS Activity Center at St. Thomas Church, Beau Bassin - an outreach ministry to the underprivileged of the surrounding community. It was a joyful celebration and a reminder that in the middle of all of our struggles God is at work renewing his Church - especially at the local level.
14. We recognize that in the few days that we have shared together we have only been given a glimpse of all that God is doing but it is enough to fill us with hope in God's love, God's power and God's faithfulness. We are grateful for the dedication and commitment shown by the CAPA leadership team over these past four years and look forward to God's continued blessing in the coming years. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Eph. 3:20,21)
* Provinces Represented:
Burundi, Central Africa, Congo, Indian Ocean, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and West Africa.
A Statement from the Most Rev'd Ian Ernest, Bishop of Mauritius, Archbishop of the Indian Ocean
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
I write to you as the newly elected Chairman of CAPA with profound gratitude for the trust shown in me by my brother and sister delegates and also with the sure conviction that I can only serve in this role with the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the mercy of God our Heavenly Father and the power of the Holy Spirit.
We have just completed the CAPA Council Meeting for 2007 with the theme "CALLED TO A LIFE OF FAITHFULNESS" and this, I believe, will be an appropriate theme for my service among you. I do not bring long years of experience nor the resources of a large Province but what I do bring is a confidence in Jesus Christ who has been my Lord, Savior and Friend since childhood. My family members have all been faithful Anglicans for generations and we know what it is to live by His grace and have seen His hand at work in our lives.
I also bring the experience of living in Mauritius, a multi-cultural and multi-religious society that is an example to the world as we live together with a sense of mutual respect and acceptance. I have also seen God's hand at work in the Province of the Indian Ocean as we have confronted enormous challenges both environmental and cultural and yet continue to grow in numbers and faithfulness. My hope is that I will be able to bring this experience to the challenges that confront the various provinces of beloved Communion at this time.
I take the work of reconciliation very seriously and believe that reconciling people to God and to one another is our apostolic call; but the unity that we seek must never be at the expense of the truth of the Holy Scriptures that is the bedrock of our faith. I also know that nothing can be accomplished that is not rooted in prayer and so I call on all believers to pray for the people, clergy and bishops of the Provinces of CAPA, the work to which we have all been called and the leadership of the Anglican Communion.
Be assured of my prayers and commitment, by the grace of God, to live a life of faithfulness among you.
With every blessing,
+Ian Mauritius
To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy - to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. (Jude 1:24,25)
African Archbishops respond to New Orleans (CAPA Primates Communique)
The Communiqué, CAPA Primates' Meeting in Mauritius, October 2007
We, the Primates of the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA) meeting 3rd to 5th October in Mauritius, Province of the Indian Ocean, issue this Communiqué from our meeting:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our one and only Saviour.
1. We have been greatly encouraged by our time together with the CAPA Council that has just completed its General Meeting. A separate Communiqué has been issued from these proceedings and we give thanks to God for the dedication of each of the delegates and the many signs of God's blessing throughout our various provinces.
2. At the conclusion of that meeting we conducted elections for the CAPA leadership team and are pleased to announce that the Most Rev'd Ian Ernest, Bishop of Mauritius and Archbishop of the Province of the Indian Ocean was elected to serve as Chairman with the Most Rev'd Emmanuel Kolini, Bishop of the Diocese of Kigali and Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of Rwanda, elected to serve as Vice-Chairman. We are grateful for their courageous leadership and look forward to the work of CAPA going from strength to strength.
3. We are, however, aware that we live and serve within the context of the wider Anglican Communion and acknowledge that we are profoundly concerned by the current impasse that confronts us. We have spent the last ten years in a series of meetings, issuing numerous communiqués, setting deadlines and yet we have made little progress. As was clearly articulated by our brother bishop, the Most Rev'd Mouneer Anis, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal/Anglican Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East when he addressed the House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church (TEC), "we want unity but not unity at any expense." We have observed that his call for clarity in response to the Dar es Salaam recommendations and his appeal to them to turn back from their current path or acknowledge that TEC has chosen to walk a different way from the rest of the Anglican Communion was ignored. We believe, therefore, that a change of direction from our current trajectory is urgently needed.
4. While meeting in Mauritius we received a copy of the report of the Joint Standing Committee (JSC) of the Primates and the Anglican Consultative Council. On first reading we find it to be unsatisfactory. The assurances made are without credibility and its preparation is severely compromised by numerous conflicts of interest. The report itself appears to be a determined effort to find a way for the full inclusion of The Episcopal Church with no attempt at discipline or change from their prior position.
5. We are convinced that what is at stake in this crisis is the very nature of Anglicanism - to understand it simply in terms of the need for greater inclusivity in the face of changing sexual ethics is a grave mistake. It is not just about sexuality but also about the nature of Christ, the truth of the Gospel and the authority of the Bible. We see a trend that seems to ignore the careful balance of reformed catholicity and missionary endeavor that is our true heritage and replace it with a religion of cultural conformity that offers no transforming power and no eternal hope.
6. In our considered opinion, however, there is a possible way forward. The Anglican Communion Covenant is the one way for us to uphold our common heritage of faith while at the same time holding each one of us accountable to those teachings that have defined our life together and also guide us into the future. We therefore propose the following
actions:
a. Call a special session of the Primates Meeting.
We believe that meeting together is essential if we are prayerfully to allow the Holy Spirit to work through our interactions and bring us to a common mind. We would need to:
i. Review the actual response made by The Episcopal Church - both their words and their actions.
ii. Finalize the Covenant proposal and set a timetable for ratification by individual provinces.
b. Postpone current plans for the Lambeth Conference
We recognize that such an action will be costly, however, we believe that the alternative - a divided conference with several provinces unable to participate and hundreds of bishops absent would be much more costly to our life and witness. It would bring an end to the Communion, as we know it. Postponement will accomplish the following:
i. Allow the current tensions to subside and leave room for the hard work of reconciliation that must be done.
ii. Ensure that those invited to the Lambeth Conference have already endorsed the Covenant and so can come together as witness to our common faith.
7. We make these proposals in good faith believing that they provide an opportunity for us to reunite the Communion consistent with our common heritage and give us a way forward. We also stand ready to work with the various instruments of the Communion to ensure their success.
8. We are very much aware of the plight of faithful Anglicans in North America during these difficult times. We assure them of our prayers, support and full recognition until the underlying concerns are fully resolved.
9. While these current difficulties are challenging for all concerned we do not lose heart because we know that the One we serve is faithful. During our time together we have heard numerous testimonies of God's faithfulness in the face of enormous difficulties and we are confident that we will find a way forward that will bring honour to His Name.
10. We recognize the fellowship and participation of the following Archbishops who have announced their retirement: the Most Rev'd Bernard Malango, The Church of the Province of Central Africa, the Most Rev'd Most Rev'd Njongonkulu Ndungane, Anglican Church of Southern Africa, the Most Rev'd Donald Mtetemela, Anglican Church of Tanzania. We also give thanks to God for the dedicated leadership of our outgoing chairman, the Most Rev'd Peter J. Akinola, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).
11. Finally, we acknowledge with grateful thanksgiving the hospitality of the Most Rev'd Ian Ernest and the opportunity to pay courtesy calls on the President of the Republic of Mauritius, Sir Aneerood Jugnauth, and the Prime Minister, the Honourable Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam.
To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy - to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen
The Most Rev'd Peter J. Akinola, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion)
**The Most Rev'd Justice Akrofi, The Church of the Province of West Africa
The Rt. Rev'd Philip Baji*, The Anglican Church of Tanzania
The Most Rev'd Fidele Dirokpa, Province de L'Eglise Anglicane Du Congo
The Most Revd Ian Ernest, The Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean
The Most Rev'd Emmanuel Kolini, L'Eglise Episcopal au Rwanda
The Most Rev'd Bernard Malango, The Church of the Province of Central Africa
The Rt Rev'd Trevor Mwamba*, The Church of the Province of Central Africa
The Most Rev'd Bernard Ntahoturi, The Anglican Church of Burundi
The Most Rev'd Benjamin Nzimbi, The Anglican Church of Kenya
The Most Rev'd Henry Orombi, The Church of the Province of Uganda
**The Rt Rev'd Johannes Seoka*, The Anglican Church of Southern Africa
The Rev'd Canon Dr. Sami Fawzy Shehata*, Diocese of Egypt
*Representing the Province
** Absent during discussion of Communiqué due to travel schedule
___________________________________________________________________
ACNSlist, published by Anglican Communion News Service, London, is distributed to more than 8,000 journalists and other readers around the world.
Friday, October 05, 2007
Congregation joins new convocation
Web Posted: 10/05/2007 07:20 PM CDT
Express-News
Congregation joins
new convocation
An Anglican congregation in San Antonio last month joined a newly formed convocation of churches designed to be a conservative alternative to the left-leaning Episcopal Church USA.
All Saints Anglican Church, which draws up to 170 weekly to its facilities at 11122 Link Drive in Castle Hills, is the first San Antonio congregation and one of seven in Texas to join the Convocation of Anglicans in North America.
The convocation is sponsored by the Anglican Church of Nigeria, which is a member of the worldwide Anglican Communion, a body of about 77 million members worldwide, including the Episcopal Church, whose roots date back to the Church of England.
The Nigerian church's Archbishop, Peter Akinola, has openly criticized the Episcopal Church for consecrating an openly gay bishop four years ago.
This convocation, while under Nigerian church's authority, has its own U.S. leadership based in Virginia that oversees more than 50 parishes nationwide.
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Online at: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA100607.07B.convocation.14098e15a.html
Express-News
Congregation joins
new convocation
An Anglican congregation in San Antonio last month joined a newly formed convocation of churches designed to be a conservative alternative to the left-leaning Episcopal Church USA.
All Saints Anglican Church, which draws up to 170 weekly to its facilities at 11122 Link Drive in Castle Hills, is the first San Antonio congregation and one of seven in Texas to join the Convocation of Anglicans in North America.
The convocation is sponsored by the Anglican Church of Nigeria, which is a member of the worldwide Anglican Communion, a body of about 77 million members worldwide, including the Episcopal Church, whose roots date back to the Church of England.
The Nigerian church's Archbishop, Peter Akinola, has openly criticized the Episcopal Church for consecrating an openly gay bishop four years ago.
This convocation, while under Nigerian church's authority, has its own U.S. leadership based in Virginia that oversees more than 50 parishes nationwide.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Online at: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA100607.07B.convocation.14098e15a.html
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